UK Student Visa Requirements
Explore student visa requirements, types, fees, application process and eligibility for studying abroad
Explore student visa requirements, types, fees, application process and eligibility for studying abroad
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The UK remains a top destination for Indian students, but recent changes have impacted migration rates. On August 14, 2024, the UK government announced stricter rules for foreign IT, telecommunications, and engineering professionals, leading to a 35% drop in study visa applications. Despite this, many students are concerned about the requirement for UK student visa. Being a top-tier education country, students are finding ways to secure their visas and invest their skills in areas with better opportunities. In this blog, we've outlined the requirements for a UK study visa, along with tips and additional information to help you navigate the journey.
The age eligibility for the student visa is 16 or older, however, if you’re applying for a child study visa then you should be aged between 4-16 years. Underage students need a guardian and a consent letter from the parents at the time of the application.
Want to learn about different types about different types of visas? Read UK Study Visa Guide.
While applying for the visa, make sure that your passport details are valid and match the information on all related documents. Any discrepancies could lead to the rejection of your visa application. Before applying, check the validity of your passport. It should exceed the validity of the visa. Be prepared to explain your travel history. If you have a history of visa rejections or any prior offenses, this could raise concerns during the application process.
Since English is the first language, the UK student visa India requirements are an English proficiency test. One must prepare for English proficiency exams based on the requirements stated by the UK government. One of the most popular tests is the IELTS for UK Visa and Immigration (UKVI), a UK government-approved Secure English Language Test (SELT). Let’s explore the different versions of the IELTS that you can consider based on the purpose of your visa application.
| Test | Version | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
|
IELTS |
Academic |
Bachelor’s, graduation, and for those seeking professional registration |
|
IELTS |
General Training |
Wish to get trained or study below the degree level |
|
IELTS (Life skills) |
A1 |
Need to prove English speaking and listening skills like family of a settled person. |
|
IELTS (Life skills) |
A2 Note: only available in the UK. |
Need to prove English speaking and listening skills for a partner visa. |
|
IELTS (Life skills) |
B1 |
If someone wants to get citizenship or has indefinite leave to remain. |
You can even consider TOEFL or PTE as an English Proficiency Test while applying for a UK visa. Just ensure that you meet the B2 proficiency level in each test. Also, check the benchmark mentioned by the university for admission.
CAS is an electronic document sent by the university via email, confirming your admission. The document is important while onboarding a flight but, during the visa application, you need a CAS reference number. Remember, you can’t use the CAS number twice, so for each visa application, you'll need a new CAS number. This is a mandated requirement for UK student visa.
How to get a CAS?
Financial documents are another important document which are used to establish your financial stability before the immigration officer. You have to demonstrate adequate funds for fees for UK visa, a one-year tuition fee, and also one-year living expenses. Here’s what you need to prepare:
The UK has strict health requirements, and you may be asked to provide a health certificate stating that you are free of any disease. You will receive the notification and an appointment scheduled from the visa office itself. Still, enquire about it in advance, either via email or directly at the visa office. Commonly requested examinations include:
You don’t need to purchase separate health insurance for your UK visa application. After visa approval, you will be charged an additional healthcare surcharge from the immigration office, which needs to be paid within 10 days. If you are applying from outside the UK for a course lasting six months or less, you won’t need to pay the healthcare surcharge. However, for students applying from inside the UK, you’ll need to pay ₹42,160, which is half of the yearly cost. For visas lasting more than one year, you will be required to pay surcharges of 18 months.
Because of recent political concerns, students are increasingly worried about pursuing their education in the UK. It is the biggest investment, but, recent changes have raised concerns among the students regarding future prospects. Thus, before you prepare all the requirement for UK student visa, here is something you should research for:
You can make your visa application process more streamlined if you have prepared all the documents before the visa application. Also, having the right information can help in seizing better opportunities. Ensure to take help from legitimate sources and review every step twice before preparing the documents. Mistakes at this stage can lead to serious issues that may be difficult to rectify.
For courses in London, you need ₹1,737,900 and ₹1,332,738 for courses outside London.
Yes, but both the bank statements should maintain the amount for the last 28-day time period.
For tier 2 visas UK costs approximately ₹40,000 however, you can estimate the expense around ₹36,000 for all other types of visas.
You should have completed your graduation or post-graduation from the UK university.
The health insurance for the UK student visa costs around ₹90,000 for a year.
All documents are similar but, English proficiency score increases for the graduate students.
The maximum validity of a UK student is 5 years but, it may vary depending on the course you opt for.
The amount that you need to reflect in your bank account should be maintained for 28 days.