Part of the Loomz International Student Guide

This article is part of our practical guide to studying and living in the UK for international students.

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• Visa
• CAS
• UKVI
• eVisa
• Student sponsor

If you're preparing to study in the UK, it can suddenly feel as though everyone is speaking in acronyms.

The UK Student visa system isn't something you need to become an expert in, but you do need to understand which immigration route applies to you, what your university needs to provide and what you need to do before travelling.

This guide explains the basics in straightforward language.

Important: UK immigration rules can change and requirements depend on individual circumstances. This guide provides general information, not immigration advice. Always use current GOV.UK guidance and follow instructions from your university.

1. Do International Students Need a UK Student Visa?

Not necessarily.

Whether you need a visa, and which visa you need, depends on factors including your nationality, age, course and how long you'll be studying in the UK.

The UK has several immigration routes that can potentially be relevant to study, including the Student visa, Child Student visa, Short-term study visa for certain English-language courses and, in some circumstances, study as a Standard Visitor.

For most international students coming to Britain for a university degree, however, the Student visa is the route you're most likely to encounter.

Official information:
Check which UK visa you need on GOV.UK

2. What Is a UK Student Visa?

The Student visa is the UK's main immigration route for eligible international students studying with approved education providers.

You can apply if you're aged 16 or over and meet the relevant requirements.

These include having an offer for an eligible course from a licensed student sponsor, meeting the financial requirements that apply to you, meeting the English-language requirements and, for students aged 16 or 17, having the necessary parental consent.

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

So if you come across older articles referring to a "Tier 4 visa", be aware that terminology is outdated.

Official information:
UK Student visa overview on GOV.UK

3. What Is a Licensed Student Sponsor?

This sounds more complicated than it is.

For Student visa purposes, your education provider needs to be authorised by the UK Government to sponsor international students.

That's known as being a licensed student sponsor.

If you're applying to a UK university that recruits international students, you'll probably hear the word sponsor during the visa process.

It doesn't mean your university is paying for you.

In this context, it means the institution is authorised to sponsor eligible students under the Student immigration route.

4. What Is a CAS?

One of the most important terms you'll encounter is:

CAS — Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies

A CAS confirms that an approved education provider has offered you a place on an eligible course and is sponsoring your Student visa application.

Your university provides you with a CAS reference number, which you use when applying for your visa.

Think of the sequence roughly like this:

University offer → Meet university requirements → CAS issued → Student visa application

A CAS is not the same thing as simply receiving a university offer.

Your university will tell you when and how it issues your CAS and what it needs from you first.

Official information:
Check Student visa course and CAS requirements on GOV.UK

5. When Can You Apply for a Student Visa?

If you're applying from outside the UK, GOV.UK currently allows you to apply up to six months before your course starts.

If you're applying from inside the UK, the earliest application point is normally three months before your course starts, subject to the rules governing applications from within the country.

Don't leave the process unnecessarily late.

You may need time to organise documents, provide evidence, prove your identity or deal with an unexpected request for further information.

Your university may also have its own deadlines for issuing your CAS or completing international student processes.

6. How Long Does a Student Visa Take?

For applications made outside the UK, GOV.UK currently says you'll usually receive a decision within three weeks.

For applications made inside the UK, the usual decision period is currently eight weeks. Faster services may sometimes be available for an additional charge.

Those are usual processing periods, not a reason to book everything at the last possible moment.

Official information:
Check current Student visa processing information on GOV.UK

7. What Documents Do You Need?

The exact evidence depends on your circumstances.

Core Student visa documentation includes a valid passport or other travel document and your CAS.

Depending on your situation, you may also need evidence relating to finances, tuberculosis testing, ATAS, financial sponsorship or parental consent.

Don't simply copy the document list used by a friend who's also studying in Britain.

Their requirements might not be the same as yours.

Official information:
Check Student visa document requirements on GOV.UK

8. How Much Money Do You Need?

A Student visa has financial requirements.

Generally, this means being able to cover relevant course fees and having sufficient money to support yourself while studying in the UK.

How much you need depends on your circumstances and where you'll study.

There are also detailed rules covering how funds are evidenced, how long qualifying money must have been held and circumstances in which an applicant does not initially need to provide financial evidence.

We deliberately aren't reproducing the maintenance figures here.

Why?

Because this is intended to be an evergreen guide and immigration figures can change.

Use the current GOV.UK figure when you're preparing your application rather than relying on an amount copied into an older article.

Official information:
Check current Student visa financial requirements on GOV.UK

9. Do You Need to Prove Your English?

Usually, yes, although there are exemptions and different ways of satisfying the requirement.

How you demonstrate your knowledge of English depends on your circumstances.

It can potentially involve an eligible UK qualification, a qualifying degree, an approved Secure English Language Test (SELT) or, for some degree-level students, an assessment made by their Higher Education Provider.

For Student visa purposes, the required level is currently equivalent to CEFR B2 for degree-level study or above and B1 for study below degree level.

There are also circumstances where you don't need to prove your English again.

Official information:
Check Student visa English-language requirements on GOV.UK

10. How Much Does a UK Student Visa Cost?

There is an application fee for the Student visa.

You will also usually need to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) as part of your application.

Both are exactly the sort of figures that can change.

