Students from other countries who meet the requirements can submit an application for a UK Student Visa in order to study in the United Kingdom. EU, EEA, and foreign nationals who wish to enter and study in the United Kingdom are required to pay the necessary visa fees in order to receive this authorisation to enter the country. EU and EEA nationals are not required to pay these fees.
If you have a UK Student Visa, you are able to enrol in any degree programme, including masters and doctoral programmes. In addition, if you are a student in the United Kingdom, you may be eligible to work for a reduced number of hours in order to bring in extra money to pay for some of your expenses. Nevertheless, loans are offered, but eligibility is limited to people who already hold permanent residency.
Furthermore, in order to begin working while attending school, holders of student visas have to first demonstrate that they can meet the eligibility requirements and have the financial means to pay tuition fees, as well as fees for maintaining themselves and finding housing. This demonstrates that you are prepared to apply for a UK Student Visa in order to continue your education in the United Kingdom.
However, in order to qualify for this type of visa, the student must be enrolled in a degree programme at a UK university full-time. This visa cannot be used for short-term or language study programmes. Because of this, you need to keep in mind that you must enrol in full-time studies in order to obtain this visa and study at a university in the United Kingdom.
In addition, in order to get a student visa, you will need to have a Confirmation of Acceptance of Studies (CAS) from a school in the UK that has a current student sponsor licence.
In light of this, we will carefully direct you through the rest of this article to learn how to apply for a UK Student Visa, as well as the cost of the application and the requirements for eligibility. This article also covers other important information that readers need to know.
People Who Are Able to Submit an Application for a Student Visa to the UK
It is possible to submit an application for a UK Student Visa if you are a student from a country that is not a member of the European Union (EU) or the European Economic Area (EEA). However, in order to submit an application for this visa, they need to have a Points-Based System score of at least 70. The system determines whether or not you are eligible to study in the UK based on whether or not you meet the requirements. Such requirements are:
• You must already be enrolled at a recognised educational establishment in the UK. As a form of evidence, the institution will issue something called a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS).
• Do you possess the necessary financial means to support your stay here? In addition to the funds necessary to pay for the tuition of the course, you will also need an additional monthly cost of either £1,265 if you will be attending school in London or £1,015 if you will be attending school outside of London. If you have people who rely on you financially, you need to set aside about $900 per month for each of them.
• Do you have a good command of the English language? You are required to obtain a passing score on an English Proficiency Test from a vendor that is authorised before submitting your visa application.
• B2 for courses equivalent to or higher than a degree.
• B1 for courses that are not at the degree level.
• Does your course meet the set-out course requirements? See the examples below.
Courses Necessary to Obtain a Student Visa for the UK
To qualify for a student visa to study in the UK, you need to take a certain number of classes. Consequently, in order to qualify for a Student Visa for the United Kingdom, you need to demonstrate that you have been accepted into one of the following courses:
• A non-degree programme that requires full-time attendance (more than 15 hours per week of study). A-level programmes (which are equivalent to the final two years of high school), apprenticeships, and the first two years of a Bachelor’s degree all fall under this category, which is referred to as the RFQ level 3, 4, or 5.
• A programme that can be completed full-time and results in a degree or a qualification that is higher than a degree. Included in this are RFQ level 6, 7, and 8 questions (i.e. Bachelor’s, Postgraduate, Master’s, or Doctorate).
• A course is taken on a part-time basis at a degree level that is higher than RFQ 7 (either a master’s or doctoral programme).
• A postgraduate medical or dental education course that has been granted official recognition.
• Completion of an English language class at or above level B2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.
Two Steps to Follow When Applying for a Student Visa to the UK
You are going to follow some simple steps in order to apply for a student visa to study in the UK. These steps are as follows:
#1. Launch an application in the online system.
If you are applying for a visa from a location other than the United Kingdom, you must start the online application on the website of the United Kingdom’s government before going to a Visa Application Center in your own country to submit your biometrics. You have up to six months before the beginning of your classes to submit your application for a student visa in the UK.
#2. Include your CAS reference number in the space provided.
Your education provider will send you a reference number that is known as a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies once they have made you an offer for a spot on the course that they are offering. During the online registration process, you are required to enter this number. After submitting your application online, you will, contingent upon the nation in which you currently reside, be sent further instructions on how to proceed.
Processing fee for United Kingdom Student Visa Applications
The total cost of obtaining a student visa to study in the UK is broken down as follows:
• There is a fee of £348 if you are applying from outside the UK.
• A fee of £475 is required if you wish to extend your Student Visa or switch to one from within the UK.
• You and each member of your family who joins you, if you have any, are required to pay a separate fee to participate.
In addition to the payment for the visa, you will also be required to provide evidence that you are in possession of sufficient funds to cover the costs of your stay. You must therefore demonstrate that you have a surplus of the following amount:
• A monthly cost of at least $1,265 if you plan to attend school in London (for up to nine months).
• A minimum of £1,015 per month if the school is located outside of London (for up to nine months).
