Study in UK | Student visa guide
CAS, the £1,529/£1,171 maintenance thresholds, the 28-day rule, TB testing, credibility interviews, dependant restrictions, work rights, and the Graduate Route change - verified against official GOV.UK guidance for 2026.
The UK remains the fastest major destination for Indian students - one-year master's degrees, three-year undergraduate programmes, and a post-study work route that still runs two years for applications made through December 2026. But UKVI rules have tightened sharply: higher maintenance thresholds, strict fund-holding rules, restricted dependants, and a shorter Graduate Route from January 2027.
This guide walks through the complete journey - shortlisting, offer, CAS, financial evidence, visa filing, biometrics, credibility interview, and the Graduate Route - separating university admission requirements from UKVI immigration requirements using the figures currently in force.
Universities issue offers and the CAS; UKVI issues the Student visa; your university is your immigration sponsor
Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies from your sponsor - you cannot apply without it; valid for 6 months
£1,529/month London (£13,761/9 months) or £1,171/month outside London (£10,539/9 months) plus outstanding tuition on your CAS
28 consecutive days, closing balance dated within 31 days of your application
£558 per applicant (from April 8, 2026), plus £776/year Immigration Health Surcharge
Mandatory for Indian residents - chest x-ray at a Home Office-approved clinic; certificate valid 6 months
CEFR B2 for degree-level study; SELT or university assessment routes; B1 below degree level
Restricted since January 2024 - only PhD/research-based postgraduates (9+ months) and government-sponsored students can bring family
Up to 20 hours/week during term at degree level; full-time in official vacations; no self-employment
2 years after bachelor's/master's (3 years after PhD); 18 months for non-PhD applications from January 1, 2027
A structured review maps academics, backlogs, budget, English level, intake, and career goal to realistic UK options. UK planning is immigration-critical from day one: one-year master's mean tight timelines, London vs outside-London location changes your financial requirement by over £3,000, and course type now decides dependant eligibility and Graduate Route length.
Shortlist 6-8 universities across ambitious, moderate, and safe categories via UCAS (undergraduate) or direct/postgraduate portals. Check entry criteria, tuition, scholarships, placement options, and whether the institution is a licensed Student sponsor. Apply 8-12 months ahead - popular programmes close early.
Universities issue conditional offers (pending academics, English, or documents) which become unconditional once met. Review every condition, respond before deadlines, and accept formally with any required deposit to move toward CAS issuance.
Most universities require a tuition deposit (commonly £2,000-£5,000) before issuing the CAS. The amount recorded as paid on your CAS reduces the funds you must show for the visa - keep payment receipts and ensure the university reflects them correctly before your CAS is issued.
Your sponsor university issues the CAS reference - an electronic record of you, your course, fees paid/due, English evidence used, and ATAS status if applicable. Check every field against your passport and offer. The CAS is valid for 6 months from issue and is the foundation of your points-based application.
Show outstanding first-year tuition (per your CAS) + living costs: £1,529/month in London or £1,171/month outside, capped at 9 months (£13,761 / £10,539). Funds must sit in an acceptable account for 28 consecutive days with the closing balance within 31 days of applying - a single-day dip below the threshold means refusal. Parent accounts are accepted with birth certificate and consent letter; education loans from regulated lenders also qualify.
Apply online up to 6 months before your course starts: pay the £558 fee and the Immigration Health Surcharge (£776/year, upfront), upload documents, and book biometrics at a VAC in India. Standard processing is about 3 weeks; priority (£500) and super-priority (£1,000) services are available where offered.
Give fingerprints and a photo at the Visa Application Centre. Indian applicants must include a TB certificate from a Home Office-approved clinic (chest x-ray; valid 6 months) - missing certificates cause outright refusal. Some applicants are called for a short credibility interview testing why this course, this university, and your funding plan - answer consistently with your CAS, SOP, and finances.
Approved applicants receive a digital eVisa linked to a UKVI online account - BRP cards have been fully retired. Travel arrives within your course's permitted arrival window (usually up to one week before if the course is under six months, one month otherwise). Carry your passport, CAS details, financial documents, and TB certificate in cabin baggage, then complete university enrolment and identity verification.
