An academic study permit to Great Britain is, therefore, a critical career decision landmark for the young Indian student who wants to achieve educational objectives beyond the confines of the motherland. The UK boasts some of the best universities in the world, friendly diversity, and an excellent education system. Studies in the UK offer great exposure to a large number of learning opportunities around the world and an opportunity for a solid networking base internationally. The UK has plenty of courses on offer, from arts to sciences, engineering courses, and other varieties of fields that a student can pursue in response to their academic interest and career aspirations. 

Studies in the UK offer great exposure to a large number of learning opportunities around the world and an opportunity for a solid networking base internationally. The UK has plenty of courses on offer, from arts to sciences, engineering courses, and other varieties of fields that a student can pursue in response to their academic interest and career aspirations.

Welcome to our comprehensive guide to the UK student visa. If you are an international student aspiring to study in the UK, here is your go-to article. We do realise that learning in a foreign country is, in itself, the most exciting yet formidable endeavour, but we are here to aid you through each step to accomplish the job with ease.

Following is a step-by-step guide about obtaining a UK student visa and other requirements, general tips, and details. So, let us get on with the programme and make your study-in-the-UK dream a reality.

Requirements for the UK Student Visa

Student visas in the UK are granted on the basis of a point system. To fulfil all the requirements for a UK visa, you need to submit:

• Details of your passport
• Recent photo
• A "Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies" (CAS) form from your course provider serving as proof of an unconditional offer of a firm spot on a course from a licenced sponsor (30 points)
• Proof of sufficient skill in the English language, evidenced by a passing grade in one of the secure English language tests (SELT). You will not need to provide this if you are from an English-speaking country, for example, the United States, or if you have completed a qualification equivalent to a UK degree in an English-speaking country.
• Proof that you can be maintained/supported financially throughout the duration of your stay in the UK (worth 10 points)
• An ATAS certificate might be required for a sensitive subject by a non-EU/EEA/Swiss student.
• Examples of financial support usually include bank statements or a letter from the person who pays for your studies, showing that you can pay the tuition fee, accommodation fee, and living expenses. You must be able to prove that you have available £1,023 (~US$1,300) a month for living costs if studying in the UK outside of London and £1,334 (~US$1,700) a month for living costs if studying in London.
• Other requirements for UK visas are your academic qualification certificates and passing an interview or biometric test, which is a digital impression of your fingerprints. Certain medical vaccinations may also be required, depending on your immigration origin, before applying for your visa, related to tuberculosis testing.
• If you are between the ages of 16 and 17 at the date of application, applying under Tier 4 (General), a consent letter from your parents or guardians indicating that you are free to live and travel independently is enough.
• The application for a UK student visa must be online, and such general tier 4 students must fill out an application and make sure they have read the complete guidance available to them. The application can be submitted beforehand, probably within three months before starting the academic course in the UK.

Types of UK student visa

Recently, the Government of India and the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain have agreed to form the 'Young Professional Scheme (YPS)' as part of that agreement; those eligible for a UK Work Visa for up to two years can now apply. This applies to all individuals aged 18 to 30.

Students looking to study in the UK for longer than six months will need to become familiar with the following: 3 UK student visas or UK visa types.

Short-Term Study Visa to the UK

 A short-term UK study visa is for those who want to study an English language course that is not beyond 11 months.

Student Visa

This is the category of visa for students who arrive in Great Britain for higher education. Formerly, it was named the Tier 4 (General) Student Visa, but it is now popularly called the Tier 4 Student Visa. 

Child Student Visa

For children aged 4 to 17 who want to take an independent school education in the UK. This visa used to be given under the Tier 4 (Child) Student category.

UK student Visa from India 

The country of the United Kingdom has visa provisions for students from India looking to continue their education in the UK. Here are the requirements to get a UK student visa from India.

• You must secure an unconditional offer from a reputed educational institution in the UK.
• After accepting your offer, the institution will issue a Confirmation for Acceptance for Studies (CAS) number, which you must include in your visa application.
• Show that you are able to financially sustain your level of education in this country, not only by meeting tuition fees but also daily expenses. The amount of money needed depends on your course level and the number of years to be spent studying them.
• A demonstration of proficiency in English is required. You will need to pass a recognised English proficiency test, such as IELTS or TOEFL.
• TB test: You need to have a TB test if you are coming from a country that requires one. This is a test result from one of the required clinics.
• Health and Character Requirements: You will be required to take and pass a medical test to verify that you are in a fit condition and should have no criminal record.
• Visa application—visa application is to be done online, and application payments are made with all the necessary documents, including your passport, CAS statement, financial records, English language test results, and any other required support documents.

Note: The UK's immigration policies and visa requirements keep changing; it's advised to check the official UK government website or seek an appointment with a skilled immigration advisor for updated information.

