UK Student Visa Requirements For Pakistani Students

Are you dreaming of studying in the UK from Pakistan? For international students, obtaining a UK student visa is the main requirement to study in UK. According to the Gov.UK, the minimum age requirement for a study permit in UK is 18. However, if you are 16 or 17 years old you can apply for a child student visa in UK instead. 

Obtaining a student visa in the UK is a joyful moment for every Pakistani student. However, before you pack your bag, understanding the UK student visa requirements is important. 

Though the requirements for a UK student visa are already available on Google, you can easily understand them with the appropriate set of information and guidance. Otherwise, if you fail to understand them properly, you can face UK student visa rejection. 

In this blog, we will discuss the UK student visa requirements for Pakistani students in detail. We hope this guidance will be beneficial for you if you are going to apply for a UK university for the upcoming intakes in UK. Whether you want to study in the vibrant city of London or outside of London will get you covered.

Types of UK Student Visa

Generally the types of UK student visa depends on your age and the duration of your course. However, there are 3 types of student visas in the UK. 

• General Student Visa
• Child Student Visa
• Short-term Study Visa

Types of UK Student Visa	UK Student Visa Eligibility
General Student Visa	Previously it was recognised by the Tier 4 study visa or the UK student route, but now it is recognised by the general student visa in the UK. You can apply for a general UK student visa if you are 18 years old and if you are applying for a course that will take 1 year or more to complete.
Child Student Visa	If your age is 4 to 17, you would not be able to apply for a student permit in UK. In that case, you can apply for a child student visa, to study at an independent school in UK.
Short-term Study Visa	If you are applying for an English learning course with a duration of 6 months to less than 1 year, you can apply for a short-term study visa in UK.

Understanding The UK Student Visa Requirements For Pakistani Students

Previously we have discussed the types of UK student visas. However, to apply for a student visa in the UK, you must meet the eligibility criteria that are stated by the UKVI. In this blog, we will share only the general UK student visa requirements for Pakistani students. 

• You should have a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) letter from your university
• You must have a sufficient amount of money to bear your education and living expenses in the UK.
• You must be able to read, write, speak, and understand the English language properly
• If you are below 18 years old, you’ll need your parent’s consent to apply for a UK student visa.

Document required for a UK student visa

Once you meet the eligibility criteria, you’ll be able to apply for a UK student permit. However, the home office UK, will still ask you for some documents. These documents are required to check your authenticity for higher education in UK. So, Let’s explore the document requirements for a UK student visa for Pakistani students

• Your current passport or other valid travel documentation
• Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) from your course provider
• A bank statement to prove you have enough money to support yourself and pay for your course – this will vary depending on your circumstances
• a valid ATAS certificate (if required)
• Proof of parental or other legal guardian consent and your relationships with them (if you’re under 18)
• Tuberculosis test results
• Written consent for your application from your financial sponsor if you’ve received sponsorship for your tuition fees in UK and living costs in the last 12 months

Now we will discuss each of the requirements for a UK student visa in detail. With the right preparations and understanding of these requirements, you can make the journey much smoother. 

Current passport or other valid travel documentation

To apply for a UK student visa, you will need to provide a current passport or other valid travel documentation. Your passport or travel document should be valid for the duration of your stay in the UK. The details in your passport (like name, date of birth, etc.) should match the details in your student visa application in the UK. 

If your passport is not valid or does not have sufficient blank pages, you may need to renew it before applying for the visa. In special cases, where you cannot provide a passport, you can submit other valid travel documentation as per the UKVI guidelines.

Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) 

The very basic requirement of the UK student visa is obtaining a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) from your selected university in the UK. Once you are done with securing a place in your chosen program at your desired university, you will need to pay the university a standard CAS deposit to issue your CAS number. 

The CAS is a unique reference number of 14 digits that is essential for obtaining a Study permit in the UK. Ensure that your chosen institution is a licensed sponsor because it is crucial for UK student visa application.

Proof of English Language Proficiency

An international student must be able to read, write, speak, and understand English properly. As a Pakistani student and a non-native English speaker, you need to demonstrate your English language proficiency. It is one of the most significant UK student visa requirements for Pakistani Students. Multiple English language tests are acceptable by UK institutions including, IELTS, TOEFL, PTE, Language Cert, and more. Now, there is an important point to note. 

The language eligibility criteria or scores in these above-mentioned tests for UK universities vary from program to program. However, the minimum IELTS score requirement for an undergraduate and postgraduate program is overall 6 not less than 5.5 in any band. If you have a low IELTS score, you also study in the UK with a pre-sessional English course. 

Bank Balance Requirements for UK Student Visa

Another important UK student visa requirement for Pakistani students is proof of having sufficient funds to support themselves during their studies. To show the bank balance requirements for a UK student visa, you must keep one year of living costs in UK and one year of tuition fees in your student account or the sponsor’s bank account for 28 consecutive days. 

If your finances are sponsored by your parents or else, you are required to submit a consent form/ affidavit. This form shows the financial standing of your sponsor and his willingness to support your finances during your course of study in the UK. 

Now do you know, how much money you will require to show the proof of funds in UK? The tuition fees for universities in UK range between £12,000-£15,000. If you decide to live in London City, you need to have £1,483 per month for living expenses. However, if you live in any other city, you will need £1,136 per month for living expenses. 