Critical distinction: there is no fixed UKVI IELTS score - sponsors set academic English standards, and for degree-level courses the university may assess your English itself instead of requiring a SELT. But the financial requirement is absolute UKVI law: even £1 below the threshold for a single day inside your evidence window means refusal.
| Route | Typical level | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| IELTS for UKVI (Academic) | Typically 6.0 - 6.5 overall | SELT taken at an approved centre; safest universal option |
| PTE Academic UKVI | 58 - 65 equivalent | Home Office-approved SELT alternative |
| LanguageCert Academic SELT | Per provider scale | Approved SELT; fast results and remote-friendly centres |
| University assessment | Institution-set | Degree-level courses: sponsor may assess English itself and record it on the CAS |
Degree-level courses require CEFR B2; below-degree courses require B1. Exemptions exist: a qualifying qualification taught in a majority-English-speaking country (with Ecctis confirmation), UK GCSE/A-Level or Scottish Higher equivalents, or nationals of majority-English-speaking countries. Many universities waive SELTs for strong Indian profiles (MOI or high board scores) using their sponsor assessment power - always confirm what your specific sponsor records on the CAS before booking a test.
| London monthly rate | £1,529/month - maximum £13,761 for 9 months |
| Outside London monthly rate | £1,171/month - maximum £10,539 for 9 months |
| Plus | Outstanding first-year tuition shown on your CAS (deposits already paid are deducted) |
| Each dependant (where eligible) | Additional £845/month London or £680/month outside London |
| Holding period | Funds held 28 consecutive days; closing balance within 31 days of application |
| Term-time limit (degree level) | Up to 20 hours per week during term |
| Term-time limit (below degree) | Up to 10 hours per week during term |
| Official vacations | Full-time work allowed during scheduled vacation periods |
| Prohibited | Self-employment, business activity, professional sportsperson/coach, entertainer, and doctor/dentist-in-training roles |
| Placement years | Work placements integral to the course are permitted as part of your programme |
| After completion | Switch to the Graduate Route before your Student visa expires to keep working full-time |
Outstanding first-year tuition (per your CAS) plus living costs of £1,529/month in London (£13,761 for nine months) or £1,171/month outside London (£10,539). Example: a London master's with £17,000 tuition outstanding needs about £30,761 shown. Funds must sit untouched for 28 consecutive days ending within 31 days of your application.
Your full required balance must remain in an acceptable account continuously for 28 consecutive days, and the closing balance on your evidence must be dated no more than 31 days before you apply. If the balance drops below the requirement for even one day inside the window, the application must be refused - regardless of the balance afterwards.
Usually no. Since January 1, 2024, dependants are limited to students on research-based postgraduate courses of 9+ months (PhD, doctoral, genuinely research-based MPhil) and government-sponsored students on 6+ month courses. Taught master's, undergraduate, foundation, and pre-sessional students cannot bring partners or children on a new Student visa.
The application fee is £558 per person (from April 8, 2026) plus the Immigration Health Surcharge at £776 per year for students - roughly £1,164 for a one-year master's visa including the post-course buffer. Optional priority processing adds £500-£1,000.
Yes. Indian residents must take a tuberculosis screening (chest x-ray) at a Home Office-approved clinic in India and include the certificate with the visa application. Certificates are valid for six months, so time it near your application date, and carry it when travelling.
Degree-level courses require English at CEFR B2, but a SELT is not the only route: your university (as your sponsor) may assess your English itself for degree-level courses and record it on the CAS, or you may qualify through an exemption such as a degree taught in a majority-English-speaking country. Below-degree courses need B1. Confirm your route with the university before booking a test.
A short interview (video or in person) some applicants must attend, where UKVI checks that you are a genuine student: why this course and university, how you will fund your studies, and your post-study plans. Answers inconsistent with your CAS, SOP, or finances are a leading refusal cause - prepare thoroughly with mock interviews.
Degree-level students can work up to 20 hours per week during term and full-time during official vacations; below-degree students are limited to 10 hours weekly. Self-employment, professional sport, and entertainer work are prohibited. Work placements integral to your course are permitted.
It is the unsponsored post-study work visa: currently two years after a bachelor's or master's and three years after a PhD. From January 1, 2027, applications receive 18 months for non-doctoral graduates (three years stays for PhDs). You must apply from inside the UK before your Student visa expires, after your university confirms course completion.
About three weeks standard processing after biometrics. With CAS issuance, fund seasoning, and TB testing factored in, plan an 8-12 week runway end-to-end, and file earlier than June-August peak season. Priority services (five working days, £500) are available at most Indian VACs.
You typically receive the refusal grounds with your decision and may request an administrative review (for caseworker errors) or reapply addressing the reasons - most refusals involve maintenance evidence, CAS issues, or genuineness doubts. Request GCMS/internal review notes where relevant, fix the root cause, and refile with a consistent, complete file.
Only if your university allows instalments - but remember the visa requires you to SHOW funds for all outstanding tuition plus maintenance anyway. Paying more upfront lowers the cash you must park for the 28-day window, which is why many students clear the first year's fees before applying.
Get a personalised UK roadmap - university shortlisting with CAS-ready documentation, financial evidence built around the 28-day rule, credibility interview coaching, and complete Student visa filing support.
Information on this page was verified against official Home Office guidance on August 25, 2026. Rules change frequently - always confirm on the official pages below before paying fees or travelling.