UK Student Visa Application - UK Tier 4 Visa

So, you want to study in the UK? Learn all you should know about the uk study visa and how the application process works with our article on UK Student Visa Application - UK Tier 4 Visa.

You did it, you gained admission to a university in the United Kingdom. But before you start looking at accommodation prices or getting together materials for your journey, you might first want to start applying for a uk student visa. All international students need a visa to study in the UK, so you should also learn how to apply for student visa uk from india if you are an Indian.

The student visa uk requirements and general immigration criteria is overseen by UK Visas and Immigration, a website which you can visit to find out if you need a visa to study in the United Kingdom. While Swiss nationals and citizens of EU/EEA states presently don't need a visa to study in the UK, all other types of foreign students including you might need one.

We understand that the information you'll find on the UKVI website about student route visa uk may overwhelm you at first glance, but if you just take it step-by-step, you'll get through the process. 

On that note, this article will act as a guide that'll make your UK student visa application process as smooth and less challenging as it can.

 

Read: How To Apply For UK Student Visa In Nigeria - UK Post Study Work Visa.

 

Article content:

1. What is a uk student visa?

2. Types of uk student visa?

3. UK student visa fees

4. UK student visa requirements

5. How to apply for uk student visa

6. uk student visa new rules

7. Frequently asked questions about uk student visa

 

What Is A UK Student Visa?

Every international student who wants to study at a university in the United Kingdom are required to get a uk gov student visa (Tier 4). 

There are a lot of things to know about the uk student visa and we suggest that you read up on these things before you start your application.

In this section, we discuss the things you should know:

UK student visa Eligibility Criteria:

The Student Visa has replaced the Tier 4 (General) student visa.

You can apply for uk student visa if you've aged 16 years or above and you:

• Have been accepted to study a course by a licensed student sponsor.

• Have enough funds to sponsor yourself and pay for your course - the amount varies depending on the applicant's circumstance.

• Can speak, read, write, and understand the English language.

• Have permission from your parents as a 16 or 17-year-old - which you'll provide when you want to apply.

Applicants who are 16 or 17 and want to study at an independent school in the United Kingdom, may qualify for a Child Student visa instead.

 

When to apply for UK student visa

The time to apply for student visa uk depends on if you are doing the application from inside or outside the United Kingdom.

Overseas applicants:

• The earliest you can apply for a visa is 6 months before your course begins.

• A decision on your student visa is made within 3 weeks.

Applications from within the UK:

• The earliest you can apply for a visa is 3 months before your course begins.

• Your application must be made before your current visa expires. Your new course must start within 28 days of your current visa expiring.

• A decision is made within 8 weeks.

 

How long does a UK student visa last?

The duration of your stay in the United Kingdom is dependent on the length of your course and the study you have already completed in the UK.

Students of 18 years or older whose course is at a degree level, can stay in the UK for up to 5 years. If it's below degree level, you can stay for up to 2 years.

 

When can you travel with a UK student visa?

As an overseas applicant, you can arrive in the UK before your course begins. This can be:

• 1 week before, if it's a 6 months course or lower.

• 1 month before, if your course is more than 6 months.

• You must not travel to the UK before the start date on your visa, no matter when the course begins.

 

Things you can do on a UK student visa

Can Do:

• Study.

• Find work as a student union sabbatical officer.

• Work- you can study and work in uk depending on your course and if you'll be working in or out of term-time.

Cannot Do:

• Take public funds (benefits) and pensions.

• Work some types of jobs - professional sportsperson or sports coach.

• Be self-employed.

• Study at an academy or local authority-funded school (known as maintained school).

Learn more about the UK student visa.

 

Types of UK Study Visa

In addition to the UK Student visa, there are 3 other types of uk student visa available to international students. The uk tier 4 visa you'll apply for depends on your situation. These visa are:

1. Short-term Study Visa

You can apply for a short term study visa uk to study English in the United Kingdom. This visa is for students taking English language courses with a duration of more than 6 months up to 11 months.

