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Key takeaways
- You need a CAS from a licensed student sponsor, English at B2 for degree-level study (B1 below degree level) and proof of funds held for 28 consecutive days.
- As of September 2026 the visa costs £558 plus an Immigration Health Surcharge of £776 a year, and you may need to show up to 9 months of living costs on top of unpaid fees.
- Most taught master's students can no longer bring dependants. The main exceptions are research degrees such as PhDs and government-sponsored students.
- The Graduate visa lasts 2 years if you apply on or before 31 December 2026, falling to 18 months for applications from 1 January 2027.
You've got an offer from a UK university, and the excitement is quickly giving way to paperwork. The UK Student visa isn't hard to get if you prepare properly, but it's strict about money, timing and documents. Here's what applies as of September 2026, what it really costs, and the mistakes that lead to refusals.
Everything below is based on GOV.UK. Fees and rules change often, so check the official pages on the day you apply.
Who can get a UK Student visa?
You can apply if you're 16 or over and you:
- have been offered a place on a course by a licensed student sponsor
- have enough money for your course fees and living costs
- can speak, read, write and understand English at the required level
- have parental consent if you're 16 or 17
For adults, a degree-level course can give you a visa of up to 5 years. Below degree level, the limit is usually 2 years.
Your CAS: the document everything hangs on
Once your university offers you a place, it sends you a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS). This is a reference number, and you must apply for your visa within 6 months of getting it.
Check it carefully. The course dates, fees already paid and English assessment on your CAS feed straight into your application. A typo there can cause problems later.
The English requirement
For a course at degree level or above, you need English equivalent to CEFR B2. For courses below degree level, it's B1.
You can prove it with a Secure English Language Test from an approved provider, certain UK qualifications, or a degree taught in English (non-UK degrees need Ecctis confirmation). Universities can also assess degree-level students themselves, as long as the standard is equivalent to B2. Nationals of countries such as the USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand are exempt.
How much money do you need for a UK Student visa?
This is where most refusals come from. You must show you can pay any unpaid first-year course fees plus living costs for up to 9 months.
As of September 2026, the living-cost figures are:
| Where you'll study | Per month | Maximum (9 months) |
|---|---|---|
| London | £1,529 | £13,761 |
| Outside London | £1,171 | £10,539 |
| Each dependant, London | £845 | £7,605 |
| Each dependant, outside London | £680 | £6,120 |
The 28-day rule
The money must be in your account for at least 28 days in a row, and the end of that 28-day period must fall within 31 days of the date you apply. If your balance dips below the required amount for even one day, the clock resets.
You don't have to prove funds if you've lived in the UK with a visa for at least 12 months when you apply. Nationals of countries on the "differential evidence" list may not need to submit bank statements up front, but they still need to have the money and can be asked for proof.
Student visa fees and the Immigration Health Surcharge
As of September 2026, the costs paid to the government are:
| Cost | Amount (as of September 2026) |
|---|---|
| Student visa application (outside or inside the UK) | £558 per person |
| Immigration Health Surcharge, students and dependants | £776 per year |
| ATAS certificate (if needed) | Free |
| TB test (if needed) | Set by the approved clinic |
| English test (if needed) | Set by the test provider |
| Graduate visa later | £937 plus IHS of £1,035 per year |
You pay the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) up front for the whole visa, and it gives you access to the NHS. Use the calculator on GOV.UK, because part years are rounded: a period over 6 months but under a year is charged as a full year.
Budget beyond government fees, too. Flights, your first rent and deposit, a laptop, winter clothing and a buffer for the first few weeks add up quickly. Many students also buy contents insurance for their belongings, and some add travel or student insurance for trips home. Our guide to renting in the UK as a newcomer explains deposits and upfront costs.
How to apply, step by step
- Accept your offer and pay any deposit your university asks for.
- Check whether you need ATAS. Some science and technology subjects at RQF level 7 or above need a certificate before you apply. It's free but takes at least 30 working days.
- Book a TB test if you're from a listed country and coming for 6 months or more. The certificate is valid for 6 months from your x-ray.
- Get your CAS and check every detail.
- Hold your funds for 28 consecutive days.
- Apply online up to 6 months before your course starts (or 3 months if you're in the UK) and pay the fee and IHS.
