The Student visa allows foreign students to study in the UK. To be eligible for the Student visa, you must have received a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies, and have at least 70 points on the points-based immigration system.
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If you want to study in the UK, you will need to apply for the Student Visa. In the post-Brexit environment, both EEA nationals and non-EEA nationals will need to have an unconditional offer from a licenced sponsor to be eligible for the visa.
Those who graduate from an approved course in the UK will be able to remain in the country under the new Graduate Visa route for up to two years to live, work and look for work. PhD graduates will be able to do so for up to three years.
In this page, we set out everything you need to know about the new UK Student Route.
If you are looking to apply for a UK Student Visa, there are certain requirements which you must fulfil.
The Student Visa requirements are as follows:
Whilst the points-based immigration system might seem daunting, it is actually relatively straightforward to meet the 70-point threshold. Ultimately, if you meet the main eligibility criteria, you will hit the 70-point threshold.
The points work as follows:
If you want to study in the UK must be in accordance with the rules of the Student Visa. Eligible courses include:
To be eligible to study in the UK, you will need to provide evidence of your financial means. You need to show that you have enough money to support yourself in the UK.
The financial requirements for are as follows:
You will need to be able to prove that you have this money for 28 consecutive days, and the end-date of this period must be within 31 days of the date you apply for the visa.
If you want to study in the UK, you must be able to demonstrate a certain level of English language ability. Those studying below degree level need to prove a level of B1, whereas those studying at degree level or above must have a B2 level.
The most common way of demonstrating your English ability is to take a SELT English language test. The four approved SELT test providers are Trinity College London, ITELTS SELT Consortium, LanguageCert and Pearson Education Ltd.
You can take a test at test centres throughout the world. A list of approved test centres can be found here.
International students exempt from the English language requirement if:
Also, those from majority English-speaking countries will not need to fulfil the English language requirements.
Nationals of the following countries are exempt:
As part of the Student Visa application process, you will need to submit certain information and documents. Without providing the necessary information and documentation, your application will not be successful.
Some of the required information and documents for the UK Student Visa are as follows:
If you are under 18, you will need to provide additional information including written consent from your parents/legal guardians showing that they consent to your visa application, your living and care arrangements in the UK and your travel to the UK.
Bear in mind that any documents which are not in English or Welsh must be translated by an accredited translator. You will need to provide both the original and translated versions in your portfolio of evidence.
The Student Visa application is done online, and you can apply from both inside and outside the UK. Most applicants choose to complete their visa application from their home country.
The first step is to complete the application form online. Once you have completed it, you will need to pay the application fee.
The current UK Student Visa fees are as follows:
If you complete your application outside the UK, you can expect to receive a decision within three weeks. Applications made inside the UK usually have a processing time of around eight weeks.
Here at the WMYS, we can help you to formulate your Student Visa application to the very highest standard. Our highly experienced immigration lawyers have helped international students from all over the world to begin a new and exciting adventure in the UK. Whether you are applying to study in the UK from your home country or inside the UK, we are here for you.
To find out more about our specialist application package, please call us now.
Student Visa extensions are possible for students in certain circumstances. Currently, it’s also possible for the old Tier 4 (General) Student Visa to be extended too.
In order to extend the visa, the following must apply:
To find out more about Student Visa extensions and the application process, please call us now.
One of the changes in the rebranding of the student route was the creation of a route to UK residency for students who have graduated from an undergraduate or postgraduate degree.
Sometimes referred to as the Graduate Visa, this immigration permission enables graduates to work, look for work and live in the UK for up to two years. PhD students can remain in the UK under the Graduate Visa for up to three years.
This immigration permission will open from the Summer of 2021 and will be available to all international students who have graduated.
If you need support with your Student Visa application, our immigration lawyers are ready to assist you.
To appeal a Student Visa refusal, it is recommended to follow the below steps:
We highly recommend speaking with an experienced immigration lawyer if your Student Visa has been refused. This will help reduce the chance of further refusals, and may save you time and further costs.
As of January 2024, international students will not be able to bring dependents with them to the UK unless they are either:
Eligible postgraduate programmes include PhDs and other doctoral qualifications or masters programmes with a research component, including a requirement to produce original work.
International students who do not fit either one of these categories will not be eligible to bring their dependents with them to the UK.
This restriction will apply for all international students starting courses from 1 January 2024.
Reach out to us for more information or to see how we can help you?
The points-based immigration system is used by UK immigration to determine whether a visa applicant is eligible for a visa/immigration permission.
International students need to score at least 70 points on the system to be eligible for a UK study visa.
Certain international students will not need to meet the financial requirements. This includes if:
Also, citizens of the following countries may not need to provide financial evidence. This is because these countries are listed under the ‘differential evidence requirement’.
Unfortunately, any time spent in the UK under the student route (including Tier 4 General Visa) does not count towards minimum UK residency requirements.
However, international students who remain in the UK under the Graduate Visa or apply for a work visa after studying will start to accrue time towards minimum UK residency requirements for Indefinite Leave to Remain and British citizenship.
As part of the application process for the student route, you will need to prove your identity. In the past, this was usually done through providing biometric information (fingerprints and a photo) at a UKVCAS point.
However, recently there has been the introduction of an app which can be used to scan an identity document. This is known as the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ app. This method can also be used to prove your identity in some cases.
When you apply for your visa, you will be notified of what you will need to do to prove your identity.
The standard Student Visa application fees are as follows:
However, there are other fees to bear in mind. All Student Visa holders need to pay the annual immigration health surcharge.
As well as these fees, it is important to bear in mind the cost of any translation fees for your documents.
Yes, it is possible to work in the UK under a Student Visa. International students can work for a maximum of 20 hours per week. You can also volunteer without any restrictions.
You cannot do the following:
At the WMYS, we understand the importance of getting the best education possible.
We are accustomed to regularly helping prospective international students obtain their Student Visas. If you need help with your Study Visa application, we can use our experience to advise you. One of our expert immigration lawyers can talk you through your different Study Visa options and assess the best route for you.
Our services include:
We can also help you if you are a UK-based student interested in learning how to study abroad or wanting to find out how to prepare for studying abroad. We have emigration lawyers who can assist you with any enquiry you have about moving from the UK to another country.
Call us today or make an enquiry using our online form to begin your journey towards study in the UK.
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