Planning to study in the UK but unsure which visa you need?
Many Bangladeshi students are confused about visa types, eligibility, costs, and the application process. Applying for the wrong visa or missing requirements can delay your plans.
The UK Student Route visa is for international students aged 16 or older with an unconditional offer and Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) from a UK institution.
It allows full-time study, living in the UK for courses longer than six months, part-time work, and bringing dependents. Other options include the Child Student visa for those under 18 and Short-term study visas for shorter courses.
Knowing the requirements, costs, and process helps Bangladeshi students apply correctly and start their UK studies without unnecessary delays.
Types of UK Student Visa
There are three types of UK student visa. Such as-
- General Student Visa
- Child Student Visa
- Short-term Study Visa
General Student Visa in the UK
A General Student Visa allows international students to study at a recognised UK educational institution. To apply, the main requirement is to have an unconditional offer from a UK university along with a valid Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) letter. Applicants must generally be at least 18 years old. However, students aged 16 or 17 can also apply, provided they submit a parental consent letter. This visa enables students to pursue their chosen course of study while living in the UK.
Child Student Visa in the UK
The Child Student Visa is designed for young students aged 4 to 17 who wish to study at an independent school in the UK. To apply, you must have an unconditional offer for a place at the school. Students who are 18 or older must apply for a General Student Visa instead.
Short-term Study Visa in the UK
The Short-term Study Visa is for students who want to take an English language course in the UK. To be eligible, your course must last longer than 6 months but not exceed 11 months.
Note: This article focuses on the General Student Visa. If you are concerned about a UK student visa rejection, you can seek guidance from a trusted UK education consultancy, such as AIMS Education.
What are the Requirements for a UK Student Visa?
The key requirement for a UK Student Visa is that you must be at least 18 years old and fulfil the Academic, English language, and financial requirements. There is no maximum age restriction to apply for a UK student visa.
Academic Requirement
Academic requirement means your previous educational qualification. However, for a UK student visa, only the last academic result is considered. If you are applying for a Bachelor’s programme, your HSC result and passing year should be considered, and if you are applying for a Master’s programme, your Bachelor’s result and passing year should be considered.
English Requirement
The minimum English requirement for a UK student visa is B2 level. According to the Gov.uk, you have to be fluent in reading, writing, speaking and understanding English.
However, you can prove your English language proficiency through different tests like IELTS, TOEFL, PTE, Duolingo or OIETC.
Financial Requirements
The financial requirement is measured by your ability to support yourself and pay for your course – the amount will vary depending on your circumstances. However, for a UK student visa, you have to pay 50% of your tuition fee before the CAS, and the rest of the amount should be shown on your bank statement along with your 1-year living expenses in the UK.
Note: A UK student visa is a point-based visa system, where one requires 70 points to get a successful UK visa. Your CAS letter confirms 50 points, your English proficiency certificate confirms 10 points, and your Financial statement confirms 10 points.
Documents Requirements for a UK Student Visa
- To successfully apply for a UK student visa, you must submit the following documents:
- Current passport or other valid travel documentation.
- Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) from your course provider.
- Proof you have enough money to support yourself and pay for your course – this will vary depending on your circumstances.
- Valid ATAS certificate if your course and nationality require it.
- Proof of parental or other legal guardian consent if you’re under 18.
- Proof of your relationship to your parent or guardian if you’re under 18.
- Tuberculosis test results.
- Written consent for your application from your financial sponsor if you’ve received sponsorship for your course fees and living costs in the last 12 months.
Note: Additional documents may be requested depending on your specific circumstances.
Bank Statement Requirement for a UK Student Visa
For a UK Student Visa, you need a bank statement that shows you have sufficient funds covering tuition fees and living costs for at least 28 consecutive days. A bank statement is a mandatory requirement for a UK student visa, as it ensures 10 points of the total 70.
According to the Gov.uk, the amount of a bank statement depends on how much money you have given as a CAS payment and where you will live in the UK. The new living expenses inside London are £1529 per month, and outside London are £1,171 per month (It will be applicable from 11 November 2025).
The statement must be in your name (or a parent’s/legal guardian’s), dated within 31 days of your application, and include specific details like account number, bank information, and transaction history for the last three months.
For example, suppose you have applied to a university that is situated in London. Your overall tuition fee is £18,000, and CAS payment is £6,500. So, your bank statement will be:
{(Tuition fee-CAS payment)+1 year living expense in London}
{(£18,000-£6,500)+ (£1529*9)}
= {£11,500+£13,761}
= £25,261
Who Can Sponsor the Proof of Funds for a UK Student Visa?
Official sponsors can be a government, a UK university or independent school, an international organisation, or an international company. Family members or other individuals cannot sponsor funds directly; in that case, the money must be in the student’s own bank account.
How to Apply for a UK Student Visa from Bangladesh?
The UK student visa application process is a combination of several steps. To apply for a UK Student Visa from Bangladesh, first you have to get a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) from your university, then complete the online application and pay the required fees and the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS).
After submitting all the documents, book an appointment at the Visa Application Centre in Dhaka to provide biometrics (fingerprints and photograph). Finally, attend any required interviews and wait for the decision.
