The latest government report recorded that over 670,000 overseas students joined UK colleges and universities in the same year, making the UK one of the leading places to study.
As an aspiring student, you may want to study in the UK because of the high education standards or simply to improve your English. Either way, you’ll need a UK student visa to land your place with an education provider.
In this guide, you’ll learn whether a student visa is for you and the six steps to apply successfully.
Do I Need a Visa to Study in the UK?
A student visa is the only route to take if you want to study in the UK.
These visas are for students over the age of sixteen. If you’re applying for a licensed independent school, you may be eligible for a child student visa, even if you’re 16 or 17.
Is a Student Visa the Right Route?
If you’re an international student from outside the UK, you must apply for a student visa when studying for an eligible course at a university or college.
With this visa, you are restricted from working full-time and must follow several requirements to maintain your right to study in the UK.
Being a student, however, isn’t the only way to enjoy residency in the UK. Your existing career may be eligible for a skilled worker visa should you wish to continue your career over studying.
Work in healthcare? A health and care worker visa is another route to look into.
6 Steps for Getting a Student Visa
1 – Apply for a Course & Receive an Unconditional Offer
To have a student visa, you must be a student. So, you must first decide on a course and university to which you want to apply. Most universities and colleges onboard overseas students, so you won’t be limited when deciding your dream education path.
You must have an unconditional offer from your licensed student sponsor. The education provider will send you a reference number called a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS). A CAS will expire within 6 months if not used in an application, so you can’t delay your visa for long.
2 – Apply for ATAS (Postgraduate ‘Sensitive’ Subjects)
If you intend to study a postgraduate course in the UK, you may need to apply for an Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS). This scheme only applies to courses where knowledge could be used to develop weapons of mass destruction or advanced conventional military equipment (ACMT).
Many countries are exempt from requiring an ATAS certificate, but if yours isn’t, you will need this provided before applying for your visa.
3 – Prepare for Student Visa Application
You need to provide evidence of your English proficiency, how you’ll cover your expenses and other important information. Before applying for your UK student visa, you need to have the following ready:
- Financial support – You must show enough money to fund your studies and living expenses. This may be self-funded or through a scholarship, government or sponsorship. These financial requirements don’t apply if you’ve had a UK visa for the last 12 months.
- English proficiency – You must prove you can write, read, speak and understand English by passing a Secure English Language Test (SELT) from a provider such as IELTS SELT Consortium or Pearson. Certain countries and territories are exempt from this requirement.
- Tuberculosis (TB) test results – Degrees can last 12 months to 4 years. Because of the length of time, you must take a TB test. This will remain valid for 6 months once certified.
- Other documentation – You must also provide your passport, a valid CAS and an ATAS certificate if applicable to your course and home country.
- Under 18 documentation – Under 18-year-olds must show proof of parental or legal guardian consent and proof of this relationship, e.g., a birth certificate.
This step requires a lot of hard work, so don’t give up here. Incomplete or incorrect documentation and lacking evidence of financial support are why many student visas get rejected in the first place.
With our student visa application service, we’ll review and advise you on the required documentation before you apply so there is less room for mistakes. Our immigration consultants have an eye for detail and will prepare you for the next step.
4 – Apply for Student Visa
Now that you’ve gathered all the relevant information, you can apply for a UK student visa. You can apply 6 months before your course start date if you are applying from outside the UK. For those looking at the January intake, head to our latest guidance on visa applications for January 2025.
Already studying in the UK? You can extend your student visa 3 months prior to your next course, but it must be done before your current visa expires.
5 – Organise Everything for Travelling
Once your application is approved, you should start preparing for your travels. For courses longer than 6 months, you can arrive up to one month before your course begins – plenty of time to be a tourist!
First, you need to source student accommodation. You could go to university halls or go through private means. Next, make a list of all the essentials needed for your accommodation and studies, along with your passport or national identity card for border control. When you arrive, you’ll need to get your biometric residence permit (BRP) organised.
Please note that BRPs expire on 31st December 2024, so you must access your eVisa instead.
6 – Think About the Future
Your student visa doesn’t last forever, so think carefully about how you intend to spend your future after graduation.
You could extend your visa for further learning or apply for a skilled worker or graduate visa. A degree will improve your chances of landing a job, but don’t forget – the organisation must have a sponsor licence to employ you.
Stress-Free UK Student Visa Help at Holmes & Partners
Navigating through these steps can be complex, stressful and time-consuming. At Holmes & Partners, we simplify the student visa process and will be at your side until the application goes through.
