You must be aged 16 or over, have an offer from a licensed Student Sponsor, and meet English, financial, and CAS (Certificate of Acceptance for Studies) requirements. Under‑18s at independent schools qualify under the Child Student Visa route.

You can apply up to 6 months before the course starts if applying from outside the UK (or 3 months before if you’re inside the UK) 

You’ll need your passport, CAS, proof of funds, possibly ATAS certificate, TB test results, and parental consent if under 18

The application fee is £490–£524, depending on source. Processing delays are common in peak seasons (e.g. eight weeks from Bangladesh reported)

You pay £776 per year (or prorated for partial years) upfront for NHS access during your stay

Degree-level students may work up to 20 hours per week during term time, and full-time during vacations. Self‑employment, freelance work, and certain roles (e.g. professional sports) are disallowed.

Officially, “week” means a period of 7 days beginning with a Monday.

As of 2025, only postgraduate research students (e.g. PhDs) or government-sponsored students may bring family members. This restriction applies to new student visa applicants

Yes. Adult dependents must now meet a minimum of CEFR A1 English level. IELTS B2 is increasingly expected for settlement routes

You may apply for the Graduate Route (Post‑Study Work visa) if you are in the UK on a valid Student visa and your provider confirms course completion

Currently: up to 2 years for undergraduate/master’s graduates, and 3 years for PhD graduates. However, a proposal reduces the two‑year term to 18 months from late 2025 for new starters

No. Existing students likely retain the 2‑year rule; the 18‑month rule is expected to apply to students starting from late 2025 or early 2026, pending formal rule changes

No. It’s a one-time visa. You may switch to Skilled Worker, Global Talent, or other categories, but cannot extend the Graduate visa itself

Yes—but only for the 10‑year long residence rule, not the 5‑year Skilled Worker route. Time on Student or Graduate visas may contribute to continuous residence for settlement

New Minimum sponsor compliance thresholds: 95% enrolment, 90% course completion, and visa refusal rate under 5%. An Agent Quality Framework is now mandatory. Non-compliant institutions risk losing sponsor licenses

The government proposes a 6% levy on international student fees, likely passed on to students. Universities relying heavily on international revenue may raise fees accordingly

Key reforms include: raised English requirements for applicants and dependants, longer settlement period (5 → 10 years), narrower work visa eligibility, and limits on care-worker visas and claimants of public funds

• Apply early and get accurate financial proof ready (e.g. £12,006 of London, £9,207 outside) 
• Check your university’s compliance history before applying.
• Build work experience or internships during your studies to transition quickly into skilled roles.
• Stay in touch with UKCISA and your provider for updates on implementation timelines.