The UKVI department issues a list of approved banks for every country, from where one can provide authentic bank statements. For complete information on this, you can check our blog on the UKVI-approved banks in Pakistan. 

Tuberculosis Test for UK Student Visa

TB test is one of the common requirements for a UK student visa. A tuberculosis test is important to take at an approved clinic when you are planning to stay in the UK for more than 6 months. 

Immigration Health Surcharge for UK Student Visa

You will also need to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) fee to apply for a UK student visa. By paying this fee you get access to the National Health Service (NHS) for your stay in the UK. The Immigration Health Surcharge’s fee depends upon the length of your visa. However, the one-year IHS fee in UK is £776.

ATAS Certificate

The Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) Certificate is a requirement for some international students applying for a UK student visa. It applies specifically to students planning to study certain sensitive subjects related to technology, engineering, and sciences at the postgraduate level. It is primarily needed for courses that lead to a qualification in STEM fields (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics).

Simply, it is for those international students who are applying for a master’s degree, PhD, or other postgraduate research in certain subject areas that could potentially be used in the development of weapons of mass destruction or advanced military technology.

If you fall in the above-mentioned category, you should apply for the ATAS certificate at least 6 months before your course or research starts. To get an ATAS certificate, You need to apply online through the GOV.UK website. The application is free.

Proof of Parent’s Consent for a Study Permit in UK

If you are under 18 years old and applying for a UK study permit, you need to provide proof of your parents’ or legal guardians’ consent. This is a mandatory requirement for a study permit in UK to ensure that the UK authorities have your parents’ approval for your travel and stay. Also, you must give some documents to prove your relationship with them. 

Written Consent for Your Application from Your Financial Sponsor 

If you are applying for a UK student visa and your education is being funded by a financial sponsor, you need to provide written consent from them. This is necessary if your financial sponsor is a government, international organization, company, or scholarship provider. A clear statement of consent from the sponsor, giving permission for you to stay and study in the UK. Also, it increases your chances of getting a UK student visa. 

How to Apply for a UK Student Visa?

Once you have completed all the above-mentioned steps and prepared the necessary documents, you will submit your online visa application. At this stage, you will also have to pay the student visa application fee in UK, which is £490. If you are applying for a UK student visa with dependents, you will have to pay each dependent’s visa fee separately. Moreover, you will also be required to attend an appointment at a visa application centre.

UK Student Visa New Rules for International Students 2024

According to an announcement from the Home Office UK, international students are no longer able to bring dependants with them unless they are applying for a UK student visa for an MRes or PhD program. However, if you are a research student and want to study in UK with dependants, you must maintain the following requirements for that. 

Bringing Dependent Along On A Student Visa

On a UK student visa, you can bring a dependent along, which can be a husband, wife, civil partner, unmarried partner, or child under 18 years old.  But there are certain requirements for bringing a dependent with you to the UK. 

Firstly, you will need to provide evidence of your relationship with the dependent. This includes a marriage certificate for your partner or a birth certificate for your child. Moreover, you will also have to provide proof that your children are not married and two documents confirming the dependant’s address for a UK Student Visa.

Each dependent must contain a specific budget for living expenses. If you are applying with your dependants for a UK Student Visa, you will need to demonstrate that you have enough funds for your course, your living expenses, and additional funds for each dependant. However, if you apply separately, only proof of funds for their support will be required.

When To Apply For A Student Visa? 

The earliest you can apply for a visa is before 6 months of starting your degree program in the UK. Once you’ve applied, you have to wait some days for the decision. The standard processing time for a UK student visa is usually 3 weeks. However, sometimes it may be delayed if you fail to meet any UK student visa requirements for Pakistani students. 

How Long A Student Can Stay In The UK? 

Your stay duration in the UK on a UK student visa depends upon the length of your chosen course. If you are above the age of 18 and are enrolled at degree level, you can stay in the UK for up to 5 years. However, if your chosen course is not at degree level, you can stay for up to 2 years. 

Additionally, if you decide to continue further studies in the UK, you can make your UK student visa extended. Moreover, if you switch to a graduate visa you can stay for 2 years after your graduation. 

Tips to Increase UK Student Visa Success Rate for Pakistani Students

The success rate for UK student visas is higher than the other study-abroad countries. However, following some tips can help you ensure a successful visa application. Here are some useful tips to increase the UK student visa success rate for Pakistani students. 

• Start your UK student visa application as early as possible to allow ample time for processing.
• Select an approved clinic for TB tests and be prepared for the process.
• You can make copies of all the documents to avoid unnecessary incidents.
• Ensure that the bank statement you submit for a UK student visa covers a minimum of the last 28 days. It must be current as of the date of your application.  
• Contact the expert team of Aims Education to help you with the best UK visa application process from Pakistan. 
• Keep all your documents in one place and create a checklist of required documents. This way you would not miss anything for getting a UK student visa.
• Prepare for your English language test well in advance to meet the required score of your desired institution.

Final Words 

This was a complete guide to the UK student visa requirements for Pakistani students. Applying for a student visa for the UK might seem a little daunting but following the above-mentioned steps will help you complete the whole procedure without any hassle. In case you feel any difficulty while understanding the UK student visa requirements, you can consult the expert visa assistance team of AIMS Education. 

FAQ’s