Student visa
Last verified 4 September 2026 against GOV.UK sources·Page updated 5 September 2026
| Who it is for | Students sponsored by a licensed education provider for an eligible course |
|---|---|
| Core requirement | A CAS from a licensed education provider, plus proof of funds |
| Application fee | £558 plus IHS £776 a year |
| Work rights | Up to 20 hours a week in term time on degree-level courses |
| Family | Dependants only for PhD/research postgraduates and government-sponsored students |
| After study | Graduate visa: 2 years now, 18 months for applications from 1 January 2027 |
| Settlement | No — switch to a settlement route |
The Student visa is the main route for studying with a licensed student sponsor in the UK, particularly for courses longer than six months — from foundation years to PhDs. Different rules apply to English-language courses: up to six months can be done as a visitor (with an ETA or visitor visa, depending on your nationality), and English courses of six to eleven months use the separate Short-term Study visa.
What you need
Your education provider must hold a student sponsor licence and issue you a CAS (Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies). With the CAS you apply online, showing money for your course fees and living costs, and English at the level your course requires. The application fee is £558, plus the Immigration Health Surcharge of £776 for each year of the visa — for a three-year degree, the surcharge is far larger than the fee itself.
The living-cost requirement is currently £1,529 a month for courses in London and £1,171 a month outside London, held for up to nine months. From 30 November 2026 these rise to £1,570 and £1,203 under Statement of Changes HC 584 — applications made before that date are decided under the current amounts.
Working while you study
Degree-level students can work up to 20 hours a week in term time and full-time in vacations. Below degree level the limit is 10 hours, and some courses carry no work rights at all. The conditions are printed on your visa decision — check them, because breaching work limits has serious consequences.
Bringing family
Since January 2024, dependants are limited to two groups: students on government-sponsored courses of six months or more, and postgraduates on courses of nine months or more that are PhD, doctoral or research-based. Taught master’s students cannot bring a partner or children.
After your course
Most students move to the Graduate visa — two years of unsponsored work for applications made by 31 December 2026, and 18 months from 1 January 2027 (doctoral graduates keep three years). If you finish in 2026, applying before the year ends secures the longer period. The alternative is switching straight to a Skilled Worker visa if you have a qualifying job offer.
Route to settlement and citizenship
or
Time on a Student visa does not normally count towards ILR. The usual path is to switch to the Graduate visa or straight to Skilled Worker after your course, and to work towards settlement from there. Lawful residence as a student can count towards the separate 10-year Long Residence route.
In most cases, British citizenship becomes available once you have settled on a later route and held ILR for twelve months.
Related guides
- 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.
- Skilled Worker visa Sponsorship, the £41,700 salary threshold, degree-level job requirement, B2 English and the path to settlement — the UK's main work visa explained.