How to Get a Student Visa for the UK in 2027

To apply for a UK Student visa, you need an offer from a licensed student sponsor, enough money to pay your course fees and support yourself, and evidence that you meet the English-language requirement.
The documents and evidence you need to submit depend on your circumstances.
This guide explains which visa route may apply to your course, how to apply, what the application costs, and what to check before travelling.
Visa rules and fees can change, so check the latest GOV.UK guidance before applying.

Congratulations! After much hard work, you were accepted into a university in the United Kingdom. However, before packing your bags, you must ensure you have the proper paperwork ready.

At first, all the information may seem overwhelming, but if you prepare in advance and follow some simple steps, you'll get through it quickly. This guide will help make your UK visa application process easy and less stressful.

Find Master's degrees in the UK

What types of student visas are there in the UK?

Several visa options depend on your course length andplans after graduation. The most relevant for you, as an international student in the UK, are:

Student visa: For eligible students aged 16 or over who have an offer from a licensed student sponsor. It is generally required for courses lasting longer than six months, subject to the rules for the course and visa route.
Short-term study visa: For people aged 16 or over taking an English-language course lasting more than six months and no more than 11 months at an accredited institution. For study lasting six months or less, a Standard Visitor visa may be appropriate; other courses lasting longer than six months generally require a Student visa.
Graduate visa: Eligible graduates who apply on or before 31 December 2026 can stay for two years; those who apply on or after 1 January 2027 can stay for 18 months. Graduates with a PhD or other doctoral qualification can stay for three years.

Conditions you need to meet to receive a UK Student Visa

You can apply for a UK Student visa if you’re 16 or over and you:

Have an offer from a university, college, or school in the UK with permission from the UK government to sponsor international students.
Have enough money to cover your course fees and living costs (the amount depends on your situation)
Can speak, read, write, and understand English
Have parental consent if you’re 16 or 17 (you’ll need proof when applying).
- If you’re 16 or 17 and want to study at an independent school in the UK, you may be eligible for a Child Student visa instead.

How to apply for a UK student visa

Applying for a UK student visa is done online. Here are the main steps:

Receive a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) – As mentioned above, you need a CAS from a UK university before applying for a visa. This confirms that you have been accepted into a legitimate school.
Meet the financial requirement. You must have enough money for your course fees and living costs. As of October 2026, the living-cost requirement is £1,529 per month for study in London and £1,171 per month outside London, for up to nine months. The money generally needs to have been held for 28 consecutive days, with the end of that period within 31 days of the application. Some applicants do not need to provide financial evidence with their application. Check the current figures and evidence rules before applying.
Meet the English-language requirement. You may be able to use a UK qualification, a degree taught in English, an approved English test, or an assessment by your higher education provider, depending on your course and circumstances. Degree-level study normally requires English at CEFR B2; below-degree study normally requires B1. Do not describe TOEFL as a generally approved Student visa test: check the approved options and your sponsor’s requirements.
Apply online and pay the fee. As of October 2026, a Student visa application costs £558. The fee may change, so check the GOV.UK fee page before applying.
Pay the Immigration Health Surcharge. The student rate is currently £776 per year. The total depends on the length of the visa, not just the course.
Prove your identity. Depending on your application, you may use the UK Immigration: ID Check app or attend a visa application centre to provide fingerprints and a photograph.
Wait for a decision. The usual decision time is three weeks for applications from outside the UK and eight weeks for applications from inside the UK.
Check your visa start date before travelling. You must not travel before the start date shown on your visa. If your course lasts more than six months, you can generally arrive up to one month before it starts; for a course lasting six months or less, up to one week before.

Students from China, India, and Nigeria make up the largest international groups in the UK, with fast-growing interest from Pakistan and the US. If you're from India or Pakistan, don’t miss our step-by-step visa guides to help you get started with confidence:

What are the costs when applying for a UK student visa:

Costs depend on your course, visa length and circumstances.
As of October 2026, the Student visa application fee is £558.
The student Immigration Health Surcharge rate is £776 per year, charged according to the length of the visa.
You must also meet the financial requirement for unpaid course fees and living costs; those funds are not visa fees.
English tests, optional visa-centre services and other expenses vary by provider and location.
Check the latest GOV.UK fees and financial requirements before applying.

