If you’re planning to study in the UK as a student, you need to apply for a UK study Visa. you can apply for this Visa on your own and do not need any solicitor or immigration consultant. This article is the complete guide on how you need to apply UK study Visa.

What Is a UK Student Visa?

• You can apply for a student visa to study in the UK If you are 16 or over and you:
• have been offered a place on a course by a licensed student sponsor
• have enough money to support yourself and pay for your course the amount will vary depending on your circumstances
• you can speak read and write and understand English

When To Apply For A Student Visa?

You can apply depending on whether you are applying from inside the UK or outside the UK.

If You Are Applying From Inside The UK

• If you are applying from inside the UK then the earliest you can apply for a Visa is six months before you start your course.
• You will usually get a decision on your Visa within three weeks.

If You Are Applying From Inside The UK

• The earliest you can apply is three months before your course starts
• you must apply before your current Visa expires your new course must begin within 28 days of your current Visa expiry
• You will usually get a decision within eight weeks.

How Long You Can Stay On Student Visa?

You can stay on a student visa depending on your course circumstances. so for example, if you are coming for a degree level it’s different. and Below degree level is different.

• If you are 18 or over and your courses are at degree level you can usually stay in the UK for up to 5 years.
• If it’s below degree level you will usually stay in the UK for up to two years. You can extend your Visa depending on your degree

When You Can Travel To The UK?

• You can arrive before your course starts. this can be either up to one week before if your course lasts 6 months or less up to one month before.
• if your course lasts more than 6 months you must not travel to the UK before the start date given on your Visa no matter when your course starts.

What are the Visa fees for the study Visa?

it cost:

• 363 pounds to apply for a student visa from outside the UK
• 490 pounds to extend or student visa from inside the UK
• 470 pounds per year Health surcharge you have to pay.

So for example, if your course is for two years, in that case, you will pay for two years which will be 940 pounds you have to pay a health surcharge before you arrive UK.

What You Can Do On a UK Study Visa?

• You can study on this Visa
• Work as a student union officer
• You may be able to work more depending on your course and what you are studying

What You Cannot Do On A UK Study Visa?

• You cannot claim public benefits pensions
• Work in certain jobs for example a professional sports person or a sports coach
• Be self-employed or study at an academic or local authority-funded school which is also known as Council schools

What Are The Requirements For This Visa?

• You must have an unconditional offer of a place on a course with the licensed student sponsor
• To prove this your education provider will send you a reference number which is known as Confirmation Of Acceptance for studies (CAS) once they have offered you a place on the course
• You need cash before you apply for your Visa
• You must apply for your Visa within six months of receiving your cash letter otherwise your letter will expire and you have to again apply for the cash letter

How Much Money Do You Need For This Visa?

• You need enough money to pay for your course for one Academic Year (up to 9 months)
• The amount you need to pay will be on your confirmation of acceptance for studies (CAS) which is also known as a cash letter

How much money you need depends on where you will be studying:
You will need either 1334 per month (for up to 9 months) for courses in London
you need 1023 per month (for up to 9 months) for the course outside London.

How Long Do You Have To Show This Money?

• You must have this money for at least 28 consecutive days. The end date of the 28 days must be within 31 days of the date you apply for your Visa.
• For example, if you submit your application on 1st January 2024 you have to show the fund in your bank account for at least 28 days prior ending on 1st December foreign countries do not need to show evidence of enough money to support.

What Is The English Language Requirement?

• For this Visa, you must prove your knowledge of English when you apply. You can prove your knowledge of English by:
• Passing a secure English language test also known as SELT from an approved provider
• having a GCSE a-level Scottish national qualification level 4 or 5, Scottish higher or Advanced higher in English, gained through study at a UK school that you began when you are under 18.

What Documents You Need For This Visa?

• A current passport or another valid travel Document
• A confirmation of acceptance for studies which is also known as a cash letter
• Proof of you have enough money to support yourself pay for your fees and live in the UK
• A valid ATAS certificate if your course and nationality require it
• Proof of Parental or other legal guardian consent if you are under 18
• If you are over 18 then you don’t need that proof of your relationship with your parents or Guardian
• If you are under 18 your TB certificate result
• Written consent for your application from your financial sponsor if you have been sponsored or you got the scholarship for your course fees and other living expenses for the 12 months.

How to apply for a student visa?

• you must apply online for a student visa
• you need to prove your identity
• once you have started your application you can save your form and complete it later

How Long It Take To Get The Decision

You will usually get a decision within three weeks.
You may be able to pay to get a faster decision you will be told if you can do that when you apply the application.

What Happens After You Get The Decision?

• If your application is successful you will get either a biometric residence permit which is also known as a BRP card.
• If you gave your BRP information at the visa center a digital immigration status can be viewed online; if you used the UK immigration then it will be the ID checkup app