Short-term Study visa fees and costs

It costs £200 for a short term student visa uk.

Healthcare surcharge fee

You also pay a healthcare surcharge of £470 as part of your Short-term Study visa online application. This will allow you to use the National Health Service in the Uk.

Learn more about Short-term Study visa.

 

2. Child Student Visa

Students can apply for a Child Student visa if they are between 4 and 17  years old and are studying at an independent school in the UK.

Eligibility for Child Student visa:

• Have an unconditional offer letter for admission to a course on an independent school.

• Prove that you can access enough funds to support you in the UK and pay for your course.

• Get consent from your parents or guardians to study in the UK, you will prove this during your application.

Learn more about the Child Student visa.

 

3. Graduate Visa

A graduate visa uk allows you to stay in the United Kingdom for at least 2 years after you've completed a course in the United Kingdom. It is a uk visa for top university graduates and you can apply for one after your studies.

There are some things you can do and not do with the uk visa top graduates apply for understanding the type of privileges this allows you will be a good guide for your application.

Graduate Visa Eligibility

You must be residing in the UK when you apply.

You are eligible for  uk visas graduates opt for if you meet the following criteria:

• You're a resident in the UK.

• You have a current Student visa or Tier 4 (General) student visa.

• You studied a bachelor's degree, postgraduate degree or other eligible course for a minimum period of time in the UK with your Student visa or Tier 4 (General) student visa.

• Your  university or college told the Home Office that you successfully completed your course.

Graduate Student visa dependents

If you have a partner and children joining you in the UK as 'dependants' on your current Student visa or dependent visa uk tier 4, they can apply to be dependants on your graduate route visa uk.

Any child born in the UK during your current Student or Tier 4 (General) student visa, can also apply under your uk student dependent visa. 

If their application is approved, their visa will expire on the same date as your student dependent visa uk. 

A child or partner can join you on a student dependant visa uk if the meet this criteria:

• Husband, wife, civil partner or unmarried partner.

• The child is under 18 even if they were born in the UK during your stay.

• The child is over 18 if they are in the UK as your dependant.

Graduate Visa UK Cost

The graduate visa uk cost £715 for the application fee. You'll also pay a healthcare surcharge of £624 for every year you'll be in the UK.

Learn more about Graduate Visa.

 

Read also: How to get Canada student visa in Nigeria.

 

UK Student Visa Fees

When applying for your uk student visa, you will need to pay the uk study visa fees to complete your application.

The uk student visa cost varies based on your current situation. We explained this below:

• £363 for Student visa application done outside the United Kingdom.

• £490 to extend or switch to a Student visa from within the UK.

You are required to pay the embassy fees for uk study visa for every person that'll join you.

Healthcare Surcharge

Applicants also need to pay a healthcare surcharge as part of their application. The amount to be paid depends on how long your student visa lasts. Find out how much you'll pay before applying.

 

UK Student Visa Requirements

During your uk student visa application, there are certain student visa uk requirements which you should meet if you want the embassy to grant your request for a london student visa. We listed these documents below:

• A recent passport or any other valid travel documentation.

• Confirmation of Acceptance of Studies (CAS) from your course provider, this should be any approved uk visa top universities.

You may need to present:

• Proof of funds to show that you have enough money to sponsor yourself and pay for your course - this depends on circumstances.

• A valid ATAS certificate if it is required from your course and nationality.

• Proof of consent from parental or other legal guardian for applicants under 18.

• Proof of relationship to  parents or guardian for applicants under 18.

• Tuberculosis test results.

• Written consent from a financial sponsor for your application if you got sponsorship for your course fees and living costs in the past 12 months.

Applicants under 18:

Applicants  under 18 years will need both parents or legal guardians to give written consent. One parent with sole responsibility can do this too.

The consent must cover:

• Your visa application.

• Living and care arrangements in the UK.

• Travel to the Uk.

Provide a copy of your birth certificate (or any other document issued by the government) that displays the names of your parents.

See the full list of uk student visa requirements.

 

Check: Schengen Visa Application: Requirements, Application Form.