 

UK STUDENT VISA ADDITIONAL COSTS and SURCHARGES

 

Insurance Fees for UK Student Visa

 

When applying for a UK student visa, one should keep in mind the insurance fees one would pay for the exact insurance, mainly the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS). The surcharge is for securing access to the National Health Service while in the UK. The IHS fee now stands at 776 pounds per year per student. The amount of this fee is preferable to being paid in total and to securing the whole period of the visa.

 

• In view of the Immigration Health Surcharge
• It costs £776 a year.
• Purpose: Access to the NHS during your stay in the UK
• Payment: It must be upfront for the entire period of your visa

UK Student Priority Visa Fees from India

If you consider that the student visa for the UK urgently needs to be processed, then the UK has both priority and super-priority services available at extra expenses. These services considerably slow the time down. Highly important units are considered essential since they highly consider students in critical situations who are in high demand for visas quickly.

 

Priority Service:

Cost: £220

Benefits: typically processed within 5 working days

 

Super Priority Service:

Cost: £956

Benefits: Processed within 24 hours, giving an admissions decision more quickly

UK Tier 4 Student Visa Fees

The UK Tier 4 Student Visa, which has now transitioned into the Student route, uses its own fee structure, and awareness of the same would be important for budget planning.

Standard Application Fee: £348 from outside the UK

In-Person Application (within UK): £475

 

Transition to the Route of a Student

 

The Tier 4 UK Student Visa is now the Student route under the new immigration system. This was a simplifying change and one made to ensure the UK would continue to be an attractive place to study. In any case, the fee structure remained more or less the same under the old Tier 4 system.

 

How to Pay UK Student Visa Fees

One can easily pay for their UK student visa; various payment methods are accepted. These include:

 

• Online Payment: Through a Debit or Credit Card during Online Application
• Bank Transfer: Details from the application process are used
• Cash Payment: Available at such visa application centres where the same is mentioned

UK Student Visa Fast Track Fees

The UK's fast-track services can be availed of for a fee by those who urgently need the visa processed. For a student with very tight deadlines and in need of a quicker decision, this might pay back.

 

• Typical Fast Track Fee: £220 (priority service)
• Super-Fast Track Fee: £956 (super-priority service) 

 

Express Visa for Student Fee UK

 

 The super-priority service, less commonly known as the express service, is aimed at applicants who need to make a quick decision on their visa application. This service promises to reach a decision within 24 hours, so actually, a student does not have to hold off on planning his or her travel and accommodations.

 

Super High-Priority Cost: £956

Provides visa decisions within 24 hours for peace of mind in urgent cases. Those are additional charges and surcharges anyway pertaining to your application for a UK student visa. 

All About The UK Student Visa Fee

The Tier 4 (General) UK Student Visa Fee will cost £363, which converts to roughly ₹38,629.06. Another critical point to keep in mind is that the UK Student Visa Application Fee is £490 if you want to extend the period of a student visa.

Some general information: The UK Student Visa Fee for Indian students depends on the type of visa for which they are applying. For example, a UK tour visa will cost an individual INR 10,388, while the fees to acquire a student and a spouse visa will be INR 38,629 and INR 1,59,761, respectively.

Given below is a breakdown of the cost of all other UK student visas: UK student visa fees in Indian rupees 2024

Short-term study visa

The application fee for a short-term study visa is £186, which will be around ₹19,794.12.

UK tier 4 student visa fees

The charge for applying for a Tier 4 (child) student visa fee is £363.00, or around ₹38,629.06.

Standard Visitor Visa

As one would predict, the application fee for a Standard Visitor Visa depends upon the length of your stay. If someone wants to stay for a percentage of six months, an application has been charged at £95, a minority percentage estimated to be around ₹10,109.90. For a longer term that may be valid for up to 2, 5, or 10 years, the costs will be £361, £655, and £822, which respectively convert to an estimated amount of ₹38,418.02, ₹69,705.10, and ₹87,481.64.

• Find the UK student visa cost information in the tabulated format:
  

 

Step-by-step guide: How to obtain a student visa for the UK

Proceed with the steps to get the UK student a visa.

Step 1

You need to receive the CAS letter from the university where you will be studying. In this step, you also must deposit enough money in the account. The amount should include first-year tuition fees and nine months of living expenses.

Step 2

Revise and renew all your academic, passport, and financial documents.

Step 3

You have to file an online visa application. For this, you will first have to create an account on the UK Visa website. Once the form is filled out, you will just be required to take a printout of all the payments made while the online VISA application is filled out. You also need to book an online appointment at the VFS Global VISA Application Centre.

This will be done in the online appointment calendar option. You will get an email with the application number posted when it is completed.

