Do you want to apply for a UK student visa in 2024? You’ll be eligible to get a UK student visa if you are 16 or above. However, the earliest you can apply for a student visa is 6 months before you start your course.
The UK is the most desired and popular study destination for international students. Getting a student visa in the UK is a tough job. 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 in UK requirements, documents 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 a lot.
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 your 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 basic requirements 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 UK for international students.
- Have been offered a place on a course by a licensed student sponsor.
- Have sufficient funds to support yourself and pay for your course; the required amount will vary based on your circumstances.
- Can speak, read, write, and understand English.
- Have consent from your parents if you are 16 or 17 years old; evidence of this will be required when you apply.
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 documents checklist for international students.
- A current passport or other valid travel document.
- A Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) from your course provider.
- Proof that you have enough money to support yourself and pay for your course. This depends on your situation.
- A valid ATAS certificate if your course and nationality require it.
- Proof of parental or legal guardian consent if you’re under 18.
- Proof of your relationship to your parent or guardian if you’re under 18.
- Your tuberculosis test results.
- Written consent for your application from your financial sponsor if they have paid for your course fees and living costs in the last 12 months.
How To Apply For A Student Visa In The UK?
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 is the step-by-step guidelines for the UK student visa application process.
- You should fill up 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 £490 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 £490.
The money you’ll need before you start your 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: Tuberculosis test is mandatory for international students. The TB test fee for 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 6 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 is the UK Student Visa New Rules in 2024?
As of January 2024, many students from other countries can’t bring their families with them when they come to study in the UK. However, this rule does not apply to postgraduate research students.
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
What are the requirements for a Student visa in the UK?
Ans: Here are the student visa requirements in UK for international students.
Have been offered a place on a course by a licensed student sponsor.
Have sufficient funds to support yourself and pay for your course; the required amount will vary based on your circumstances.
Can speak, read, write, and understand English.
Have consent from your parents if you are 16 or 17 years old; evidence of this will be required when you apply.
Is it easy to get a UK student visa?
Ans: To study in the UK, you need to be accepted into a course at a school or university that is allowed to sponsor international students. You also need to prove that you have enough money to live on while you study and that you can speak, read, write, and understand English well enough.
How much does a UK Student visa cost?
Ans: You must pay the student visa application fee as part of your online application. You’ll need £490 to apply for a Student visa from outside the UK.
How much money is required for a UK Student visa?
Ans: 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).
Is IELTS required for the UK?
Ans: Yes! You can get a UK study visa even if you haven’t taken the IELTS test. Instead, you can show the immigration people a letter from the university you’re going to that says you can get a visa without taking the IELTS test.
What is the minimum bank balance for a UK visa?
Ans: The minimum bank balance for a UK student visa is –
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).