Total estimated budget when applying for a student visa is approximately £10,000. This is for a typical first-year student visa. Costs may vary slightly based on location, exchange rates, and individual circumstances.

UK student visa documents cheatsheet:

Required for every application

A current passport or other valid travel document
A Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) from your course provider

May be required, depending on your circumstances

Evidence that you meet the financial requirement
A valid ATAS certificate, if your course and nationality require one
Parental or legal-guardian consent and relationship evidence, if you’re under 18
Tuberculosis test results, if the UK rules require them for you
Written consent from your financial sponsor if you received sponsorship for course fees and living costs during the 12 months before applying

Written consent from your financial sponsor if you received funding for course fees and living costs in the past 12 months.

Check out our partner universities in the UK.

We recommend you also explore degrees offered by some of our partners in the UK:

These institutions offer excellent programmes and are known for their international student support and vibrant academic environments.

Check out the top-ranked universities in the United Kingdom

When to apply for a UK student visa

Here’s the table with rows and columns switched for better comparison:

	Outside the UK	Inside the UK
When you can apply	Up to 6 months before course start	Up to 3 months before course start
Visa decision time	Usually within 3 weeks	Usually within 8 weeks
Important conditions	–	Must apply before current visa expires. New course must start within 28 days of visa expiry.

Extending or switching your visa

If you want to continue studying or stay in the UK after graduation, you may need to extend or switch your visa.

Extending your Student visa – If your course is longer than expected or you’re starting a new course at a higher level, you can apply for an extension.
Switching to a Graduate visa – If you meet the eligibility requirements, you can apply from inside the UK after your education provider has told the Home Office that you successfully completed an eligible course. You do not need a job offer. If you apply on or before 31 December 2026, the visa lasts two years; if you apply on or after 1 January 2027, it lasts 18 months. It lasts three years for a PhD or other doctoral qualification. You must apply before your Student visa expires.
Other work visa options – If you have a job offer from a UK employer, you may be able to switch to a Skilled Worker visa, which allows long-term employment in the UK.

You must apply before your current visa expires. Your new course must begin within 28 days of your current visa expiring. You can stay in the UK until you get your decision.

Follow the rules: how to avoid visa problems

To keep your UK student visa safe, you need to follow the rules:

Tell your university about any changes – If you move, change your phone number, or switch courses, let your university know immediately.
Stick to your work hours – Don’t work more than allowed. Even small mistakes can cause your visa to be cancelled.
Don’t stay after your visa expires—If your visa is expiring, apply for a new one or leave the UK before the deadline.
Check the latest visa rules – Visa rules can change, so always look at official UK government updates.
If you break the rules, you could lose your visa, be asked to leave the UK, or even be banned from returning.

Final thoughts

Studying in the UK is exciting, but understanding visa regulations is crucial to avoid problems. Ensure you apply for the right visa, follow work restrictions, and stay current with any rule changes.

For more information on UK study opportunities and visa-compliant programmes, explore options on the Master’s Portal.

FAQs

Can I bring my family to the UK on a student visa?

You may be able to bring a partner or child as a dependant if you are a government-sponsored student on a course lasting longer than six months, or a full-time postgraduate student on a course lasting at least nine months who meets the route’s requirements. For postgraduate courses starting on or after 1 January 2024, the course must be a PhD or other doctorate, or a research-based higher degree. A taught Master’s course does not qualify solely because it lasts nine months or longer.

What happens if my visa application is rejected?

Read your refusal decision carefully. It will explain whether you can apply for an Administrative Review. Eligibility depends on the type of application and refusal. You may instead be able to submit a new application if you can address the refusal reasons.

Can I switch from a student visa to a work visa before graduation?

You may be able to switch to a Skilled Worker visa before your course ends, but only in specific circumstances. For example, you may qualify if you have completed your course, if your sponsored job starts after your course ends, or if you are studying full-time for a PhD and have studied for at least 24 months. You must also meet the other Skilled Worker requirements. You can apply for a Graduate visa only after your provider has reported that you successfully completed your course.

How long can I stay in the UK after my studies?

If you apply for a Graduate visa on or before 31 December 2026, you can stay for two years after successfully completing an eligible course. If you apply on or after 1 January 2027, you can stay for 18 months. If you have a PhD or other doctoral qualification, you can stay for three years.