Student visa (GOV.UK)
The official UK government guidance on the Student visa: the CAS, fees, the health surcharge, maintenance funds and the 28-day rule, English, family members and work conditions. Read it in full the week you apply; it is the rule book, not a summary.
Guide
Career Growth
UK Home Office
Self paced
All
Free
What it is
GOV.UK is the UK government's official website, and its Student visa pages are the authoritative guidance for people coming to study at a UK university for more than six months. The pages cover eligibility, the documents you must provide, fees, the Immigration Health Surcharge, how much money you need, English requirements, family members, how to apply and what you can and cannot do on the visa. Related pages cover the Graduate visa.
Key rules (as of 2026-09)
- You need a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) from your university, and you can apply up to six months before your course starts.
- The visa application fee from outside the UK is 558 pounds.
- The Immigration Health Surcharge for students is 776 pounds per year.
- Maintenance funds: 1,529 pounds per month in London or 1,171 pounds per month elsewhere, for up to nine months, held for 28 consecutive days ending within 31 days of your application, unless an exemption applies.
- For courses starting from 1 January 2024, only students on doctoral or research-based higher degrees can bring dependants; taught masters students cannot.
- Degree-level students can usually work up to 20 hours a week in term time and full time in official vacations.
- The Graduate visa lasts two years if you apply on or before 31 December 2026, 18 months if you apply from 1 January 2027, and three years for doctoral graduates.
How to use it well
- Read every page of the Student visa guide, not only the fees.
- Use the money page to calculate your exact maintenance and course fee amount, then check your bank statements meet the 28-day rule.
- Check whether you need a tuberculosis test based on your country.
- Follow your university's visa guidance alongside gov.uk; universities also check your English.
Is it worth it?
It is essential. Most avoidable refusals come from funds or documents that do not meet the exact wording of these rules.
Free or paid
The guidance is free. Visa fees and the surcharge are paid to the Home Office only through the official application.
Common questions
Do I need IELTS for UKVI? Not always for degree study; universities can assess English. Follow your CAS and gov.uk.
Can I work more than 20 hours in term? No, not on a degree-level Student visa.
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