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UK Student Visa - Complete Overview

Written by  Piyush Bhartiya

Reviewed by  Priyanka Bhargava

Published: Mon, September 30, 2019 9:30 AM IST  Updated: Mon, September 30, 2019 9:30 AM IST  9 mins read

UK Student Visa - Complete Overview

Written by  Piyush Bhartiya

Reviewed by  Priyanka Bhargava

Published: Mon, Sep 30, 2019 9:30 AM IST  Updated: Mon, Sep 30, 2019 9:30 AM IST  9 mins read
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UK Student Visa

All students outside of the UK or the European Union in general that includes London Visa, need a study visa to enter the country. In case, your purpose of visiting is studies, then you definitely need a study visa. The study course can be a full-time study program. 

Any student, between the age group of 4 to 16 years and above, needs to have a study visa in order to receive education in the UK.

What is Visa?

A Visa is an authorization granted by any country that you wish to visit for leisure, business, education purposes, etc. Visas typically have a limited period of time assigned to the person who can live in the country only during that time. Visas provide permission to enter a particular territory. 

A Visa is different from Passport, but to get one, you need a passport of the country you are a citizen of. Visa applications should begin a month before your desired time to enter the other territory. `

UK Visa Types

UK provides 3 types of Study Visas. These visas are divided on the basis of the course and age of the student. 

1. Short Term Study Visa

 You can apply for short term study visa UK if you are doing short term courses in the UK and do not belong to European Economic Area and Switzerland.

You can do a short term course of study like English Language or a short term research as a part of your degree course

2. General Student Visa (Tier 4)

You can apply for tier 4 general student visa to study in UK if you are above 16 years of age and have been offered a course, and do not belong to European Economic Area and Switzerland.

You must speak, read and write English.

You need to prove your source of payment for both tuition and monthly expenses as per your course.

3. Child Student Visa (Tier 4)

You can apply for tier 4 dependent visa if you have a place on a course, and have the consent of a parent or guardian.

You must prove your source of payment for the course and monthly expenses.

You must not belong to European Economic Area and Switizerland.

UK Student Visa New Rules for Indian Students

Today the UK is getting more popularity among students for acquiring higher studies .Every year the UK welcomes thousands of aspirants in multiple degree courses.UK provides  not only a high standard of education ,but also an excellent living standard.

There are many rules which are followed while applying for a student visa by Indian students. The UK  government has Updated its Visa rules and regulations in 2020.

  • General Student Visa is given to the student , whose age is above 16 Years ,and applying for TIER4 student visa
  • It Cost is £ 348 .
  • You have to pay £ 348  per person for any dependents.
  • Child Student Visa is Available for those applicants who are below age 16.
  • The Application Charges is £ 348 for Visa.
  • TIER 4 child student visa applicants have to apply for private schooling.
  • The short term visa Application Charges are £ 97 for 6 month period.
  • UK charges £186 for visa up to  11 months. 
  • Short term visa is given also given to the students whose age is above 18,and not applying for TIER 4 student visa.

 

UK Visa Do’s and Dont’s

Every UK Visa comes with allowances of its own but there are some things restricted as well. Before choosing your Visa type, it is important to see what are the dos and don'ts of your Visa type. Following are the allowances and restrictions in each Visa Type:

 Short Term Study Visa

Short Term Student Visa UK Do’s

Short Term Student Visa UK Dont’s

You can do a short term course in the UK like Language Courses or Training

Study at State-Funded School

You can do research as a part of your degree course if you study abroad

Work or do any Business

If you are studying at an overseas higher education institute and a part of your course is in the UK

Extend the Visa

 

Bring dependents with you

 

Get Public Funds

UK Tier 4 Visa

Tier 4 Visa Do’s

Tier 4 Visa Don'ts

Study at any College/ University

Get public funds

Work as a Student Union Sabbatical Officer

Work at specific jobs like professional sportsperson or coach

Apply for inside or outside the UK

Study at a maintained school

Apply to extend your Visa

 

Work on jobs as per your course and fundings

 

