UK Student Visa 2026 | Requirements & How to Apply

The UK Student visa (formerly the Tier 4 General student visa) is the main route for people aged 16 and over who want to study a longer course at a licensed education provider in the United Kingdom. Every year hundreds of thousands of international students come to study at UK universities and colleges, and getting the application right first time matters: a refusal can cost you the fee, delay the start of your course, and sometimes affect future applications. This guide from the immigration team at MCR Solicitors in Manchester explains, in plain English, how the Student visa works in 2026, what you need to prove, how much it typically costs, how long it takes, and the mistakes that most commonly lead to problems.

Immigration fees, financial thresholds and processing times change regularly and are set by the Home Office. Throughout this guide we describe how the requirements work rather than quoting figures that quickly go out of date. Always confirm the current amounts on the official gov.uk Student visa pages, or ask us to check them for you, before you apply.

What is the UK Student visa?

The Student visa is a points-based route that lets you come to, or stay in, the UK to study a full course of study with a Home Office student sponsor (a licensed university, college or school). It replaced the old Tier 4 (General) route and is part of the wider points-based immigration system that applies to nationals from outside the UK and Ireland.

To qualify you must score the required points, which are awarded for three core things: an offer of a place on an eligible course confirmed by a licensed sponsor, the ability to speak, read, write and understand English to the required level, and enough money to pay your course fees and support yourself. Meeting each of these is mandatory rather than optional, so it is worth understanding them in detail.

There is a separate Child Student visa for children aged 4 to 17 who will study at an independent (fee-paying) school. This guide focuses on the main Student visa for those aged 16 and over studying at higher and further education level, but we can advise on the Child Student route as well.

Who can apply for a Student visa?

You can generally apply for a Student visa if you meet all of the following:

You are 16 or over.
You have been offered a place on a course by a licensed student sponsor, evidenced by a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS).
You can speak, read, write and understand English to the required standard.
You have enough money to support yourself and pay for your course.
If you are 16 or 17, you have consent from your parents or guardian.

Applicants from inside the UK who are switching from another visa category may also be eligible, provided they meet the rules and are not on a route that prohibits switching. Some short courses may instead be covered by the separate Short-term study (English language) visa or the Standard Visitor visa, so it is important to apply under the correct route for your course.

The three core requirements explained

1. A confirmed place and your CAS

The foundation of every Student visa application is the Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS). This is a unique reference number issued electronically by your sponsor once you have accepted an unconditional offer (or met the conditions of a conditional offer). Your CAS confirms details such as your course, its start and end dates, the tuition fees and any fees you have already paid, and the documents the sponsor used to assess you.

Key points to understand about the CAS:

You can only use a CAS for one application, and it is usually valid for a limited period after it is issued, so apply promptly.
The information on your visa application must match the CAS exactly. Discrepancies are a common cause of delay and refusal.
Your course must generally meet a minimum academic level and, for degree-level study, must be with a higher education provider that holds a track record of compliance with the Home Office.
Your sponsor may ask you to sit a credibility or academic interview before issuing the CAS, and the Home Office can also interview applicants.

2. English language ability

You must prove you can use English to the level required for your course. The level is higher for degree-level study than for below-degree courses. Depending on your circumstances you can meet this requirement in several ways, for example by:

Passing an approved Secure English Language Test (SELT) from a Home Office approved provider at the required level.
Being a national of a country that the Home Office accepts as majority English-speaking.
Having a degree that was taught in English and is recognised as equivalent to a UK qualification.
Having your higher education provider assess and confirm your English ability, where the rules allow the sponsor to do so.

Because the accepted evidence and exemptions are specific, check exactly which route applies to you before booking a test, and keep the original certificate.

3. Financial requirement

You must show that you have enough money to pay your course fees and to support yourself while you study. In broad terms the financial requirement is made up of two parts: the outstanding tuition fees for the first year of your course (or for the whole course if it is shorter than a year), plus a set monthly amount for living costs (maintenance) for a capped number of months. The living cost figure is higher for courses in London than for those elsewhere in the UK.

