Student Visas 

You can apply for a Student visa to study in the UK if you’re 16 or over and you:

• have been offered a place on a course by a licensed student sponsor
• have enough money to support yourself and pay for your course – the amount will vary depending on your circumstances
• can speak, read, write and understand English
• have consent from your parents if you’re 16 or 17 – you’ll need evidence of this when you apply

This visa has replaced the Tier 4 (General) student visa.

When to apply

The earliest you can apply for a visa is 3 months before you start your course.

You’ll usually get a decision on your visa within 3 weeks. You can check visa processing times for your country.

Fees

It costs £348 to apply for this visa from outside the UK.

You must pay £348 per person for any dependants.

Healthcare surcharge

You’ll also have to pay the healthcare surcharge as part of your application. Check how much you’ll have to pay before you apply.

Overview

You might need to pay a healthcare surcharge (called the ‘immigration health surcharge’ or IHS) as part of your immigration application.

Whether you need to pay depends on the immigration status you’re applying for.

When you must pay

If you’re making your immigration application online, you pay the surcharge as part of your application or when you book an appointment. 

If you’re applying by post, you pay the surcharge online before you send your application. You’ll need to include the IHS reference number on your application form.

When you can start to use the NHS

You can start using the National Health Service (NHS) when both: 

You’ll still need to pay for certain types of services, such as prescriptions, dental treatment, eye tests and assisted conception.

You should bring your biometric residence permit with you when you access healthcare in the UK.

How long you can stay

You can arrive in the UK before your course starts:

How long you can stay depends on the kind of course you’re doing and what study you’ve already completed.

What you can and cannot do

You can:
• study
• work as a student union sabbatical officer
• apply from inside or outside the UK
• apply to extend your stay
• work in most jobs – depending on what level your course is and what kind of sponsor you have

You cannot:
• get public funds
• work in certain jobs, for example professional sportsperson or sports coach
• study at an academy or a local authority-funded school (also known as a maintained school)

You may be able to bring in family members (dependants).

Read the full guidance to find out how long you might be able to stay and what you can and cannot do.

You can apply for the Child Student Visa if you’re aged between 4 and 17 and you want to study at an independent school in the UK – gov.uk/child-study-visa

Overview

You’re aged between 4 and 17 and you want to study at an independent school in the UK.

You must also:

How long it will take

The earliest you can apply for a visa is 3 months before you start your course.

You’ll usually get a decision on your visa within 3 weeks. Find out about paying for a faster decision.

Fees

It costs £348 to apply for a Tier 4 (Child) student visa from outside the UK.

You’ll also have to pay the healthcare surcharge as part of your application. Check how much you’ll have to pay before you apply.

How long you can stay

Your age and the length of your course of study will affect how long you can stay.

You can arrive in the UK:

What you can and cannot do

You can:

You can also work, if you’re 16 or over:

You cannot:

Please see information at our BOTC PASSPORT APPLICATIONS FROM THE UK page