Step 4

• VISA Appointment Done online; you make this payment using your VISA/Master card.
• Concluding Remarks
• Do not postpone your visa appointment until the last minute. Start processing visas six months in advance of the start date.
• Your application for a visa can't be considered without your university certificate of acceptance for studies (CAS).
• Before applying for an institute, check whether it has a licence.

Please note that the UK student visa processing time can vary greatly. However, the average expected processing time is 3 weeks.

Do you need to know any more about your UK student visa? Feel free to contact our Study Abroad Consultants.

 

Additional Costs to be Considered While Applying for a UK Student Visa

UK Student Visa Processing Time

When applying for a UK student visa, standard application points will apply. For instance, there can be a situation whereby a student's visa application takes up to three weeks after submitting the application. For those who want a response faster, additional cost services through the UK include:

 

• Standard Processing Time: Less than 3 weeks
• Priority Service: Processed within 5 Working Days (£220)
• Super-priority service, processed within 24 hours (£956)

England Study Visa Fees

The overall cost of studying in England encompasses a number of other fees and charges outside of tuition. Here's a brief overview of what to expect:

• Standard Application Fee: £348 (outside UK applications only)
• NHS Surcharge: £776 a year
• Priority and Super-Priority Services: £220 and £956, respectively.

UK Study Visa Total Cost

One has to include all kinds of contingencies in comprehensive budgeting for a student UK visa because he has to think about the various kinds of expenses that have to be incurred. These go in line with the visa application fee, surcharge for health care, expedited processing fees in case of a need, and any other extra costs like biometric and medical fees. Ensure that you understand them very clearly so that there are no surprises.

• A visa application costs £348.
• IHS (Healthcare Surcharge): £776
• Priority Service: £220 if you need to.
• Super-Priority Service: £956 (
• Biometric Fee: Included in the application fee
• Additional Medical Fees: Varies (e.g. TB test)

Insurance Health Surcharge UK

The Immigration Health Surcharge is a mandatory payment for international students, and the IHS provides National Health Service entitlements for the duration of the visa. An advance full payment should be made for the IHS.

• It costs £776 per year.
• Purpose: Access to the NHS

Unmarried Partner Visa UK Fees

If you will come with an unmarried partner, expect related costs. Though that applies to very few students, for some it is very paramount information.

• Application Fee: £1,523 (outside the UK)
• IHS: Health Surcharge: £624 per year

UK Study Visa Medical Fees

Preliminarily, you are also required to take some medical tests, like that for tuberculosis, depending on where you are from. This racks up costs for students applying for student visas.

• TB Test: This test should cost you between £65 and £1110, depending on the country

Fees for a London study visa

Studying in London comes with a fact you have to consider because the cost of living there is higher than it is in any other part of the UK. Be prepared in terms of budgeting for these added expenses.

 

Higher Living Costs: Costs for accommodation, food, and transportation are generally higher compared to other cities in the UK.

UK Student Visa Biometric Fee

One of the application requirements for a visa is the submission of biometric information. The fee for this is already included in the total fee for the application. The regular application fee of £348 already covers this. 

UK Student Visa IHS Fee

This is a crucial step in your visa application process that secures your access to healthcare services in the country during your stay. It costs £776 a year.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How small is the health surcharge amount for a UK student visa?

£776 a year per student, dependent, or person on a Youth Mobility Scheme visa, for instance, £1,552 for a 2-year visa.

 How much does the UK standard student visa fee amount to?

 It is worth £490 to apply for a student visa from outside the UK and £490 to extend or switch to a student visa from within the UK. You must pay the visa fee for each person joining you. 

Is there any UK visa fee waiver for Indian students?

You can apply for a fee waiver if you're applying for permission to stay in the UK. This means you will not have to pay a visa application fee if you are eligible. Before you apply to extend your visa, you must get a decision on your fee waiver.

Is the IELTS compulsory for the UK student visa? 

One can study without IELTS in the UK if possible. You must demonstrate that you meet the English requirements by taking online interviews with the university itself or by demonstrating that you received at least 70% in English in high school.

 Is the UK an expensive study destination for Indian students? 

Studying in the UK can prove to be pretty expensive for Indian students. If pre-arrival and post-arrival expenses in the UK are considered, then the overall estimate of studying in the UK ranges from about 24 lakhs to 55 lakhs for Indian students. The actual amount may fluctuate based on various factors. 

What is CAS all about in the UK?

 CAS—Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies—is a unique number confirming that one has been accepted to study a particular course at an institution in the United Kingdom. It is a system-generated online document from the Home Office that is necessary in order for you to submit a successful student visa application.

Can I stay in the UK after finishing my studies?

International students can stay in the UK for a maximum of two years after completion of undergraduate or master's studies and a maximum of three years if one finishes a PhD level.