Important rules about the money:

The funds usually need to have been held for a continuous period (commonly 28 days) ending shortly before you apply, and the closing balance must not drop below the required amount during that period.
Money can be held by you or, in some cases, by a parent or legal guardian who provides written consent and evidence of the relationship.
Acceptable evidence includes bank statements, building society statements, certain loan letters and official financial sponsorship letters. Not all account types or funds are accepted.
Some applicants are exempt from showing maintenance, for example those who have lawfully been in the UK for a qualifying period, or students with certain official financial sponsors.

The exact amounts change, so confirm the current monthly maintenance figures and the maximum number of months on gov.uk before you move money around.

How much does a UK Student visa cost in 2026?

There are three main costs to budget for, and they are separate from your tuition fees and living expenses:

The application fee payable to the Home Office. The fee is the same whether you apply from outside the UK or to extend or switch inside the UK, though this can change.
The Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS), which you pay for each year of your visa and which gives you access to the National Health Service. Students and their dependants pay the IHS, and it is charged up front for the whole length of the visa.
Biometric enrolment and, sometimes, optional services such as priority or super-priority processing to get a faster decision.

All of these figures are set by the Home Office and are reviewed regularly, so treat any amount you read online as indicative only and check the current fees on gov.uk, or ask MCR Solicitors, before you apply. The IHS in particular can be a substantial part of the overall cost for a multi-year course.

How long does a Student visa take?

Once you have applied online, paid the fees and provided your biometrics, the Home Office aims to decide most Student visa applications within a published service standard. Applications from outside the UK are usually decided more quickly than in-country applications, and priority services can shorten the wait further where they are available.

You can generally apply up to six months before your course starts if you are applying from outside the UK, and up to three months before if you are applying from inside the UK. We strongly recommend applying as early as the rules allow, because processing times can lengthen at peak times such as the run-up to the September and January intakes, and delays can put your enrolment at risk. Check the current processing times on gov.uk before you rely on any particular timescale.

How to apply: step by step

Secure your offer and CAS. Accept your offer, meet any conditions, and ask your sponsor to issue your CAS.
Gather your documents. Prepare your passport, CAS number, English language evidence, financial evidence, and any tuberculosis test certificate required for your country. Applicants aged 16 or 17 will need parental consent, and some applicants need an ATAS certificate for certain sensitive science and technology courses.
Complete the online application. Apply through gov.uk, making sure every detail matches your CAS and supporting documents.
Pay the fees. Pay the application fee and the Immigration Health Surcharge.
Provide biometrics and identity. Depending on your nationality and passport, you will either attend a visa application centre to give fingerprints and a photograph, or verify your identity using the UK Immigration: ID Check app.
Submit supporting documents. Upload or take your documents to your appointment as directed.
Wait for the decision and, once granted, collect your visa or access your digital status (eVisa) to travel and enrol.

Working while you study

Many Student visa holders are allowed to work, but there are strict limits and the conditions are printed on, or attached to, your visa. In general:

Students on eligible degree-level courses at higher education providers can usually work a capped number of hours per week during term time and full time during official vacations.
Students on courses below degree level, or at providers that are not higher education providers, typically face tighter restrictions or may not be permitted to work at all.
Certain types of work are prohibited, including self-employment, working as a professional sportsperson, and filling a permanent full-time vacancy (with limited exceptions).

Breaching your work conditions is a serious matter that can lead to curtailment of your visa and difficulties with future applications, so always check the exact conditions attached to your own grant.

Bringing family members (dependants)

The rules on bringing dependants (a partner and children) on the Student route were tightened and are now limited. In broad terms, only students on certain postgraduate research courses, or those with government financial sponsorship, are able to bring dependants, and only where the rules specifically allow it. Each dependant must make their own application, pay the fee and the Immigration Health Surcharge, and meet an additional maintenance requirement.

Because the dependant rules are restrictive and depend heavily on the exact course and your circumstances, we recommend taking advice before making plans that assume your family can join you.

