FURTHER DETAILS
UK Student Visa requirements
To qualify for a Student Visa, you must have been accepted onto an eligible course by an education provider that holds a Student sponsor licence.
Your education provider must issue you with a valid Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies, commonly known as a CAS. This is an electronic record containing information about your course, fees, qualifications and the basis on which you were accepted.
You must normally show that you:
- are aged 16 or over;
- have an unconditional offer from a licensed student sponsor;
- have been issued a valid CAS;
- have enough money to pay your outstanding course fees;
- have enough money to support yourself in the UK;
- meet the applicable English language requirement;
- genuinely intend to study the course stated in your application; and
- meet any additional requirements that apply to your circumstances.
Applicants aged under 18 must also provide the required consent from their parents or legal guardian. A child intending to attend an independent school may need to apply under the Child Student route instead.
Financial requirements
Unless an exemption applies, you must normally show that you have enough money to pay your outstanding course fees and support yourself while studying in the UK.
The current living-cost requirement is:
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£1,529 per month for up to nine months if you will study in London; or
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£1,171 per month for up to nine months if you will study outside London.
The required funds must generally have been held for at least 28 consecutive days. The end of that period must normally be within 31 days of the date of application.
The rules governing acceptable accounts, banks, currencies, student loans and official financial sponsorship are detailed. An application can be refused even where sufficient money is available if the evidence does not meet the formal requirements.
English language and supporting documents
Most applicants must demonstrate the required level of English in reading, writing, speaking and listening. The level and acceptable evidence will depend on the course, education provider, nationality and qualifications of the applicant.
Documents commonly required include:
- a valid passport or travel document;
- a valid CAS reference number;
- financial evidence, where required;
- qualification documents referred to on the CAS;
- evidence of English language ability;
- an ATAS certificate, where applicable;
- a tuberculosis test certificate, where applicable; and
- parental consent and relationship evidence for applicants under 18.
Applying from inside or outside the UK
You can normally apply from outside the UK up to six months before your course starts.
Some applicants may also extend their existing Student permission or switch to the Student route from within the UK. This will depend on their current immigration status, course start date and whether the academic progression requirements apply.
You cannot normally switch to the Student route from certain categories, including as a visitor or short-term student.
Working while studying
Some Student Visa holders are permitted to work during their studies. The number of hours and type of work allowed will depend on the course and education provider.
Students on eligible full-time degree-level courses may commonly work for up to 20 hours per week during term time and full-time during official vacation periods.
Student Visa holders are generally not permitted to be self-employed, engage in business activity or work as a professional sportsperson or sports coach.
Bringing your partner or children
The rules allowing students to bring dependant family members are restricted.
Dependants may generally qualify where the student is government-sponsored on a course lasting longer than six months or is studying an eligible postgraduate research course.
Each dependant must make a separate application and meet the relevant relationship, financial and suitability requirements.
WHY WESTKIN
Why students choose Westkin
Student Visa cases require careful attention to the applicant’s immigration history, course details, CAS and financial evidence. Our role is to identify legal and evidential risks before they result in delay or refusal.
Lawyer-led advice: your matter is reviewed by an experienced immigration lawyer, rather than being handled as an automated document-checking exercise.
Detailed evidence review: we check your CAS, financial documents and supporting evidence against the requirements that apply to your application.
Regulated immigration advice: Westkin is regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority and the Immigration Advice Authority.
Experience with complex cases: we regularly advise applicants with previous refusals, unusual funding arrangements and complicated immigration histories.
Established immigration firm: Westkin is Legal 500 ranked, has more than 700 Google reviews and has advised more than 70,000 individuals and businesses.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT
Start your Student Visa application
We begin by reviewing your course, CAS, finances, immigration history and proposed application date.
We will then explain the requirements that apply to your case and provide a clear list of the documents needed for your application.
Once instructed, our lawyers can prepare or review the application, supporting evidence and legal representations before submission.