Documentation Needed to Apply for a Student Visa to Study in the UK
When you apply for a student visa to study in the UK, you will need to provide the following documents in order to be considered. They are as follows:
• Your valid passport.
• A confirmation of acceptance for studies, also known as a CAS, issued by your institution.
• You must provide evidence that you have sufficient financial resources to support yourself as well as any members of your family.
• A certificate issued by the Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS), if one is required.
• Criminal record certificate.
• A demonstration of your command of the English language.
• Tuberculosis test results.
• For students under 18:
• Documentation showing that parents have given their permission
• Documentation establishing your parental or legal guardian status, if applicable
• During the application process, you are required to submit any additional documents you may have.
FAQs
If I have a student visa, am I allowed to work in the UK?
Those who are in possession of Student visas are only permitted to work on a temporary basis; they are not eligible for permanent employment. They are not allowed to engage in self-employment or start their own businesses, nor can they be employed as professional athletes or entertainers.
How do I go about obtaining a student visa for the United Kingdom?
You can submit your application at the British embassy in your country, or you can do it online on the website that is officially maintained by the United Kingdom Government. As part of the application process, you may be required to have your fingerprints and photo taken at a visa application centre in order to obtain a biometric residence permit. This requirement is contingent on the nationality you hold.
How long does it take to process a visa for a student studying in the UK?
If you are applying for a student visa from a location that is not the United Kingdom, it will take approximately three weeks for you to receive a decision on your application. It will take approximately eight weeks to come to a decision regarding your application if you submit it from within the UK (using the Student Visa application).
Is it possible for me to switch to a student visa for the UK?
You are able to switch to a Student Visa if you are already in the UK so long as your current visa does not fall under any of the following categories:
• Visit visa.
• Short-term student visa.
• The Parent of a Child in Higher Education visa.
• Seasonal worker visa
• Employee of a private household who holds a visa for that position
• Leaving the country without complying with the immigration rules
You have until three months before the start of your classes to submit an application to switch to the UK Student Route. You are required to have received acceptance into a recognised educational programme, and the visa that you currently hold must not have expired.
How Long Is the Validity Period for the UK Student Visa?
The period of time that you are granted a UK Student Visa corresponds to the length of the programme that you have begun. If you are an adult and you are enrolled in a degree-level course, you may be eligible for a visa that is valid for up to five years. If you are planning to enrol in a course that is not leading to a degree, you will be eligible for a visa that is valid for two years.
Can I Extend a UK Student Visa?
If you have been accepted into a different course in the UK, then you are eligible to extend your UK Student visa. The level of the course needs to be higher than the one you just finished. If you currently hold a Tier 4 (General) Student Visa, you have the additional option to extend your student visa. You have until three months before the beginning of your new classes to submit your application.
After I Finish My Studies, Will I Be Allowed to Remain in the UK?
Yes, beginning in the summer of 2021, international students who have finished their undergraduate degrees in the UK will be eligible to apply for the Graduate Visa. This opportunity will be available to students who have completed their degrees at the undergraduate level. The Graduate Visa enables you to remain in the UK for up to two years after you have completed your degree so that you can either work or look for work during that time. Ph.D. recipients are permitted to remain for a maximum of three years.
You have the ability to switch to a different immigration category during that time, such as a UK Work Visa, if you find a job that is suitable for you during that time.
If I have a Student Visa for the UK, am I able to work?
Yes, under the right circumstances, international students studying in the UK are permitted to hold jobs. You could, for instance, work as a sabbatical officer for a student union; however, if you do so, you will be ineligible to receive public benefits and pensions. The kind of work that you are permitted to do in the United Kingdom if you are there on a Student Visa is determined by the subject matter that you are studying as well as whether or not you plan to work during the academic year or during vacations.
There are also professions that are not permitted, such as working in the sports industry as a professional athlete or coach or being self-employed.
With a Student Visa for the UK, am I Allowed to Have Dependents?
During the time that you are attending school in the United Kingdom, you are permitted to bring dependent members of your family with you. These are the following:
Your spouse, civil partner, or unmarried partner.
Your children who are dependent on you are younger than 18 years old.
You and your family need to provide evidence that you each have sufficient funds to maintain your living expenses while in the UK. In addition to the financial obligations that you, the student, are responsible for meeting, each member of your family is also required to have the following funds:
• Classes in London cost £845 per month (for up to 9 months), if you take them there.
• £680 a month (for up to 9 months) for courses that are located outside of London.
Do Students from the EU or EEA Need a Student Visa to Study in the UK?
After January 1, 2021, you will be required to apply for a Student Visa in order to enter the United Kingdom. You are required to submit an application for the EU Settlement Scheme if you are already present in the UK prior to January 1, 2021.
How many years of visa do students studying in the UK receive?
In general, if you are at least 18 years old and your programme of study is at the degree level, you will be permitted to remain in the UK for up to 5 years. In general, if it is not at the degree level, you have the ability to remain in the UK for up to two years.
Conclusion
You are aware of how simple it is to acquire a student visa for the United Kingdom. Therefore, in order to submit an application and study in the UK, follow our outlined guide.
