Do you want to apply for a student visa application in Britain? Here’s a complete guide to know everything you need about UK student visa requirements, as well as visa application fees and procedures.
If you have already made the decision to study in Britain , congratulations to you because it is the ideal choice for studying and living, and it also provides a lot of job opportunities while studying , but you will be required to prepare a student visa to enter Britain before packing your bags.
The type of visa required depends on your age and the level of education you want to attend. Therefore, you should know everything you need about the types of study visas in Britain and the application requirements.
Types of student visas to study in Britain
Britain offers 3 types of study visas for international students. Find out now about all types of visas, who they are for, when to apply for them, and more.
| Student visa type | for whom? | What is the ideal date to apply? | Arrival time to UK |
|---|---|---|---|
| Student route (General) visa | Students over the age of 16 who have an offer of admission to study at an educational institution in the UK. | 3 months before the start date of the study programme. | About a week before the start of a study program of 6 months or less. About a month before the start of a study program of more than 6 months duration. |
| Student (minor) visa Student route (Child) visa | Students aged 4 to 17 who have an offer of admission to study at a UK educational institution that has a sponsorship authorization, such as a private school. | 3 months before the start date of the study programme. | About a week before the start of a study program of 6 months or less. About a month before the start of a study program of more than 6 months duration |
| Short-term study visa | Students who have an offer of admission to study on a short-term study program in the UK, such as English language courses or vocational training programmes. | 3 months before you are due to travel to the UK. | According to the proposed travel dates for the program. |
To be eligible for a student visa, you must have:
- An unconditional offer of admission to a program of study with an authorized sponsor.
- Sufficient money to support yourself and pay the course fees.
- Ability to speak, read, write and understand English.
For more information, you can visit the official British Government Visas and Immigration website .
Applying for a UK visa online
You must apply for a student visa in the UK online using the official UK government website Gov.UK (if you are applying from North Korea, in this case you will have to apply on a paper form).
It is worth noting that you can apply up to three months before the scheduled date of travel to Britain, as the application date is the date on which you pay the application fee.
Student visa requirements
The documents required to obtain a student visa in Britain are as follows:
- Confirmation letter of admission to study at the university or educational institution , application reference number and documents submitted to obtain the acceptance letter
- A passport or other valid travel document
- Proof of financial ability to pay living expenses during the study period in the Kingdom
- Certificate of Accreditation of Academic Studies in Technology (ATAS) plan, if required
- Tuberculosis test (if needed)
- A color passport size photo
- Evaluation certificate
Additional documents may be required if:
- You are not a citizen of the country from which you are applying
- You have a family and counts
- You are under the age of eighteen
Note: If one of your documents is in a language other than English, you will need to translate it. The translated document must be dated, with the name and signature of the translator and confirmation that the translation is accurate and identical to the original.
English language requirements
You must provide evidence of your level of English when you apply for a UK visa, and this means that you must pass an English language test such as the IELTS test .
The Department of Visas and Immigration in Britain has also set limited requirements for English language proficiency in terms of writing, reading, speaking and listening according to your level of study. Your educational institution may have different English language requirements.
It is possible that you will meet a UK Visas and Immigration officer as part of the visa application process, and if you cannot carry on a simple conversation without the need for an interpreter, you will be refused regardless of your English language test results.
Biometric residence permit
As part of the application process, you must obtain a biometric residence permit from Visas and Immigration and therefore will be scheduled with Visas and Immigration to have your fingers and thumb scanned and a digital photograph of your face taken.
UK student visa fee
The cost of a student visa in the UK is £363 if you apply from outside the UK, while the cost of renewing or changing your visa within the UK is around £490.
Time taken to obtain a student visa and track an application
After attending your appointment at a visa application center or using the ID Check app, you are expected to receive a decision on your visa within three weeks. You can also follow the status of your visa application , whether you apply online or on paper.