After your studies: the Graduate route

Many students want to stay in the UK to work after they finish. The Graduate visa lets eligible students who have successfully completed a qualifying course at a higher education provider stay to work, or look for work, for a set period after graduation without needing a job offer or sponsorship. The Graduate route is unsponsored, so it can be a valuable bridge to a longer-term work visa such as the Skilled Worker route. The length of the Graduate visa and its eligibility conditions are set by the Home Office and have been subject to review, so confirm the current position before you rely on it.

Common reasons Student visa applications are refused

In our experience, most avoidable refusals come down to a handful of issues:

Financial evidence that does not meet the rules such as the wrong balance, funds not held for the full required period, an unacceptable account, or missing bank details on statements.
Discrepancies between the application and the CAS, including names, dates, course details or fees paid.
English language evidence that is not from an approved provider or is at the wrong level.
A poor credibility interview, where the applicant cannot explain their study plans, course or finances convincingly.
Missing mandatory documents such as a required tuberculosis certificate, ATAS certificate or parental consent.
Previous immigration history, such as overstaying or a prior refusal that has not been properly addressed.

A refusal not only wastes the fee but can delay your studies by months. Having your application checked before submission is a small investment against a costly setback.

How MCR Solicitors can help

Our immigration solicitors in Manchester regularly advise students, sponsors and families on Student visa applications, extensions, switching, dependant applications and the Graduate route. We can review your CAS and financial evidence against the current rules, help you present a strong and accurate application, prepare you for any interview, and advise on your options if you have been refused. Because we keep up to date with the latest Home Office fees, thresholds and rule changes, we can make sure your application reflects the position that applies on the day you submit.

If you would like clear, practical advice on your UK Student visa, call MCR Solicitors today on 0161 466 1280 to speak to a member of our immigration team, or contact us through our website to arrange an appointment.

Frequently asked questions

How long can I stay in the UK on a Student visa?

The length of your Student visa depends on the level and duration of your course, plus a short additional period before and after your studies. Degree-level courses generally allow a longer stay than shorter or below-degree courses. There are also overall limits on the total time you can spend studying in the UK at certain levels, so check how the time limits apply to your particular course.

Can I work on a UK Student visa?

Most students on eligible degree-level courses at higher education providers can work a limited number of hours during term time and full time in the vacations, but students on lower-level courses may have tighter restrictions or no permission to work. Self-employment and certain other types of work are not allowed. Always check the exact conditions attached to your own visa.

How much money do I need to show for a Student visa?

You must show your outstanding tuition fees for the first year plus a set monthly amount for living costs, held for a continuous period before you apply. The living cost figure is higher for courses in London. Because the amounts change regularly, confirm the current maintenance figures on gov.uk before you apply, or ask us to check them for you.

Can I bring my family with me on a Student visa?

Only some students, mainly those on certain postgraduate research courses or with government sponsorship, can bring dependants, and each dependant must apply separately and meet the requirements. Many students are no longer able to bring family members under the current rules, so it is important to check your eligibility before making plans.

What happens if my Student visa is refused?

If your application is refused you will be told the reasons. Depending on the grounds you may be able to ask for an administrative review of the decision, correct an error, or make a fresh application addressing the problems. Acting quickly and getting advice improves your chances, so contact an immigration solicitor as soon as you receive a refusal.

Can I stay and work in the UK after I graduate?

Eligible students who complete a qualifying course at a higher education provider may be able to switch to the Graduate visa, which allows you to work or look for work for a set period without needing sponsorship. Many graduates use this time to find a Skilled Worker role and move onto a longer-term work visa. Check the current Graduate route rules, as they are set by the Home Office and can change.

How early should I apply for my Student visa?

You can usually apply up to six months before your course starts from outside the UK, or up to three months before from inside the UK. We recommend applying as early as the rules allow, especially before the busy September and January intakes, to avoid delays affecting your enrolment.

Student Visa UK 2026 - Requirements, Costs and Application Process