Studying at a UK university can be the perfect foundation for a successful professional career. But before you get started there are various things you must have in place, including a student visa. A ‘General Student Visa’ or ‘Tier 4’ costs £348 for international students to come and study in the UK and this post will outline and explain everything you need to know when it comes to submitting an application for your visa.
The 11-month short-term study visa is only valid for English language programmes. Whereas the six-month short-term study visa is valid for most (but not all) programmes which last for six months or less.
Now that you know the cost, here’s what else you should think about when it comes to your visa application process. In this post, we’ll cover:
- What are the total costs?
- Who can apply? And when should you?
- How long does the visa last?
- What documents do I need?
- What does the process entail?
Please note that whilst all of this information was correct at the time of writing and we have only used the information on the UK government website, as you can imagine, rules and regulations change from time to time. For this reason, we’ll always keep this page up to date with our latest advice and suggestions. But here’s a round-up of the important things you need to know...
What are the total costs?
As we mentioned, to come and study in the UK for over six months, a student visa will cost you £348. The fees depend on the type of visa you have. However, there could be other charges to consider. For example, if you had a child who’d be coming with you, you’ll also have to pay £348 for them too.
A more common factor that often isn’t thought about at first is that UK citizens have free to use healthcare via the National Health Service (NHS). This is only for local residents, however, who pay for this via taxes. So if you do need any kind of medical treatment while studying in the UK, as a foreign student, you may need to pay for private medical care.
To avoid doing so, you can pay the healthcare surcharge before you make the trip over for your studies. This is to ensure that should anything happen whilst you’re at university, you’re covered by the world-renowned NHS and won’t have to deal with any insurance companies or complicated paperwork.
However, not everyone can pay for the Immigration Health Surcharge, even if they want to. If you fall into this category, then you need to obtain medical insurance prior to travelling to the UK. This all depends on the type of visa and the duration of your course.
Who can apply? And when should you?
Anybody who is over the age of 16 can apply for a general student visa (Tier 4). However, it’s not as simple as that for getting it approved and being granted permission to study in the UK. Additional criteria that you’ll have to meet are:
- you’ve been offered an unconditional place at your university of choice and you have your Confirmation of Acceptance of Studies (CAS) letter
- English will be the main language you use socially and for study. If English isn’t your first language, then you’ll need to provide a recognised English language test or qualification
- you also need to meet the maintenance requirements for the type of visa you have
Plus, there are plenty of other pieces of paperwork which can be used to help make your visa application a success. So, if you meet all of the above criteria and offer the supportive documents, then you’re more likely to be awarded a student visa.
But when should you apply? Well, we know that you might be ready to apply and so excited to start your educational journey in the UK, but you’ll have to wait until three months before your course starts until you can apply.
That’s enough time to get everything confirmed and ready for this exciting journey to begin. It usually takes up to three weeks for the decision on your visa to come back to you. Keep in mind - the earlier you apply, the less risk there is of your visa not being ready.
If you want a more accurate timescale, click here to find out the processing times for your country.
How long does the visa last?
How long you can stay in the UK depends on the course you’re doing and the study you’ve already completed.
If your course lasts longer than six months, you can arrive up to one month before your course starts. If you’re only studying in the UK for less than six months, you may arrive up to one week before.
That’s enough time to do some sightseeing and getting to know the city in which you’ll be studying. Immerse yourself in the local culture and familiarise yourself with your new surroundings. Plus, meeting new people is a fantastic way of seeing just how friendly and welcoming your new city is.
What documents do I need?
When you apply for your international student visa for the UK, make sure you have the following documents ready to provide. This part is important because it increases the chances of your visa being approved quickly.
You’ll need:
- a current passport or other valid travel documentation
- proof that you can support yourself and pay for your course
- proof of parental or other legal guardian consent if you’re under 18
- proof of your relationship to your parent or guardian if you’re under 18
- if you’re from a country where you have to take a tuberculosis test, you need to provide the results
- a blank page in your passport for your visa
- you might also need to provide some extra documents depending on your circumstances
You can read more about all the documents you’ll need, here.
What does the process entail?
To help make the UK international student visa application as straightforward as possible, here’s a quick checklist on what to do before you apply and what the process will look like.
- Check if the visa is right for you
- Prepare all of the evidence you need
- Send your visa application
- Attend an appointment where you’ll have your fingerprints and photograph taken
- Double check what you can bring into the UK with you, including hand luggage, cash, goods and more
- Check what you’ll need to show at the UK border
- Collect your Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) within 10 days after arriving in the UK if you are issued one
For more information on each of these points, read more here from the UK government’s website which clears everything up in an easy-to-understand way.
Are you ready for university life in the UK?
Leaving home for the first time and living on your own at university can be a little daunting at first, especially when moving to an unfamiliar country. However, the excitement and experience outweighs any insecurities you may have. There are plenty of services available before and during your stay in the UK to make your move as easy, seamless and enjoyable as possible.
So, to make sure that you’re completely ready for the move, we’ve put together a checklist that’ll ensure you have everything in place when the time comes to start your course. Once you can confidently say that you can check off everything on the list, you’re ready for your amazing UK university journey. Download it for free below.
