Have you been admitted to a university in the United Kingdom after a lot of hard work? if yes before you can start packing your bags, you have to make sure you have the proper paperwork ready and that’s why you need to learn how to apply for UK student visa and also the necessary requirements.
If you are reading this post, then you are seeking information on what is required to get a UK Student Visa. First, congratulations are in order, because this means that after a lot of hard work, you have been admitted to a university in the United Kingdom.
Types of UK Study Visa – Apply for a UK Tier 4 Student Visa
There are two student categories under Tier 4 of the points-based system:
- Tier 4 (General) Student Visa – This visa category is for students coming to the UK for higher education. The applicant must be at least 16 years old.
- Tier 4 (Child) Student Visa – This visa category is for children between 4 and 15 years of age coming to the UK for their education. Children between 4 and 15 years can only be educated at independent fee-paying schools.
If you are enrolled in a bachelors degree program or higher at a UK college that is listed on both the official ‘UKBA Sponsor list’ and the list of ‘recognized bodies’, you are allowed to work for up to 20 hours per week for (Tier 4 General) and work full-time during vacations or summer holidays.
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Cost of UK Student Visa Application
The fee for the Tier 4 General Visa is £348 (Approx. Rs 33,349). The methods of payment are stated below.
- Online using either a MasterCard or Visa card.
- Through demand draft at the visa application center and selected branches of Standard Chartered Bank.
- Through Cash at the visa application center and selected branches of Standard Chartered Bank.
UK Student Visa Requirements 2024
UK Student Visa Requirements: To apply for a student visa requires you to carry a lot more documents in comparison to a tourist visa, by comparison. Aspirants need the mandatory documents along with supporting documents of financial and academic records. Make sure you refer to the UK Student Visa checklist before going to the consulate for the visa interview.
You should have the following documents before applying:
- A completed UK student visa application form
- A letter of acceptance on the course – Your approved education provider will give you an acceptance letter (CAS) and a visa letter which are official and unconditional offers of a place on a course of study. The visa letter must be issued no more than six months before you apply. The applications where the visa letters are older than six months will be refused.
- Having a visa letter does not guarantee the application will be successful. The applicant must meet all the requirements of the category and any other requirements of the immigration rules.
- Proof of funds – The money you need to show covers your course fees for your first year of study and living costs for up to a maximum of nine months. The amount you will need depends on whether you are applying as a child or adult and also whether you will be studying in or out of London. You must show that you have held the money for at least 28 days. The end of that 28 day period must not be more than one month before the date of your application.
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You must show the following amount of money to meet basic living costs (not including fees) for a period of up to nine months i.e. £11,385 for nine months if you are living in London and £9,135 for nine months if you are living outside London.
- The visa fees payment confirmation receipt
- Payslips
- Original mark sheets/provisional certificates
- Scoresheet of exams like TOEFL, GMAT, IELTS, etc.
Documents Required for a UK Student Visa Application
As said above, you are required to have to following documents handy whenever you are searching for how to get a UK student visa online.
- Completed visa application form
- Passport or valid travel documentation
- One passport-sized photograph
- Proof that you can support yourself during your stay in the UK: 1,265 GBP/month if you live in London and 1,015 GBP/month for the rest of the UK
- Parental consent, if you’re under 18 years old
- Tuberculosis test results (for citizens of certain countries)
- Proof of paying the visa application fee: 348 GBP
- Immigration Health Surcharge: 150 GBP per year of study
- Self-assessment form Appendix 8 with attached documents. (not required if you apply online)
- Other requirements that may vary depending on your country of origin
Any documents that have to be submitted in support of the Appendix 8 form, which is not in English or Welsh, must be accompanied by an official full translation that can be independently verified by the UK Border Agency.
How to Apply For UK Student Visa 2024 – How to Get a UK Student Visa 2024
There are several steps to apply for a UK Student Visa. UK Study Visa applications are processed within three weeks of the completed application being lodged.
- Step 1 – The first step is to check if you qualify for the student visa or not. It would be best if you showed that you have:
- A confirmed place at the school, university, or college where you intend to study. It is called a ‘confirmation of acceptance for studies’ (CAS).
- Enough money (also known as ‘maintenance or funds) to cover your course fees and living costs in the UK.
- Step 2 – Get your documents ready
- Step 3 – Apply for the UK student visa online
You will need to register and create an account on the official UK Visa website. When you have completed your online UK student visa application form, you will need to print and sign your completed form. You must use the online appointment calendar to book an appointment at the visa application center.
When you have completed your UK student Visa online application, you will receive an email message containing your application number.
Step 4 – Pay your application fee. There are 4 ways to pay your UK visa application fee.
- Payment at Standard Chartered Bank – You can pay your fee at some branches of the Standard Chartered Bank. The bank will issue a demand draft favoring the ‘British High Commission‘.
- Demand draft from a nationalized or foreign bank – You can pay your fee by getting a demand draft issued by a nationalized or foreign bank. Bank charges for this service will vary. The demand draft must be in favor of the ‘British High Commission’.
- Payment at the visa application center – You can pay the visa application fee at the visa application center when you submit your visa application.
- Pay online – You can pay your visa application fee online using a Visa or MasterCard credit or debit card.
Step 5 – Visit the visa application center on the appointed date. You must book and attend an appointment at the visa application center to submit your application and facial photograph and fingerprints.
UK Student Visa FAQs
Q. What are the eligibility criteria to get a UK Tier 4 Student visa?
- Candidates must have an unconditional offer from a recognized educational institute for pursuing a course with a licensed Tier 4 sponsor
- Appropriate funds to support yourself and for the course
Q. Do I need a UK student visa to study in the UK?
A. If you are a national from the EU, EEA, or Switzerland, you do need a visa to pursue your higher education in the UK. Students from all other nationalities need to have a valid UK student visa to study in the UK.
Q. If a student is going just for one semester, in that case also needs a visa.
A. Yes, even if you are going for a short-term say less than six months, then you can apply for a Short Term Study Visa.
Q. At the latest when one can apply for a UK study visa?
A. One can apply for 3 months before the start of their course. Also, candidates usually get a decision on their visa within 3 weeks.
Q. How early one can come to the UK before the program starts? And for how long one can stay here?
- If your course lasts 6 months or less then you can come to the UK up to one week before the beginning of your course.
- If your course lasts, more than 6 months then can come to the UK for up to one month before your course starts.
Q. What is a CAS document?
A. Your educational institute will send you a reference number called a confirmation of acceptance for studies (CAS) once they admitted you for the course. Candidates need to enter this number on their UK student visa application.
