Last Updated on October 4, 2025
If you are someone who has a plan to study in UK, then you probably know how important the UK student visa is for you. Those of you, harbouring plans to study in the UK, must start planning a year in advance. For the visa, 6 months prior is a good time to start. The UK is a popular choice for international students, and the nation as per records managed to issue at least 400,000 visas in 2024 alone.
Home to top colleges and universities like Cambridge and Oxford, you can quickly realise your dream of working in the research or corporate sector, after you complete the course. The education system in UK, happens to be top notch and recognised all over the world.
However, if you want to be a part of the same, you have got to secure your UK study visa first. In this blog, we will unearth all the key information about the UK Student Visa 2025 – eligibility, documentation, and application process. It will help you plan your study abroad UK journey easily.
Key Highlights of The UK Student Visa
| Who Is It For | Students 16 years and above, who have secured an offer from an UK university |
| When to apply | At least 3-6 months before the course starts |
| Documents Required | A valid passport and CAS. ATAS certificate for sensitive STEM courses |
| Cost of UK Visa | £524 |
| Part-time Work | Yes, you are allowed to work part-time, but restricted hours |
Preparations For The UK Student Visa – Financial Requirements
If you are not staying in the UK, when you are applying for the visa, then this is a must. In order to secure your UK study visa, you must start preparing your financial evidence way in advance. Those who have been in the country for at least 12 months or more, will be exempt from this. All others, applying from different nations outside the UK, must furnish proof of financial strength. It is required to ensure that you can cover your tuition and accommodation costs, while pursuing the course. The university will be verifying all the data before issuing you the CAS.
Students from low-risk nations will be exempt from submitting this evidence. However, one must still have it handy, in case it is required later on. If your parents are funding your education, you need to submit their financial evidence as well. The last date of transaction must not be more than 31 days before you submit your application.
In case you have a sponsor, you need the sponsorship letter mentioning all the information required by UKVI.
Funding Evidence For The Student Visa UK
- Tuition Fees
- Living Expenses
- Additional Living Expenses Of Eligible Family Members
Student Visa UK Requirements – Preparing Supporting Documents
Those students who want to start preparations early on, must check up the UK visa documents checklist at the very beginning. It will help you to speed up the UK student visa process, at your end. Ensure to have all your educational transcripts and certificates in one place. The English language proficiency certificate also needs to come in early.
The CAS once issued will mention what documents you need to submit. For certain sensitive courses in the STEM arena, one needs to apply for the Academic Technology Approval Scheme. You must check in advance, if you need this. It is valid for a limited period of time, so you must ensure not to apply more than 5 months in advance.
Students from some nations also need to get tested for Tuberculosis. Some students also need to produce some extra documents, like official translations of evidence in other languages, a parental consent letter, if you are under 18 years, and evidence of name changes.
Accepting The Unconditional Offer From The UK University
Students looking to apply for the UK student visa, need the CAS, which is also called Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies, from the university. This is an important part of the process, without which the visa cannot be issued.
Payment of Tuition Fee
Apart from the UK student visa fee, applicants for taught master’s courses need to pay an additional tuition deposit of £3,000 before the university can give the CAS. Some master’s courses also require a separate course deposit.
The university, in due course of time, adjusts the aforementioned amount from the actual tuition fees. No deposit is needed for undergraduates. Additionally, students who receive a full scholarship from the university or are sponsored, do not need to pay any deposit at all.
Checking All CAS Details
As a part of the UK student visa application, once you receive the CAS from the university, you have to verify the details. One needs to check everything and intimate the university, if something is wrong. The CAS mainly includes details related to personal information, course details, and records of tuition fee paid, and scholarships. Your English language test scores are also mentioned in the CAS. In case you have studied in the UK earlier, you would need to fill in an additional questionnaire. Declaring the details of previous study, will ensure that the visa is approved without hassles. Once verified, the student gets the CAS number.
Completion of the Online UK Student Visa Application
As the UK student visa process moves forward, the next step requires the student to fill in the online visa application form. You can also work with a study abroad consultant to make this process hassle-free. Before you can submit the online visa form, you must pay the UK student visa fee. Additionally, an immigration health surcharge or IHS fees for uk student visa also needs to be paid. The IHS fee for uk student visa is £776 per year.
It is important to note here that students can travel to the UK and join the course at the chosen university, only after the visa is issued. If any student travels to the UK on a standard visa, registration will not be granted.
Booking An Appointment At The Visa Application Centre
Once you book the appointment at the Visa Application Centre, you will get a date, on which you need to carry the required documents. You must carry all originals and copies. The passport and all other important documents, will be verified by the staff at the centre. Thereafter, you will be asked to give your biometrics. Your passport has to be submitted and will be returned, once the visa application process stands completed.
Some students may be called for a second round of interview, called the ‘Credibility Interview’, in which you will be asked about your reasons to join the course and what your future goals are.
Await The UK Student Visa Decision
Once the visa for uk student, is issued, the passport comes back with a vignette. You will also receive a decision letter and an email. For a stay of around 6 months, the 90-day vignette works. In case you are enrolled in a course that lasts longer, you would need to have an eVisa. Those who require a visa for longer than 6 months, your full visa will be issued as a digital immigration status. Those who are issued an eVisa, can check their immigration status online.
Read more: List of 20 UK Scholarships for Indian Students
How Admissify Can Help
Those who are looking forward to study in uk, can work with a study abroad consultant. Admissify being the best one, will be able to help you resolve all sorts of issues through the process. You can rely on them for end-to-end support regarding study in uk for indian students. At times, new visa rules for students in uk, get released. Most first-generation study abroad aspirants are unaware of the same. Thus, working closely with a study abroad consultant in India helps.
Conclusion
Thus, you are very well aware of the nitty-gritty associated with the student visa uk, through the blog. The student visa processing time uk, may vary according to the background of the student. So, it is always a good idea to start early. Maintaining a UK visa documents checklist throughout the process makes it hassle-free and quick. You will be able to stay up-to-date on the student visa in uk new rules, by working with a consultant. In case, you require more information above what is mentioned herein, connect with Admissify. The student visa uk is easily accessible to those, who stay abreast of all the latest information and are vigilant throughout.
FAQs
To get a student UK visa, you must apply online after getting the CAS. Thereafter, you must prove your eligibility, both academic and financial documents. English language test scores are required as well. A TB certificate will also be needed. After you submit the application, you need to book an appointment. Attend it, give your biometrics, and thereafter, you must wait for the approval.
The F1 visa is the most common type of visa for international students. It is for international students who are pursuing full-time academic courses and language courses. The J1 visa is for candidates who are enrolled in government sponsored courses.
The UK student visa application fee is £524. You also need to pay the ihs fee for uk student visa.
- The new visa rules for students in uk, restrict the entry of dependents for undergraduate and postgraduate students.
- Those on postgraduate research programs are exempt for this law.
- As the digital eVisa kicks in from July 2025, students are required to access all their visa application details through a UKVI account.
- From now on, students must complete their course before applying for the Graduate visa. The same applies to work visas.
- The minimum salary cut-off is increased for skilled worker visa holders.
Abhrajita Mondal, is a Content Writer who has dabbled in numerous genres including education since the last five years, and has a deep interest in Holistic Wellness & Lifestyle practices. She is an Ex-HR with over 10 years of corporate experience. For a voracious reader and consumer of information, which finds a way of expression through writing, she does that with elan. Abhrajita loves to travel and is a complete foodie. She has a thirst for the unknown, and loves to read esoteric books.
