How do I get a UK Student visa?

For people aged 16 or over who want to study in the UK with a licensed student sponsor.

Applies to: England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland Last checked against official sources: 6 October 2026

You can apply if you're 16 or over, have a place on a course with a licensed sponsor, enough money, and good English. It costs £558, plus the healthcare surcharge.

Apply up to 6 months before your course from outside the UK.
Decisions usually take 3 weeks outside the UK, 8 inside.
Degree-level students can usually stay up to 5 years.
You can't claim benefits or be self-employed.

Key facts

£558 fee
Decision in 3 weeks (outside UK)
Up to 5 years for degrees

What a Student visa is

A Student visa lets you come to the UK to study a course with a licensed student sponsor, such as a university or college. You must be 16 or over. You need an offer of a place on a course, enough money, good enough English and, if you are under 18, your parents' consent.

How much it costs

Cost	Amount
Visa fee, outside the UK	£558
Visa fee, extending or switching inside the UK	£558
Immigration health surcharge	£776 for each year of your visa

The health surcharge lets you use the NHS. If your visa lasts more than 6 months but less than a full year, you pay for a full year.

Example: your visa is granted for 2 years. You pay £558 plus £1,552 health surcharge (£776 x 2), so £2,110 in total. Your course fees are on top.

Money you must show

You must show you can pay your course fees for one year (as shown on your Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies) plus living costs.

Where you study	Living costs per month	Maximum needed (9 months)
In London	£1,529	£13,761
Outside London	£1,171	£10,539

You must have held the money for at least 28 days in a row. The end of that 28-day period must be within 31 days of the date you apply. You do not need to show this money if you have lived in the UK with a visa for at least 12 months when you apply.

Bringing family

Most students cannot bring family members. You may be able to bring your partner and children if you are:

a government-sponsored student on a course longer than 6 months, or
on a full-time postgraduate course of 9 months or more that is a PhD, other doctorate or research-based higher degree (for courses starting on or after 1 January 2024)

Each family member must show £845 a month in London, or £680 a month outside London, for up to 9 months.

How to apply

Get your Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies from your course provider.
Apply online. From outside the UK, apply up to 6 months before your course starts. From inside the UK, apply up to 3 months before.
Prove your identity with the app or at an appointment.
Wait for a decision: usually 3 weeks outside the UK, or 8 weeks inside.
If approved, set up a UKVI account to view your eVisa.

What you can and cannot do

You can study, and you may be able to work. How much depends on your course and whether it is term time. You cannot:

claim benefits or pensions
be self-employed
work as a professional sportsperson or sports coach
study at an academy or council-funded school

The rules are the same across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, as visas are run by the Home Office for the whole UK.

Related guides

Where these figures come from

Student visa on GOV.UK
Student visa: money you need on GOV.UK
Student visa: family members on GOV.UK
Immigration health surcharge: how much you pay on GOV.UK

Get it done

This takes you to the official service, which is free to use.

Apply for a Student visa

Common questions

How much money do I need for a UK Student visa?

As well as your course fees, you usually need £1,529 a month in London or £1,171 a month elsewhere, for up to 9 months. You must have held the money for at least 28 days in a row.

Can I bring my family on a UK Student visa?

Only if you are a government-sponsored student on a course over 6 months, or on a postgraduate course of 9 months or more that is a PhD, other doctorate or research-based degree.

Can I stay in the UK after my studies?

You may be able to apply for a Graduate visa, which lasts 2 years if you apply on or before 31 December 2026, or 18 months after that (3 years for PhD students).

Can I extend or switch to a Student visa in the UK?

Yes, it costs £558 and you will usually get a decision within 8 weeks.

Official sources

1.Student visawww.gov.uk/student-visa
2.Student visa: money you needwww.gov.uk/student-visa/money
3.Student visa: family memberswww.gov.uk/student-visa/family-members

Checked against GOV.UK on 6 October 2026

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