Rather than putting a visa price into this guide and allowing it to become outdated, check the current amount immediately before applying.

Official information:
Check the current Student visa fee on GOV.UK

Check the Immigration Health Surcharge on GOV.UK

11. What Is an eVisa?

The UK's immigration system is now largely digital.

An eVisa is a digital record of your identity, immigration status and the conditions attached to that status.

GOV.UK says successful visa applicants receive an eVisa, and physical immigration documents have been replaced by eVisas for immigration status.

You access your eVisa using a UKVI account.

Before travelling, make sure:

☐ You can access your UKVI account
☐ Your personal details are correct
☐ Your immigration status is correct
☐ Your passport or other travel document is correctly linked
☐ You're travelling using the appropriate linked document

Your eVisa can also be used to prove your immigration status when necessary, for example when proving your right to work or rent.

Official information:
Access and understand your eVisa on GOV.UK

12. When Can You Enter the UK?

Don't assume that receiving your Student visa means you can immediately move to Britain.

Your permitted arrival depends partly on the length of your course.

Under current rules, you can generally arrive:

Up to one week before your course starts if the course lasts six months or less.

Up to one month before your course starts if the course lasts more than six months.

Crucially, GOV.UK states that you must not travel before the start date given on your visa, regardless of when your course begins.

Check your own immigration status before booking your journey.

13. Can You Work on a UK Student Visa?

Potentially, but this is an area where you should be particularly careful about generic advice.

How much you're permitted to work depends on factors including what you're studying and whether you're working during or outside term time. Your individual immigration conditions matter.

A Student visa also comes with restrictions. For example, GOV.UK currently says Student visa holders cannot be self-employed or work as professional sportspeople or sports coaches.

So don't simply assume:

“International students can work X hours.”

Check the conditions attached to your own immigration status before accepting work.

Official information:
Check what you can and cannot do on a Student visa

14. Can You Bring Your Partner or Children?

This is another area where older online advice can be misleading.

Student visa holders cannot automatically bring dependants.

Under current rules, eligible dependants may accompany certain government-sponsored students and qualifying postgraduate students. For postgraduate courses beginning on or after 1 January 2024, the course generally needs to be a PhD/doctorate or a research-based higher degree for the Student visa holder to qualify under this route.

There are additional relationship, financial and immigration requirements.

If this applies to you, use the official rules rather than assuming that being married or having children automatically gives them the right to accompany you.

Official information:
Check Student visa rules for partners and children on GOV.UK

15. How Long Can You Stay in the UK?

Your permission depends on your course and circumstances.

For students aged 18 or over studying at degree level, GOV.UK says you can usually stay for up to five years on the Student route. For study below degree level, it's usually up to two years.

Different rules and exceptions can apply.

Your own eVisa records your immigration status and its conditions, so always check your actual permission rather than assuming your dates from the length of your degree.

16. Can You Stay in the UK After University?

Potentially.

There are immigration routes that may allow eligible graduates to remain in the UK after completing their studies.

One is the Graduate visa, but rules surrounding post-study immigration can change.

For example, current GOV.UK guidance says the Graduate visa lasts two years for applications made on or before 31 December 2026, but 18 months for applications made from 1 January 2027. PhD and other doctoral graduates continue to receive three years under the current rules.

That's a perfect example of why you shouldn't make long-term plans based on an old blog post.

Check the rules that apply when you're approaching graduation.

Official information:
Check the Graduate visa on GOV.UK

17. What Happens If Your Circumstances Change?

Your Student visa is connected to your studies and immigration conditions.

Changes such as switching courses or education providers, interrupting your studies, withdrawing from university or completing earlier than expected can potentially affect your immigration status.

If something significant changes, don't guess.

Speak to your university's international student or immigration advice team and check current GOV.UK guidance.

Universities that sponsor international students have responsibilities under the immigration system, so changes to your studies can matter.

UK Student Visa: The Simple Version

If all of that feels like a lot, the basic journey is much easier to understand:

1. Get accepted by an eligible UK education provider

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2. Meet the university's conditions

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3. Receive your CAS

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4. Check the Student visa requirements that apply to you

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5. Gather the required evidence

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6. Apply for your visa

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7. Prove your identity and complete any required application steps

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8. Receive a decision

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9. Access and check your eVisa

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10. Make sure your travel document is linked correctly

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11. Travel to the UK within your permitted dates

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12. Start university 🎓

Three Things to Remember

Your university offer and your visa are not the same thing.

Being accepted onto a course doesn't, by itself, give you permission to enter or remain in the UK.

Your friend's immigration situation isn't necessarily yours.

Nationality, age, course, funding, previous immigration history and other circumstances can affect the requirements.

GOV.UK beats TikTok.

Social media can be useful for hearing about other students' experiences.

It is not where you should establish your immigration requirements.

When the question is “Am I allowed to do this?”, use the official source.

More Help for International Students

This article is part of the Loomz International Student Guide to Studying in the UK.

Head back to the main guide for practical information covering preparing to travel, paperwork, packing, arriving in Britain, accommodation, money, healthcare, working and UK university life.

Explore the International Student Guide →

Important information: This guide provides general information and does not constitute immigration or legal advice. UK immigration rules, fees, financial requirements and visa conditions can change. Always check current information from the UK Government and follow any specific immigration guidance provided by your university.