student visa in england

If you are looking for student visa in England, you can get best help here. This is a article provides valuable information about student visa in England and complete details about online application at Home Office.

Students in England can apply visa for studying in England. Tourist visa is one of the best visa available to students. It is easy and simple.  The main advantage of a tourist visa is that a visa application process tends to be simpler as compared to other types of visa, such as student or work visa. However, there are specific criteria which should be fulfilled by an applicant in order to successfully apply for this type of visa.  A tourist visa allows the applicant to enter the country for a short period of stay and leaves it at their discretion how long they wish to stay on within the UK. Student visas, however, stipulate how long the student is permitted to spend in England. During this period of study, it may also be possible for the student to take part in certain valid employment within the legal parameters set out by the UK Government.

Student visas are student visas, but there is a wide range of options to choose from. Most of them cover the same region, which makes you wonder: “What’s the most important thing that I should be looking for when I apply for a student visa?”

The Student Visa is the most common type of visa to study in England. It allows you to study at a college or university and work part-time during your stay. You can also extend your stay as long as you are able to show that you have not gained permanent residency or citizenship of another country.

To apply for a student visa, you must first find an educational institution that will accept you as a student. Your school may be able to help with this step. After you have been accepted, follow these steps:

1. Register with the Central Office for Information on Education (COIE)
2. Apply for an entry clearance online at gov.uk/apply-for-a-visa
3. Receive your biometric residence permit card in the mail (this takes about 10 days)
4. Pay your fee at the bank and bring along all of your documents as well as proof of funds available

When to apply

When you can apply depends on whether you’re applying from inside or outside the UK.

Applying from outside the UK

The earliest you can apply for a visa is 6 months before you start your course.

You’ll usually get a decision on your visa within 3 weeks.

Applying from inside the UK

The earliest you can apply is 3 months before your course starts.

You must apply before your current visa expires. Your new course must begin within 28 days of your current visa expiring.

You’ll usually get a decision within 8 weeks.

How long you can stay

How long you can stay depends on the length of your course and what study you’ve already completed in the UK.

If you’re 18 or over and your course is at degree level, you can usually stay in the UK for up to 5 years. If it’s below degree level, you can usually stay in the UK for up to 2 years.

Read the guidance to find out exactly how long you can stay.

Staying longer in the UK

You may be able to:

• extend your visa if you’re eligible, for example to continue your studies in the UK
• switch to a Student visa from another visa if you’re already in the UK
• switch to a Graduate visa to stay in the UK for at least 2 years after successfully completing your course

When you can travel to the UK

You can arrive before your course starts. This can be either:

• up to 1 week before, if your course lasts 6 months or less
• up to 1 month before, if your course lasts more than 6 months

You must not travel to the UK before the start date given on your visa, no matter when your course starts.

Fees

It costs:

• £363 to apply for a Student visa from outside the UK
• £490 to extend or switch to a Student visa from inside the UK

You must pay the visa fee for each person that joins you.

Healthcare surcharge

You’ll also have to pay the healthcare surcharge as part of your application.

How much you pay depends on how long your visa lasts. Check how much you’ll have to pay before you apply.

Your partner and children

You may be able to bring your partner and children (‘dependants’).

What you can and cannot do

You can:

• study
• work as a student union sabbatical officer

You may be able to work – how much depends on what you’re studying and whether you’re working in or out of term-time.

You cannot:

• claim public funds (benefits) and pensions
• work in certain jobs, for example as a professional sportsperson or sports coach
• be self-employed
• study at an academy or a local authority-funded school (also known as a maintained school)

If your application is successful, you’ll be told what you can and cannot do on a Student visa.

Applying for your student visa

If you are 16 or over and want to study a course at higher education level in the UK lasting longer than six months, it is most likely that you will need to apply for a student visa through the Student Route . 

Follow this step-by-step guide to applying for your student visa:

Step 1: Apply to your chosen university (or universities) and receive an unconditional offer.

Step 2: Once you have received your unconditional offer, and you have accepted it, your university will give you a document called a Certificate of Acceptance of Studies (or CAS).

Step 3: Once you have your CAS, you can begin the visa application process. You can apply for your visa up to six months before your course starts. You will need to pay an application fee (£363 for students) and have a current passport.

• European students: If you’re from an EU country, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland, you can use the UK Immigration: ID Check  app on a smartphone to complete the identity stage of your application. 

Step 4: As part of your application, you will need to pay a fee called an Immigration Health Surcharge. This gives you access to the UK’s National Health Service. Students receive a 25 per cent discount on the usual cost, so the rate for student visa holders is £470 per year. 

• European students: If you have an European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), you may be able to apply for a refund of the cost of the Immigration Health Surcharge. Check the GOV.UK website  to find out if you are eligible to apply for a refund.

Step 5: As part of your student visa application, you may need to prove your knowledge of the English language. Different universities have different requirements, so make sure you check what form of English language evidence you will need with your university.

Step 6: You will need to complete your application and have it accepted before you arrive in the UK.

Your university will provide you with advice about your visa application, so don’t be afraid to reach out for support. Some universities have dedicated immigration advisors that are on hand to support international students with their visa application.

Other types of visa

Visitor Route

If you’re studying in the UK at an accredited institution for less than six months, you can do this as a visitor.

Many students (including those from the European Union and other eligible countries) won’t need a visa for courses lasting less than six months. 

Students from some countries will need to apply for a standard visitor visa to do a short course in the UK. Check if you need a visa to study in the UK. 

If someone you know is coming to visit you on holiday to the UK, they may need to apply for a visitor visa. Find out more about a visitor visa. 

Short-term Student Route

Short-term student visas are available to students who want to study English language courses that are between six and 11 months long. Find out more about the short-term study visa . 

Child Student Route

If you’re aged between four and 17 years old, you can apply for a child student visa to study at a school in the UK. Find out more about child study visas. 

Can I work in the UK on a study visa?

Many international students in the UK take a part-time job, work placement or internship alongside their studies. For most courses, you will be allowed to work for up to 20 hours per week during term time. Before you consider looking for work, check your visa and biometric residence permit and check your university’s rules to see if there are any restrictions to the type of work or number of hours you can do. 

• European students: If you do decide to do part-time work in the UK, this could impact your eligibility for a refund on your Immigration Health Surcharge payment, so make sure you consider all of this when thinking about if you need to work alongside your studies in the UK.

Find out more about the hours and types of work you can do on the UKCISA website . 

Can I stay in the UK after I graduate?

The date your student visa ends depends on the length of your course. Make sure you know when your visa is due to expire so you can plan your next steps accordingly.

You may be able to extend your student visa if you’re eligible, for example, to continue your studies in the UK. You may also be able to switch to another type of visa if you want to stay and work in the UK. 

Visit our after your studies pages to learn more about your options after you graduate. 

Conclusion

If you are looking for the latest updates and advice about student visas in light of Covid-19, visit our Covid-19 information page. 

Many British Council offices run pre-departure briefings for students who are due to travel to the UK. At these events, you can find out more about everything you need to prepare, and you may pick up some helpful tips for applying for your visa. Check our events page or visit your local British Council website to find an event near you.