Child Student UK Tier 4 Visa

Child Student UK tier 4 Visa Do’s

Child Student UK tier 4 Visa Dont’s

Study at an Independent School

Study at an academy or local authority funded schools

Apply from outside the UK

Get public funds

Apply to extend the Visa

Take a full time job or Self Employment

If you are 16 or above, work part-time during the term for 10 hours per week

Work as a Doctor or Dentist in training

If you are 16 or above, work full time during vacations

Work as a Sportsperson or Entertainer

If you are 16 or above, work as a work placement as a part of your course

Settle in the UK with this Visa

If you are 16 or above, work as a Student Union Sabbatical Officer for 2 years

Bring Dependents, if your parents wish to come, they need to apply for Parent of Tier 4( Child) Visa

Uk Study Visa Fees

There are two types of UK   study Visa Provided to Students  by the UK Government. It is based on the age groups .There are basically three types of visa is Provided by the UK and fees is dependent on their Visa types.

Visa Type

Visa Fee

Indian Rupees

General student Visa (Tier 4)

  • General Student Visa is given to the student , whose age is above 16 Years old.
  • It Cost is £ 348 .
  • You have to pay £ 348  per person for any dependants.

Approx.(33,000).

(Tier 4)

Child Student Visa

  • Child Student Visa is Available for those applicants who are below age 16.
  • The Application Charges is £ 348 for Visa.

 

Approx.(33,000)

Short –Term Study Visa 

  • The short term visa Application Charges are £ 97 for 6 month period.
  • UK charges £186 for visa up to  11 months. 

Approx.(9325) for 6 months, and (17470) for 11 months.

How Long can you stay ?

Short Term Visa

General Tier 4 Visa

Child Tier 4 Visa

6 Months+ 30 days

1 Week Before your course starts+ 6 Months or less

Course Length Upto 6 years+ 4 Months afterwards ( Age under 16)

11 Months+ 30 days, if you are above 16 years

1 Month Before your course starts+ 6 Months or more+ 2 Year Post- Study Work ( Only for students starting in or after batch 2020-21)

Course Length Upto 3 years+ 4 Months afterwards ( Age 16- 17)

Documents Required for UK Visa

International Students need a Student Visa to study in the UK and for that, there are several documents and other requirements that the student needs to fulfil in order to get their visa.

For each type of Visa, there are a few Requirements that stay mandatory.

  1. Course Confirmation: You must receive a CAS (Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies) from a University approved by UK Visa and Immigration.
  2. Funding: You must provide proof of funding for both your tuition fees and monthly expenses (10 Points). Tuition fees on an average are £12,000 per year and  £1,265 per month for your monthly expenses.
  3. Visa Application: You must complete your UK Visa Application on  UK Visa & Immigration website. You will also be needed to give biometric information ( fingerprints and photograph) on a visa application centre.
  4. Immigration Health Service Charge: All students coming to the UK for more than 6 months, need to get their Health Checkup done.

Short Term Visa

Documents Required for the Visa

  1. A valid Passport
  2. Details of where you will stay and your travel plans
  3. Contact Details of atleast one parent or guardian (if under 18 years)
  4. Documents for travelling alone or with any adult (if under 18 years)

Documents Related to your Course

  1. Previous study proofs like academic certificates
  2. English Qualification like IELTS, TOEFL, etc.
  3. Accommodation and Travel Plans
  4. Financial Sponsor’s occupation, income, savings, funds, etc

General Student Visa (Tier 4)

Documents Required for the Visa

  1. A valid Passport
  2. Proof of parental or other legal guardian consent and proof of their relationship with the student (if under 18 years)

Documents Related to your Course

  1. Previous study proofs like academic certificates
  2. English Qualification like IELTS, TOEFL, etc.
  3. Accommodation and Travel Plans
  4. Financial Sponsor’s occupation, income, savings, funds, etc

Child Student Visa (Tier 4)

Documents Required for the Visa

  1. A valid Passport
  2. Proof of parental or other legal guardian consent and proof of their relationship with the student (if under 18 years)

