How to Get a UK Student Visa in 2025

Are you planning to study in the UK in 2025? A UK student visa is your gateway to explore top-ranked universities, world-class education and global career opportunities. You’ll be eligible to get a UK student visa if you are 16 or older. However, you’ve to apply 6 months before your course starts.

The UK is the most desired and popular study destination for international students. Getting a student visa in the UK is easy. But sometimes, it’s time-consuming and complicated too. It is because the UK is in high demand for international students.However, in this blog, we’ll discuss the student visa requirements for the UK, the document checklist, and the UK student visa processing time for international students. So, if you want to study in the UK this year, hopefully, this blog will help you avoid UK Student Visa rejection.

Brief Overview of a UK Student Visa

Previously, the UK student visa was known as the Tier 4 General Student Visa. It allows international students to study at a licensed university in the UK. However, to achieve this opportunity, you must have an unconditional offer, a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS), and meet other key requirements.

Types of Student Visa in UK

There are four types of student visas in the UK. Your UK student visa depends on the type of study.

• Student visa
• Child Student Visa
• Study English in the UK (short-term study visa)
• Visit the UK as a Standard Visitor

What are the Eligibility Criteria for a UK Student Visa?

To apply for a UK student visa, you must meet some basic requirements. Here are the student visa requirements in the UK 2025 for international students.

• Be at least 16 years old
• Hold an unconditional offer from a licensed student sponsor
• Have a valid CAS number issued by your university
• Show proof of English proficiency (e.g., IELTS/UKVI-approved test)
• Provide financial evidence showing you can pay for your course and living expenses
• Have parental consent (if under 18)

If you are 16 or 17 and wish to study at an independent school in the UK, you might qualify for a Child Student Visa instead.

Document Requirements for a Student Visa in UK

When you apply for your student visa, you need to provide the following documents: Here is the UK student visa document checklist for international students.

• Valid passport or travel document
• CAS letter from your university
• Proof of funds (bank statements showing at least £1,483/month if studying in London or £1,136/month elsewhere, for up to 9 months)
• English language test certificate (IELTS UKVI or equivalent)
• Academic transcripts and certificates
• Tuberculosis (TB) test certificate (if from a listed country)
• Parental consent (if under 18)
• ATAS certificate (if applicable)

How to Apply for a Student Visa in the UK? Step by Step Guidance

International students always worry about the UK student visa application process. Usually, the visa issue comes when a student chooses a university and gets an offer letter. After getting selected, a student needs to apply for a visa. Here are the step-by-step guidelines for the UK student visa application process.

• You should fill out the UK student visa application form online.
• You should give your fingerprints and a photograph (biometric information) at a visa application centre.
• Use the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ app to scan the identity document.
• You need to create or sign in to the UK Visas and Immigration account.
• You’ll be told what you need to do when you start applying. After starting your visa application process, you can save it and complete it later.

How Much Does it Cost to Apply for a UK Student Visa?

The entire cost of a UK student visa can be classified into two categories, such as:

• The money you’ll need when applying
• The money you’ll need before you start your application

The Money You’ll Need When Applying

You must pay the student visa application fee as part of your online application. You’ll need £524 to apply for a Student Visa from outside the UK. However, to extend or switch to a Student Visa from inside the UK, you’ll need to pay £524.

The Money You’ll Need Before You Start Your UK Visa Application

• IHS fee for UK student visa: You must pay £776 per year as your health surcharge fee in the UK. £776 per year for visa and immigration applicants who are under the age of 18. £1,035 per year for all other visa and immigration applications.
• TB test fee: The tuberculosis test is mandatory for international students. The TB test fee for a UK student visa is 70 USD for age 11 or above. And 30 USD for those aged below 11.
• Course fee: You need to have enough money to cover your course fees for one academic year (up to 9 months). The exact amount you need will be listed on your Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS). If you have been in the UK with a valid visa for at least 12 months, you do not need to show proof of this money when applying for your visa.
• Bank statement: The amount of money you need depends on where you’ll be studying.

• For courses in London, you need £1,334 per month (up to 9 months).
• For courses outside London, you need £1,023 per month (up to 9 months).

If you’re staying at a boarding school, you’ll need to pay the boarding fees listed on your CAS.

When to Apply for a UK Student Visa?

The time of applying for a student visa usually depends on whether you are outside or inside the UK. If you are outside of the UK, you should apply for a minimum of 6 months before starting your study in the UK.

How long does it take to get a UK student visa?

You can apply for a visa up to six months before your course begins. Usually, the UK student visa processing time is 3 weeks for international students. You might be able to pay extra to get a faster decision on your visa or settlement (also called ‘indefinite leave to remain’) application. If you use the ‘priority service,’ you will usually get a decision within 5 working days. For family visa applications from outside the UK, it usually takes 30 working days.

What to Do If You Need to Change Something After Sending Your Application?

If you need to change anything in your application after sending it, contact UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI). If you want to cancel your application, contact UKVI. You will get a refund only if they have not started processing your application.

How Long Can a Student Stay with a Student Visa in UK?

How long you can stay depends on your course length and what you’ve already studied in the UK. If you’re 18 or older and your course is at the degree level, you can usually stay in the UK for up to 5 years. If your course is below the degree level, you can usually stay for up to 2 years.

To stay longer in the UK, you can:

• Extend your visa if you’re eligible.
• Switch to a Graduate Visa in the UK for staying at least 2 years after completing your course.

What are the UK Student Visa New Rules in 2025?

Starting January 2025, financial requirements for UK student visas have increased:£1,483 per month for London-based students (total: £13,347 for 9 months) and £1,136 per month for students outside London (total: £10,224 for 9 months).

Common Reasons for UK Student Visa Rejection

Obtaining a UK student visa is easy if you don’t have the following issues that may cause your UK student visa rejection:

• Insufficient financial evidence
• Incorrect or missing documents
• Low English language score
• Failure to attend a biometrics appointment
• Previous visa refusal without explanation

Final Words

AIMS Education, an education consultancy in Bangladesh, helps students to study abroad. If you want to know how to get a student visa for the UK in 2024, you can visit AIMS Education. AIMS Education can give you a 100% UK student visa success guarantee.

FAQ (Frequently Asked Question)