 

How To Apply For UK Student Visa

If you are an applicant who is 16 years or older, and wish to study a higher education course in the Uk for more than 6 months, there is a chance you'll apply for student visa in uk using the Student Route.

Here is a detailed step on how your application should go;

1. Complete the application online for a UK Student visa.

2. Find out which documents you'll need for your application.

Applicants outside the Uk:

You'll be required to prove your identity, this is done depending on your country and the type of passport you carry. Below are some ways you can verify your identity:

1. Give your fingerprints and a photograph (biometric information) at a UK visa application center.

2. Scan your identity document at the 'UK Immigration: ID Check' - you will create or sign into a UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account.

You'll get more information when you start the application. Once you begin applying, you can save the application form and conclude it later.

It typically takes 3 weeks to get a decision from the embassy on the status of your UK visa. However, you can pay to get a faster decision from the officials. You'll be told if you can do this at the time of the application.

Applicants inside the UK:

You can apply to:

• Extend your current Student visa.

• Change from another type of visa to Student visa.

You'll be told if you can pay to get a faster decision at the time of the application.

After the application:

The officials at the embassy will contact you if your application is complex and it will lengthen the time. Complexities can be caused by:

• Your supporting document needed verification.

• You need to show up for an interview.

• Personal circumstances (you have a criminal history).

Learn more on how to apply for uk student visa.

 

See also: Canada Student Visa Application.

 

UK Student Visa New Rules

The UK government put some uk student visa new rules in place to restrict student visa routes as a way to cut net migration and protect the economic benefits students bring to the country.

Below we have laid out some of those rules and how they will affect the tier 4 student visa uk going forward.

1. International students have been restricted from bringing family members on all student visa routes except postgraduate research routes. They've also banned people from using a student visa as a means to work in the UK.

2. Foreign students are barred from switching from the student visa route into work routes until they have completed the studies. This will stop the misuse of the visa system.

3. The UK government will review the funds students need to have to show they can take care of themselves and dependants in the UK. They will also crack down on mischievous international student agents supporting inappropriate applications.

You can read more about the uk student visa new rules here.

 

Related: F1 Visa - F1 Student Visa Requirements, Application Process, Cost and Rules

 

Frequently Asked Question About UK Student Visa

There are a lot of questions you may have about your uk student visa application. We got you covered by giving answers to these frequently asked questions about uk student visa.

1. Can I study and work in UK?

Most international students in the United Kingdom, take on part-time jobs, work placement or internships alongside their studies. 

But before you do this, check your visa and biometric residence permit and university's rules to see if there are any restrictions on the type of work you can do.

 

2. What are the working hours for students in UK?

The student visa uk working hours is 20 hours per week during term time. You can check with your university to know how many hours they'll allow you to work.

 

3. How much does the UK student visa cost?

The uk study visa fees is £715 for your application. You will also pay a health surcharge of £624 for every year you spend in the United Kingdom.

 

4. How long is UK Student visa valid for?

The UK Student Visa will be granted for a period of time that matches your course duration. Adults enrolled in a degree-level course can get up to 5 years visa. While courses below degree-level get up to two years.

 

5. When does my UK Student visa expire?

The expiry date on your UK student visa depends on the duration of your course. Know when that will be so that you can plan accordingly.

 

6. Can I extend my UK Student Visa?

Yes, you can extend your UK student visa if you meet the eligibility criteria. To continue staying there, you can switch to a Graduate Visa to live and work in the United Kingdom.

You can also apply for an extension if you were enrolled to a different course in the UK. The course must be a higher degree than the one you just completed. 

 

If you think you are ready to start your uk student visa application, you may begin the proccess. More helpful information can be found on nairaland uk student visa forum or on official website of the UK government.

 

Further reading:

70 DS-160 Visa Frequently Asked Questions And Answers

50 H1B Visa Interview Questions And Answers (PDF For Download)

Top 70 F1 Visa Interview Questions And Answers (PDF for Download)

50 F1 Student Visa Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)