UK Student Visa or UK Visa Types
As per the Department of Home Affair’s preliminary data, around 44,000 applications for a student visa were obtained from India in the last 6 months of 2022. Also, as per the latest reports, Indians were issued the highest number of student visas by the UK for the year 2022. British High Commissioner stated that 25% of student visas have got approval for Indian students out of 2.8 lakh student visas that the UK issued overall. The number of Indian student visas has increased by 73% as compared to the year 2021. Recently, ‘Young Professional Scheme (YPS) has been incepted by India and the UK government which would assist those eligible in obtaining a UK Work Visa for a maximum of two years. People aged between 18 to 30 years can apply for the same.
Students, who wish to study in the UK for more than 6 months, need to know about the following 3 UK Study Visas or UK visa types:
- Short-term Study Visa: Short-term UK Study Visa is for those who want to study an English language course for up to 11 months
- Student Visa: This visa category is for students coming to the UK for higher education. It was formerly termed as a Tier 4 (General) Student Visa, popularly called a Tier 4 Student Visa
- Child Student Visa: This visa is for children who are between 4 and 17 years old and wish to study at an independent school in the UK. It was formerly termed as Tier 4 (Child) Student Visa
UK Student Visa Eligibility
- A student must have received an offer of a full-time academic course from a licensed student sponsor
- A student must have sufficient financial resources to support himself/ herself during the duration of the course
- A student must be able to speak, read, write and understand English
- If a student is aged 16 or 17, he/ she needs consent from his/ her parents
UK Student Visa Cost
The fee for the UK Student Visa (formerly Tier 4 (General) Student Visa) is £363 (Approx. Rs 37,082) if the students are applying from outside the UK. In addition, you have to pay a healthcare surcharge, which depends on the duration of your stay. The methods of payment are stated below.
- Onlineusing either a MasterCard or Visa card.
- Through demand draftat the visa application centre and selected branches of Standard Chartered Bank.
- Through Cashat the visa application centre and selected branches of Standard Chartered Bank.
Students must note that if they wish to switch to a UK Student Visa from inside the UK, they will have to pay a fee of £490 (INR 50,056).
UK Student Visa: Documents Required
UK Student Visa Requirements: Applying for a student visa requires you to carry a lot more documents in comparison to a tourist visa, by comparison. Aspirants need the mandatory documents along with supporting documents of financial and academic records. There are some other requirements as well which one should remember and meet. Make sure you refer to the UK Student Visa checklist before going to the consulate for the visa interview.
You should have the following documents before applying:
- A completed student visa application form
- If you’re below 18 years of age, you need to get proof of your parents’ or guardian’s consent
- A letter of acceptance on the course – Your approved education provider will give you an acceptance letter (CAS or Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies) and a visa letter that are official and unconditional offers of a place on a course of study. The visa letter must be issued no more than six months before you apply. Students need to apply for their UK study visa within 6 months of receiving their CAS.
- Having a visa letter does not guarantee the application will be successful. The applicant must meet all the requirements of the category and any other requirements of the immigration rules.
- Proof of funds – The money you need to show covers your course fees for your first year of study and living costs for up to a maximum of 9 months (1 academic year). The amount you will need depends on whether you are applying as a child or adult and whether you will be studying in or out of London. You must show that you have held the money for at least 28 days. The end of that 28-day period must not be more than one month before the date of your application.
- You must show the following amount of money to meet basic living costs (not including fees) for a period of up to nine months i.e. £12,006 for nine months ( £1,334 per month) if you are living in London and £9,207 for nine months (£1,023 per month) if you are living outside London.
- However, if a student has been in the UK, with a valid visa, for at least 12 months, he/ she does not have to show proof of funds for visa application
- The visa fees payment confirmation receipt
- ATAS certificate if your nationality and course need it
- Payslips
- Original mark sheets/provisional certificates
- Scoresheet of exams like TOEFL, GMAT, IELTS, etc.
Types of Courses valid under UK Student Visa
- A full-time course would help to obtain a qualification which is below degree level and organised daytime study of a minimum of 15 hours a week
- A full-time course which would help to obtain a qualification which is degree level or above
- A full-time course which would help to obtain a qualification which is degree level or above which shares the same platform as that of a UK higher education programme
- A part-time programme which would help to obtain a qualification which is above degree level
- A known foundation course for PG doctors or dentists
- An English language programme at B2 level or above in the Common European Framework of Reference Languages
Check: Study in UK: Timeline for September 2023 Intake
UK Student Visa Process: How to Apply
There are several steps to apply for a UK Student Visa. UK Study Visa applications are processed within three weeks of the completed application being lodged.
Step 1 – The first step is to check if you qualify for the student visa or not. You need to show that you have:
- A confirmed place at the school, university or college where you intend to study. It is called a ‘confirmation of acceptance for studies’ (CAS).
- Enough money (also known as ‘maintenance or funds’) to cover your course fees and living costs in the UK.
Step 2 – Get your documents ready
Step 3 – Apply online: You will need to register and create an account on the official UK Visa website. When you have completed your online application form, you will need to print and sign your completed form. You must use the online appointment calendar to book an appointment at the visa application centre. When you have completed your online application, you will receive an email message containing your application number.
Step 4 – Pay your application fee. There are 4 ways to pay your visa application fee.
- Payment at Standard Chartered Bank – You can pay your fee at some branches of Standard Chartered Bank. The bank will issue a demand draft in favour of the ‘British High Commission’.
- Demand draft from a nationalized or foreign bank – You can pay your fee by getting a demand draft issued by a nationalized or a foreign bank. Bank charges for this service will vary. The demand draft must be in favour of the ‘British High Commission’.
- Payment at the visa application centre – You can pay the visa application fee at the visa application centre when you submit your visa application.
- Pay online – You can pay your visa application fee online using a Visa or MasterCard credit or debit card.
Step 5 – Visit the visa application centre on the appointed date. You must book and attend an appointment at the visa application centre to submit your application and facial photograph and fingerprints.
Students are allowed to withdraw their applications. For this, they need to contact UKVI (UK Visas and Immigration). If their application processing has not started, their fee will be refunded.
UK Point-based Visa System
Students should be informed that the UK Visa is a point-based visa system and it is essential for applicants to meet all the requirements of the Immigration Rules and have 40 points in total.
| Factor | Points |
| Students are required to have a valid Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies from a fully licensed student sponsor, and their course must be full-time (minimum 15 hours of classroom study every week) | 30 points |
| Students should have enough money to cover course fees and monthly living costs (also known as maintenance or funds) | 10 points |
UK Student Visa Part-time Work
- If you are enrolled in a bachelor’s degree program or higher at a UK college that is listed on both the official ‘UKBA Sponsor list’ and the list of ‘recognized bodies’, you are allowed to work for up to 20 hours per week for (UK Student Visa) and work full-time during vacations or summer holidays. In this regard, students must note that if their course is below the UK degree level (e.g. foundation or pre-sessional English), they can work for 10 hours per week. Moreover, students who hold a Short-term Study Visa cannot work.