Student Visa Requirements for the UK
Student Visa Requirements for the UK Student Visa Requirement
Known as one of the pioneers of providing international degrees and a welcoming place for international students, the United Kingdom is a room full of opportunities to be acquired. However, one of the most important things to unlock those opportunities would be to get a student visa. There can be variations in the application requirements to apply for the visa, depending on the age and the type of study you are wishing to pursue. This article will give out an overview of the types of study visas available and their application requirements. The article will emphasize the Tier 4 (General) student visa due to its prominence among the undergraduates and graduates who are willing to transfer to the UK.
TIER 4 (GENERAL) STUDENT VISA - Currently known as the “Student visa”
Overview This type of visa is provided for students who are aged 16 or above and have been offered a place in a course program from an educational institute in the UK. In the year 2020, the 4 tier route has been replaced by the student route. The duration allowed to stay in the UK depends on the degree type and the length of the course. If the student is 18 years or above and is following a course in the degree level then they can stay in the UK for up to 5 years. Meanwhile, if the course is below degree level then they can only stay for 2 years.
Eligibility
The course has been offered by a licensed student sponsor.
▶ Financially stable to support yourself and to pay for the courses.
▶ Has a good level of proficiency in English (Can speak, write and understand English)
▷ Student visa - below degree level and pre-sessional courses- IELTS requirement (5.5 overall, and in each of the four skills). Note: IELTS requirements vary from University to University.
▷ Student visa - degree level and above - IELTS/IELTS for UKVI ((6.0 overall, and 5.5 in each of the four skills)
▶ Consent letter from parents with evidence if you’re 16 or 17 years old.
Process
First of all, an offer letter called the “Confirmation Acceptance of Studies” (CAS) needs to be obtained from a university/college to apply for the visa. The possibility of receiving this offer letter will be high if your chosen institute is approved by the UK government as a “licensed sponsor”. An application needs to be submitted and the UK government will have to accept it to be able to arrive in the UK. Students can apply for this visa up to six months before the course starting date and will usually take around 3 weeks to receive a decision on that.
Required documents
While applying for the student visa, the following documents need to be provided:
▶ A valid passport or other valid travel documentation.
▶ A Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) from your institute in the UK.
▶ Police Clearance and Medical Report In addition, the following requirements might also be needed as per request.
▶ Evidence on the financial stability of the student to ensure the student have enough money to afford the course fee and other involved expenses.
▶ Passport-sized colour photograph
▶ A valid ATAS certificate (depending on the course)
▶ The consent of the parental or guardian if the student is under 18 years old.
▶ Evidence of the relationship of the student with their parent or guardian if the student is under 18.
▶ A tuberculosis test results (if necessary)
▶ Written consent for your application from your financial sponsor if you’ve received sponsorship for your course fees and living costs in the last 12 months
Fee
An application fee of approximately £363 per student needs to be paid. Along with that, the applicant should have a current passport and other valid travel documents. In addition, the applicants would also need to bear a fee named “Immigration Health Surcharge” which would give the students access to the UK’s National Health Service. Students are entitled to a 25% discount on the usual cost of this fee, marking the rate for the student visa holders to be approximately £470 per year.
Short-term study visa
Currently known as the “Short-term student route", this student visa is a preferable route available for students who are planning to join courses that are up to six months long or English Language courses that would usually last up to 11 months long. Students can apply for this visa up to 3 months before the date of travel to the destination(UK).
