Studying in the UK
Most people who study in the UK arrive on the Student visa, sponsored by a licensed university or college, and many then move to the Graduate visa for a period of unsponsored work before switching to a work route. The guides in this section follow that sequence: who can be sponsored, how much money must be shown and for how long, what work is allowed during and after study, and how the routes connect to settlement.
Two changes shape decisions in the current academic year. Since January 2024 only postgraduate research students and government-sponsored students can bring dependants, and applications for the Graduate visa made from 1 January 2027 receive 18 months rather than two years. The student maintenance figures also rise on 30 November 2026. Each guide states the rule in force now and the date any change takes effect.
Study time does not count towards the five-year settlement routes, so the Graduate vs Skilled Worker comparison and the Skilled Worker guide are the natural next reading for anyone planning to stay.
| Route | Sponsorship | Typical duration | Dependants | Settlement |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student visa | CAS from a licensed education provider | Length of course (plus a short wrap-up period) | PhD/research postgraduates and government-sponsored students only | No — switch to a settlement route |
| Graduate visa | None | 2 years (18 months from 2027 applications; PhD 3 years) | Existing Student-visa dependants; UK-born children (from Aug 2026) | No — switch to a settlement route |
| Child Student visa | CAS from a licensed independent school | Course length (max 6 years under 16) | — (see Parent of a Child Student) | No — but time may count towards 10-year Long Residence |
| Parent of a Child Student visa | Tied to the child's Child Student visa | Up to 12 months at a time, while the child is 4–11 | — | No — the route ends when the child turns 12 |
- Student visa CAS, money requirements, work rights and who can bring family — the main route for courses with a licensed UK education provider.
- Graduate visa Two years of unsponsored work after a UK degree — falling to 18 months from January 2027. Who qualifies and how to use the time well.
- Child Student visa For children aged 4–17 studying at UK independent schools: CAS, money rules, how long they can stay, and the switch to a Student visa at 16.
- Parent of a Child Student visa For one parent accompanying a child aged 4–11 at a UK independent school: what it allows, what it forbids, and what happens at the child's 12th birthday.