- Prove your identity through the app or at a visa application centre.
- Wait for a decision: usually within 3 weeks from outside the UK, or 8 weeks from inside.
A worked example
Say you're from Accra and starting a one-year master's in Leeds, with £4,000 of tuition still unpaid. Leeds is outside London, so you'd need £10,539 for living costs plus the £4,000, which is £14,539, held for 28 days.
On top of that, you'd pay the £558 fee and the IHS for the full length of your visa. Ghana is on the TB testing list, so you'd book a clinic appointment too. Because it's a taught master's, you couldn't bring a partner as your dependant.
Can you bring family on a Student visa?
Since January 2024, most international students can't. As of September 2026, you can bring a partner or children under 18 only if you're:
- a government-sponsored student on a course longer than 6 months, or
- a full-time student on a postgraduate course at RQF level 7 or above lasting 9 months or longer, which, for courses starting on or after 1 January 2024, must be a PhD, other doctorate or research-based higher degree
Each dependant needs their own funds, as shown in the table above, and pays the IHS.
Working, banking and life after your course
Working hours
If you're studying at degree level or above, you can usually work up to 20 hours a week during term time. Below degree level, the limit is 10 hours. You can work full time during official vacations.
You can't be self-employed, work as a professional sportsperson or entertainer, or fill a permanent full-time vacancy. Breaking these conditions can end your studies in the UK, so keep your payslips and know your term dates.
Switching to the Graduate visa
After you finish your course, the Graduate visa lets you stay and work without a sponsor. As of September 2026, GOV.UK says it lasts 2 years if you apply on or before 31 December 2026 and 18 months if you apply on or after 1 January 2027. PhD graduates get 3 years. It can't be extended.
Switching to Skilled Worker
You can switch from a Student visa to a Skilled Worker visa inside the UK if you've completed your course, your job starts after your course ends, or you've been studying a full-time PhD for at least 24 months. The job must meet the salary and skill rules, which our Skilled Worker visa guide explains.
Banking and money when you arrive
You'll want a UK bank account quickly for rent, a part-time job and bills. Banks set their own ID and address requirements, and you won't have a UK credit history, so ask your university whether it can issue a letter confirming your student status and address.
Until your account is open, a card with low foreign transaction fees can help. If family are sending money for fees or living costs, compare international transfer costs first, because exchange-rate margins vary widely.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Showing funds for fewer than 28 days, or letting the balance dip.
- Using a bank statement dated more than 31 days before you apply.
- Forgetting unpaid tuition when you add up the money you need.
- Skipping ATAS for a sensitive subject and applying too early.
- Booking a TB test at a clinic that isn't on the approved list.
- Working over 20 hours in a busy week of term.
- Assuming a scholarship lets you bring family.
Your next steps
Check your CAS details, work out your exact funds figure and start the 28-day clock with money you won't need to touch. Confirm whether you need ATAS or a TB test, then budget for the fee, the IHS and your first month's rent.
If you've had a previous visa refusal, a gap in your studies or a complicated funding set-up, consider advice from your university's international student advisers, an IAA-regulated adviser or an immigration solicitor before you apply.
Frequently asked questions
How much money do I need in my bank for a UK Student visa?
As of September 2026, you need any unpaid course fees for the first year plus £1,529 a month in London or £1,171 a month elsewhere, for up to 9 months. The money must be held for at least 28 consecutive days, unless you're exempt.
How many hours can I work on a UK Student visa?
Degree-level students can usually work up to 20 hours a week in term time, and below-degree students up to 10 hours. You can work full time outside term time, but you can't be self-employed.
Can I bring my spouse on a UK Student visa?
Only in limited cases. You generally need to be on a PhD or other research-based postgraduate course, or be a government-sponsored student on a course longer than 6 months.
Is the Graduate visa being cut to 18 months?
Yes. GOV.UK says it lasts 2 years if you apply on or before 31 December 2026 and 18 months if you apply on or after 1 January 2027. PhD graduates still get 3 years.
How early can I apply for a UK Student visa?
From outside the UK, up to 6 months before your course starts. From inside the UK, up to 3 months before. You must apply within 6 months of receiving your CAS.