The UK is home to some of the well-known universities in the world. Imperial College London, King's College London, Coventry University, and Durham University are a few of them. But in order to study here, you will be required to have a valid UK student visa. Approximately 215,717 UK student visas were issued in the year 2020. This indicates the competition level for acquiring a UK student visa. The duration of your UK student visa depends on the length of the program you have been offered, it will be reflected in your Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS).
So, keep reading as this blog will tell you all about the UK student visa application, UK student visa cost, and a lot more!
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UK Student Visa Application
Once you have received a reference number called a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) from your designated university, only then you can apply for a Tier 4 student visa.
International students seeking Tier 4 student visas are required to apply at least three months before the commencement of the program.
Let us now move on to the documents required for the UK student visa application form:
- Details of passport
- Tuberculosis test results
- Criminal record certificate
- Proof of financial sufficiency
- Parents’ or legal guardian letters if you are under 18
- Recent passport size photograph
You may also be required to produce documents showing your academic qualifications, and to attend an interview or biometric test, which includes a digital scan of your fingerprints.
UK Student Visa Process
The UK study visa process can be easily completed, provided you have all the required documents asked for. The majority of the process takes place online. Here is how to apply for UK student visa:
Step I: Enrol for Biometrics at a visa application centre to obtain a Biometric Residence Permit.
Step II: Complete an online UK student visa application form
Step III: Submit Tuberculosis Certificate with a “negative” result
Step IV: Pay the visa processing fee of 348 GBP
Step V: As per the schedule, undertake an interview
Once you’ve submitted your UK student visa application online, the waiting time starts. If you have difficulties with the online form, you can contact your sponsor institution.
Recommended: How to Get a UK Student Visa without IELTS?
UK Student Visa Processing Time
UK student visa applications are processed within 3 weeks (15 working days) of the completed application being lodged. Therefore, the UK student visa processing time India is 15 days. Students can contact the British High Commission or VFS, which manages visa application centres for the UK Border Agency in India, to enquire about any delays.
Applicants can also track their visa application by subscribing to the VFS SMS alert service or utilising their online tracking system.
You’ll be contacted if your application is complex and will take longer, for example, because:
- your supporting documents need to be verified
- you need to attend an interview
- of your personal circumstances (for example if you have a criminal conviction)
Read: Is an Interview Necessary for a UK Student Visa?
Where to Apply for a UK Student Visa
The UK Student Visa process of getting a Tier 4 visa is completely online. There are many agencies that offer this service. However, it is suggested to apply only via the official British Government website.
If you apply for UK student visa from India at the official website and your application is successful, you’ll either get a:
- A biometric residence permit - if you gave your biometric information at a visa application centre.
- A digital immigration status which you can view and prove online - if you used the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ app.
Before applying for a student visa, make sure you obtain a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) from your university.
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When to Apply for a UK Student Visa
Coming to the next most important question-”When to apply for UK student visa?”. It normally takes up to 15-21 days but could be longer at peak times, so make sure you apply early enough.
- You can apply for your visa up to six months before your course starts.
- Do not apply before this date, as your application will be refused
- You must apply for your visa at least two weeks before your course starts (or if you have the option of starting your studies online, at least 2 weeks before you plan to travel to the UK).
- Make sure you allow enough time for the visa to be processed before your course starts or you plan to travel.
- It can take several weeks for your visa application to be processed and the average UK student visa processing time India varies for different countries.
Note: Lots of visa applications are made in June, July, and August so it can take longer to get your visa at these times because of the high demand.
Suggested: Know about the UK Visa Rejection Reasons!
UK Student Visa Fees
The current UK student visa cost for the Tier 4 (General) student visa is 348 EUR (or 440 USD), with an additional 348 EUR per person for any dependents.
Let us understand the UK student visa cost for different types of visa available:
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Visa type |
Visa fee |
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General student visa (Tier 4) |
348 EUR or 34,421 INR as the application fee + 348 EUR per person for any dependants |
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Tier 4 (Child) student visa |
348 EUR or 34,421 INR as an application fee for a Tier 4 (child) student visa + healthcare surcharge |
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Short-term study visa |
97 EUR or 9,594 INR for a 6-month visa 186 EUR or 18,397 INR for an 11-month visa |
Recommended: Covid Updates about Studying in the UK!
As an international student willing to study in the UK, you’ll also need to pay a healthcare surcharge of 300 EUR per year in order to access the National Health Service (NHS) during your stay. The UK embassy fees for student visa in India are also the same as above. The UK student visa fee can be paid either using a MasterCard or Visa card, or via demand draft. One can also pay in cash at the visa application centre. For further assistance on the UK student visa application from India, you can even connect with our Yocket Counsellors!
