Home Student Visa – Applying from outside the UK
The following instructions are designed to assist you in preparing your student visa application from outside the UK (applying for entry clearance). Ensure that you wait until your student visa is issued before using it to travel to the UK.
If you are pursuing a PhD-level research degree or a Master’s course in certain science and technology fields, you may need an ATAS (Academic Technology Approval Scheme) clearance certificate to support your visa application. Students who are nationals of the EEA, Switzerland, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the USA, Singapore, Japan, or South Korea are exempt from this requirement.
For postgraduate students needing ATAS, this will be specified as a condition of their offer.
The ATAS scheme is managed by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). You must apply online to the FCDO. The application is free, and you can apply once you receive your ATAS research statement. The ATAS certificate will be sent to you via email, and you must have it before being issued your CAS and applying for the student visa. The FCDO generally processes complete applications within 20 working days, but this period can extend to 30 working days or more during peak times.
If your course requires ATAS clearance, you must upload the certificate issued by the FCDO with your visa application as a mandatory supporting document.
Your student visa application must include a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS), which confirms the University’s sponsorship of your visa. The CAS is an electronic record that details your information and your course of study at the University.
You will receive your CAS Statement via email. Upon receiving it, review the details carefully against this document. Ensure all information is correct, and notify the office that issued your CAS of any errors. Corrections must be made before you submit your visa application.
A CAS can only be used for one visa application. If your visa application is refused, you must immediately inform the University and provide a copy of the decision letter. The University will advise you on your next steps. A new CAS will be required for a subsequent visa application, which will only be issued if the University is confident you can meet the requirements for the new application. You will need to provide relevant evidence to address any issues identified in the decision letter.
You need to apply for and secure your student visa before traveling to the UK and beginning your studies. You can only submit and pay for your application after receiving your CAS. According to UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI), standard service applications typically receive decisions within 15 working days, but this can vary based on the time and place of your application, particularly during the busy period from July to September. A priority service is available for an additional fee, aiming to provide a decision within 5 working days. Some countries might also offer a super priority 24-hour service. These expedited services should not be relied upon for planning when to submit your visa application. The advertised decision timeframes start from the date you enrol your biometrics.
You must apply for your student visa in your country of nationality or your country of residence (where you have legal permission to live, excluding as a visitor).
Start by completing an online application form, which includes paying the required fee. Make sure you are aware of the costs associated with the student visa application.
As part of the online application process, you will need to upload any supporting documents and schedule an appointment to enrol your biometrics (fingerprints and a facial image). The application will provide detailed instructions on this process. It is advisable to upload the necessary supporting documents before attending your appointment. Although Visa Application Centres offer a document scanning service, this usually involves an additional fee.
In most countries, you will attend a UK Visa Application Centre for your appointment and submit your passport there.Toggle Content
As part of your student visa application, you must pay a healthcare surcharge, known as the ‘immigration health surcharge’ (IHS), to access public healthcare services in the UK.
The surcharge amount is calculated based on the length of your visa, which includes your course dates and the short post-study period added to the end of the visa. If your visa application is unsuccessful, the immigration health surcharge will be automatically refunded, although the visa application fee will not be refunded.Toggle Content
To apply for your visa, you must demonstrate that you have sufficient funds to cover your course fees, as specified in your CAS, plus £1,334 per month for courses in London or £1,023 per month for courses outside London for each month of your course, up to a maximum of 9 months. This financial evidence must be included with your visa application unless you qualify for differentiation arrangements.
If you are using your own funds or those of a parent/legal guardian, you must show that the required amount has been held for at least 28 consecutive days (ending on the date of the closing balance). Additionally, the financial evidence must be no older than 31 days at the time you submit your visa application.
Only certain students are permitted to bring their family members to the UK on a dependant visa. The following information offer guidance on which students are eligible to bring dependants, who qualifies as a dependant, and the steps to apply for the visa.
Your partner and children may apply for a dependant visa if:
• You are enrolled in a PhD or another doctoral program, or a full-time postgraduate research degree* that lasts at least 9 months, OR
• You are a government-sponsored student enrolled in a full-time course that is 6 months or longer. This means you receive funding for your studies from either the UK government or an overseas government.
A dependant for visa purposes includes:
• A spouse or civil partner.
• An unmarried partner, provided you have been in a relationship similar to marriage or a civil partnership for at least 2 years, usually demonstrated by living together for this period before applying for the visa.
• A child under 18 years old.
If you are extending your student visa and have children over 18, they may still be eligible to apply for further permission to stay as a dependant.
For your spouse, civil partner, or unmarried partner to apply as your dependant, the relationship must be genuine and ongoing at the time of application, and you must intend to live together during your stay in the UK.
For children to qualify for a dependant visa, both parents must either be in the UK or coming to the UK.
Dependants have the option to apply either concurrently with the student’s visa application or after the student’s visa has been granted.
The application fees for each dependant are identical to those for the student visa.
Dependants should apply online in their country of nationality or their country of residence (where they have legal permission to reside). Each dependant must submit a separate application.
Dependants applying for a visa must demonstrate sufficient funds to cover living costs in the UK. This amounts to £845 per month for courses in London and £680 per month for courses outside London, for each month the visa is valid, up to a maximum of 9 months.
Financial evidence, such as a bank statement or bank letter, can be used to meet this requirement. The funds can be held in the student’s name or the name of their spouse/partner. The financial documentation must indicate that the required funds have been maintained for at least 28 consecutive days, ending on the date of the closing balance, and must be dated no more than 31 days before the date of application.
Dependants on a visa in the UK are generally permitted to work full time, with the following exceptions:
• They are not allowed to work as professional sportspersons, including sports coaches.
• They cannot work as doctors or dentists in training if granted dependant permission before 5 October 2020, unless they hold a degree in medicine or dentistry from a UK institution, or have previously held a UK visa that did not restrict their employment as a doctor or dentist in training, and were employed in that capacity during that period.