UK Student Route Visa: Full Requirements Explained.

What it costs

The Student Route application fee is a flat £558, whether you're applying from outside the UK or extending or switching to it from inside the UK, according to GOV.UK. This is separate from the Immigration Health Surcharge, which is charged per year of the visa on top of this fee.

The financial requirement

Where you'll study changes how much you need to show. If your course is in London, you need £1,529 per month, for up to 9 months. Outside London, the figure drops to £1,171 per month, also for up to 9 months. In both cases, the funds must have been sitting in your account continuously for at least 28 days, with that 28-day window ending within 31 days of your visa application date, according to GOV.UK.

You're exempt from proving these funds separately if you've already been legally resident in the UK with a valid visa for at least 12 months before applying. Nationals from certain countries also fall under a "differential evidence requirement" and may not need to submit this proof upfront, though it can still be requested later.

The English requirement

Degree-level courses and above require English proficiency equivalent to CEFR level B2; courses below degree level require B1. This can be demonstrated through UK qualifications, a UK degree, an assessed non-UK degree taught in English, or an approved Secure English Language Test (SELT). Seventeen nationalities, including the US, Canada, Australia, and Ireland, are exempt from proving this separately.

When to apply

From outside the UK, you can apply as early as 6 months before your course starts, with decisions typically taking around 3 weeks. From inside the UK, the window is 3 months before the course starts, with decisions typically taking around 8 weeks. Applying at the earliest possible point gives the most buffer if anything in your documentation needs correcting.

Documents to have ready

GOV.UK says everyone needs a current passport or other valid travel document, and a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) from the university. The CAS is the reference your university issues after you accept an offer, and you cannot apply without one.^[4]

Check the ATAS rule early. The certificate is a separate application and is easy to forget until the CAS arrives.

The TB test for applicants from India

You need a tuberculosis test if you are coming to the UK for six months or more and you have lived in a listed country for six months or more, or within the last six months. India is on the list.^{[5] [6]}

The test must be done at a Home Office-approved clinic. The Home Office does not accept certificates from other clinics. GOV.UK lists approved clinics in Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Mumbai and Pune, with contact details and fees.^[6] The test is a chest x-ray. If the result is unclear you may be asked for a sputum sample.

If the test shows you do not have TB, the certificate is valid for six months from the date of the x-ray.^[5] Time it so your visa application falls inside that window. A certificate that expires before you apply means paying for a second test.

Bringing a partner or children

The rules tightened for courses starting on or after 1 January 2024. A full-time postgraduate student can bring a partner or children only on a PhD or other doctorate, or a research-based higher degree. Government-sponsored students on courses longer than six months can also bring dependants. Taught master’s courses are not covered by the postgraduate route. Each dependant pays their own visa fee.^[7] For the wider effect of this change, see our analysis of UK student visa grants.

Frequently asked questions

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