How Long Does It Take to Get a Decision on a UK Student Visa?
From outside the UK, it usually takes 3 weeks to get a final decision on a UK student visa, and it takes 8 weeks to get a decision from inside the UK. However, the UK student visa processing time can sometimes be delayed due to security and background checks, high application volumes during peak times, the need for additional documents or interviews, and individual case complexity.
How to Speed Up the UK Student Visa Processing Time?
To expedite your UK student visa processing time, it is recommended that you apply early, utilise priority services such as the 5-day Priority or next-day Super Priority service, and ensure your application is complete and accurate from the outset. You should also gather all necessary documents, such as your passport, CAS, proof of funds, and academic transcripts.
When to Apply for a UK Student Visa?
When you can apply for a UK student visa depends on whether you’re applying from inside or outside the UK.
Applying from outside the UK
If you are applying from outside the UK, you can apply for a visa a maximum of 6 months before you start your course.
Applying from inside the UK
The earliest you can apply from inside the UK is 3 months before your course starts. However, you must apply before your current visa expires. Your new course must begin within 28 days of your current student visa expiring.
When Can You Travel to the UK with a Student Visa?
You can arrive in the UK before your course starts. This can be either:
- up to 1 week before, if your course lasts 6 months or less
- up to 1 month before, if your course lasts more than 6 months
You must not travel to the UK before the start date given on your UK student visa, no matter when your course starts.
How Much Does It Cost to Apply for a UK Student Visa?
The overall cost to apply for a UK student visa is comprised of a £524 application fee and Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS), which is currently £776 per year. Therefore, the total cost of a UK student visa is £524 plus £776 for each year of your course, as the total amount for IHS depends on the duration of your visa. However, you need to have a tuberculosis test before the visa application, and it will cost around 7000-8000 BDT.
What Can You Do With a UK Student Visa?
With a UK student visa, you can study and work as a student union sabbatical officer. However, there are some restrictions, such as: you can’t claim public funds, work in certain jobs, for example, as a professional sportsperson or sports coach, be self-employed, or study at an academy or a local authority-funded school (also known as a maintained school).
Can You Work Part-Time With a UK Student Visa?
Yes, you can work part-time with a UK student visa. However, there are some limitations: you are allowed to work up to 20 hours a week during term time and full-time during holidays. Before starting, you should check your visa and biometric residence permit (BRP) to confirm the work conditions or any restrictions from your university.
Can You Bring a Dependent to the UK?
Yes, you can bring dependents to the UK if you have applied for an MRes program or a PhD program. Dependants can include a partner, children under 18, or children over 18. You must meet specific requirements, such as providing proof of relationship, financial evidence, and completing an online application for your dependents.
What is the Proof of Funds for the Dependant in the UK
Your partner and child must each have a certain amount of money to bear the living costs in the UK. How much money they need depends on where you will be studying (inside or outside London):
- £845 a month (for up to 9 months) for courses in London
- £680 a month (for up to 9 months) for courses outside London
What is the UK Student Visa Success Ratio?
The UK student visa success ratio is high, consistently above 96% in recent years. In 2023, the approval rate was 97%, and in 2025, the success ratio reached 98%. This high rate is attributed to factors like the UK government valuing international talent and universities providing support to international applicants.
What Are the Reasons for UK Student Visa Rejection?
Though the success rate for UK student visas is high, there are some reasons for student visa rejection in the UK. Such as:
- Insufficient funds
- Inaccurate financial documents
- Incomplete application form
- Invalid application
- Incorrect visa category
- Poor academic records
- Lack of related qualifications
- Gap in education
- Unclear career progression
- Lack of genuine student intent
To apply for a UK student visa is very simple, but it is a strict process. Any unexpected consequences can cause your student visa rejection. To get a smooth visa application, it’s always better to seek help from UK education experts like AIMS Education.
We have tried to cover everything about the student permit in the UK; however, if you have any questions regarding this, you can simply send us a “Call Back Request” and one of our education experts will contact you soon.
Frequently Asked Questions About UK Student Visa
The amounts of money Students will be required to have available as proof of fund requirements are increasing, for those applying under the Student route on or after 11 November 2025. The new amounts are as follows: £1529 per month in London (up to a maximum of 9 months) and outside London are £1,171 per month (up to a maximum of 9 months).
The standard application fee for a UK student visa is £524, and the IHS is £776 per year of your visa. The IHS fee should be given along with the visa application fee in the UK.
To apply for a UK Student Visa from Bangladesh, first you have to get a CAS letter from your university, then complete the online application and pay the required fees and the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS). After that, you have to give a Biometric and wait for the decision.
No, IELTS is not mandatory for a UK student visa. According to the Gov.uk, you have to be fluent in reading, writing, speaking and understanding English. However, you can prove your English language proficiency through different tests like IELTS, TOEFL, PTE, Duolingo or OIETC.
The UK student visa success ratio is high, consistently above 96% in recent years. In 2023, the approval rate was 97%, and in 2025, the success ratio reached 98%. Which means if you meet all the requirements, your UK visa will be approved.