Apply for UK Visa

There are several steps to get the UK Student Visa. UK Student Visa applications process within three weeks of your appointment. You need to pay an extra £220 for a decision within 5 working days or £956 for a decision within 24 hours

  1. First Check which kind of Visa you need
  2. Confirm if you qualify for a student visa. You need to show that you have a confirmed CAS and enough money for funding your fees.
  3. Get all the documents as per your visa type
  4. Apply online on the UK Visa & Immigration website and book your appointment. 
  5. Check if you will need a biometric resident permit
  6. Check where your Visa Appointment will be. 
  7. Attend your appointment and you will be informed once the decision has been made.
  8. If your Visa Permit allows you to stay in the UK for more than 6 months, you will need to collect your biometric residence permit shortly after your arrival.

Visa Application Centre

UK Visa Application Centres are available all around India. 

Location

Opening Hours

Timings

Gurgaon

Monday to Friday

09:00 - 16:00

Jalandhar

Monday to Friday

08:00 - 14:00

Whitefield Bengaluru

Monday to Friday

09:00 - 15:00

Lucknow

Third Tuesday of every month

09:30 - 17:00

Thiruvananthapuram

Check Here

Check Here

Goa

Check Here

09:00 - 17:30

Electronic City TEL

Check Here

09:00 - 15:00

Jaipur

Tuesday and Thursday

09:00 - 15:00

Ahmedabad

Monday to Friday

08:00 - 14:00

Bengaluru

Monday to Friday

08:00 - 15:00

Chandigarh

Monday to Friday

08:00 - 14:00

Chennai

Monday to Friday

08:00 - 15:00

Points allocated for Tier 4 Visa

Under Tier 4, Students need 40 points:

30 Points: Full-Time Course in the UK which is at least Level 3 or above on the National Vocational Qualifications Framework. Full Time means 15 hours of classroom study per week.

10 Points: For Maintenance and Funds for the Tuition Fees and Monthly Expenses

UK Post Study Work Visa

For students who plan to immerse themselves in the culture of England while studying and also to focus on securing their future in England, England now provides students with A Post-Study Work Visa for 2 Years from 2020-21. 

  • The proposal will cover all students who have completed Bachelors, Masters, Ph.D. or MPhil from the UK
  • It will be applicable for the students starting as the batch of 2020-21 Academic Year
  •  There will be no cap on the number of students applying for students who apply for the new undergraduate route. 
  • There is no restriction on the type of job profile that a student works in.
  • In 2 years, the students can even look for a job, without any fear of being evicted because of unemployment till they either update their work visa or migrate from the country
  • The students who graduate and their leave expires before the introduction of this Visa policy will not be eligible for it.

Read More

UK Student Visa Without IELTS

The UK is an English-speaking country to study in the UK you must be master in the English language in both writing and speaking. IELTS is the first stage that students need to cross to open the door to overseas Universities. IELTS is the International English Language Testing System. It is used to check the eligibility of students to Study at British University. It includes 4 modules “Speaking, Writing, Listening, Reading” It is a Standard test of English.

There are the few Universities where a student can do the study without IELTS Test

But still, to survive in an English Country you must be Proficient to communicate in English.

Before applying must check Your University whether it requires IELTS or not

  • Audencia Nantes  School of management.
  • Aston University Bermingham.
  • Birmingham City University.
  • London Southbank University.
  • Northumbria University.
  • Portsmouth  University
  • Robert Gordon University
  • Riga Technical University
  • Swansea University.
  • The University of Bolton.
  • University of Northampton
  • The University of  Plymouth.
  • The University of Greenwich.
  • The University of Central Lancashire.

UK Student Visa Duration

The UK Provides you the facility to arrive before your course starts. but it depends on your visa types and the course you have chosen. TIER 4 visa will be valid till the completion of your Course and you will also get 4 to  6 months extra to find a suitable job for you or apply for further studies this Extra time can be varied according to university and Course protocols.

  • You can arrive before one week if your course duration is 6 months or one month before if your course is for 1 year.
  • If your course is less than 6 months then you will get only 7 days extra to wrap up your things.
  • If your Course is more than 6 or 12 months then the UK provides you 4 months extra after the end of the course. 
  • The length of the visa is calculated from the start date of your course and the last date, of course, it is listed in your CAS letter and UKVI Wrap-up Period.
  • If you want to extend Your Visa you can do it while living in the UK.

UK Student Visa Interview Questions

The UK  held an interview with students. After all the process is done Embassy will provide you date for your Interview. It will be on Skype or face to face.  The whole interview will be regarding your Course its duration, subjects  Scope of that subject, and accommodation.

Here is the list of few questions that can be asked during the interview.

  1. About yourself?
  2. Why you chose that particular University?
  3. Why you chose this course?
  4. How this course will be beneficial for you?
  5. Where you are going to stay?
  6. What is the nearest Bus stop or railway Station to your University?
  7. How long you have plan to stay in the UK?
  8. Have you any plan to do work or part-time job while your Course?
  9. How you will cover your Study Expenses?
  • You need to answer all the questions carefully and try to impress the examiner by your answers and .you must prepare for all type of questions before so that you do not face any hurdle during the interview.

UK Student Visa Embassy Fees

UK Embassy fee varies according to the type of visa you have applied. The embassy charges amount in Pound  Sterling. If you applied  for a UK student visa unfortunately if you got refusal your embassy fee will not be returned, However, the college fee can get back

  • Short term visa Application Charges are £ 97 for 6 month period.
  • Tier 4 (General) Student visa fee is £ 348, with an additional £ 348 fee per person for any dependents.
  • Priority Visa fee is  Indian Rs,56,897.
  • Super Priority Student Visa Fee Rs 1,30,002.

UK Student Visa Age Limit

Basically, there is no age limit for applying for a Student visa in UK. You can apply after 18 or 21, after completing your 12th or Graduation to do masters or Undergraduate course.

  • TIER 4 General Student Visa is given to the students, whose age is above 16 and 17 Years old.
  • Child Visa is Given to the student whose age is below 16.

FAQs

✅ Can I work in UK with a student visa?

Ans. You can work if you have Tier 4 General Student Visa and not with the Short Term Study Visa. You can work 10 hours per week normally and full-time during vacations.

✅ What are the requirements for a UK student visa?

Ans.

  • Check if you match the study visa qualification/eligibility.
  • Collect all your documents and keep them ready.
  • Go to the UK visa website. Create an account and fill the form as per instructions. Remember, it is required that you download the form, fill it up, make the necessary signatures, and then scan it and upload it back again. 
  • Once the form has been completed and submitted, make sure you pick a date for the appointment. Select the date and submit the form. You will receive notifications for the same, on phone as well as on email. Appear on the day of the appointment, carrying all the documents. There your fingerprints and photograph will be recorded for the visa process to go further. 
  • Next, pay the visa application fee of £310 through a demand draft, in cash, or the online mode of payment itself. 

✅ How long does a UK student visa take?

Ans.  You can apply 3 months before you plan to go to the UK and you will receive the Visa within 3 weeks of the appointment.

✅ Is the interview compulsory for a UK student visa?

Ans. An interview is compulsory during the Visa Process for students who plan to take higher education courses in the UK .

✅ What are the documents required for UK Student Visa?

Ans. The following are the documents required:

  • Completely filled Visa Application Form
  • Valid Passport
  • Recent Photograph
  • Letter of Acceptance or CAS, into the College/University
  • Educational documents such as mark sheets, IELTS/TOEFL/PTE score cars, etc.
  • Payslips
  • Proof of Funds for the study, covering at least the first nine months. This rounds out to about 1,015 to 1,540 Euros per month. 
  • Visa application payment slip.
About the Author
PB
Piyush Bhartiya
Study Abroad Expert & Co-Founder @ AdmitKard
Piyush values education and has studied from the top institutes of IIT Roorkee, IIM Bangalore, KTH Sweden and Tsinghua University in China. Post completing his MBA, he has worked with the world's # 1 consulting firm, The Boston Consulting Group and focused on building sales and marketing vertical for top MNCs and Indian business houses.