Need Help With a UK Student Visa Application?
Get your CAS, financial evidence and application ready for your course start date.
You have a place to study in the UK. Now you need to make sure the visa application matches your course, your CAS and the evidence you can provide. The timing matters too: applying late or overlooking a requirement can disrupt your plans.
We review how the main parts of your application fit together, explain what needs attention and prepare the agreed application work. Your case is managed by a qualified, authorised and regulated immigration adviser, with the work and fee confirmed before you instruct us.
Prefer to speak to the team? Request a Call Back.
Is the UK Student Visa the Right Route?
The Student Visa is for people aged 16 or over who have an offer to study an eligible course with a licensed student sponsor. If you are under 18 and planning to study at an independent school, the Child Student route may be more appropriate.
An offer from a university or college is not the only thing to check. You will need a valid Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS), and your course, financial evidence and other application details must meet the relevant requirements.
If you are already in the UK, your current immigration permission and the course start date may affect whether you can switch or extend from here. Our guide to switching from a Student Visa to a Skilled Worker Visa explains some options that may be available after your studies.
How We Prepare Your Student Visa Application
The value of careful preparation is in checking that the key parts of your application fit together before submission. We review the CAS against the course and information you provide, check the financial evidence against the relevant requirements, and raise questions or gaps for you to resolve.
When you instruct us for suitable application work, the Knightsbridge Immigration team manages the agreed process.
1. Review your course, CAS and timing
Your adviser reviews your course, education provider, CAS details, current immigration status and application location. We identify any points that need checking before the application is prepared.
2. Check your evidence
We explain which documents and information are relevant to your circumstances. This may include financial evidence, English-language evidence, parental consent if you are 16 or 17, or a TB test certificate if one is required.
3. Prepare the agreed application
We prepare the application within the agreed scope, compare the information with your evidence and raise inconsistencies or gaps for you to address. You review the details and approve the application before submission.
4. Manage submission and next steps
We manage the agreed submission process and explain the identity, biometrics and document instructions that apply to you. You remain responsible for providing accurate information and responding to requests within the required time.
Our UK visa document checklist guide explains how to organise evidence around an application’s requirements.
What Are the Main Student Visa Requirements?
The requirements depend on your course, nationality, application location and personal circumstances. The main checks usually include:
- A qualifying course and licensed sponsor: You need an unconditional offer for an eligible course with a Home Office-licensed student sponsor.
- A valid CAS: Your education provider issues a CAS reference after offering you a place. You need to use it in your application and generally apply within six months of receiving it.
- Course fees and living costs: You may need to show funds for the required course fees and maintenance amount. The amount, evidence and any exemptions need to be checked for your case.
- English-language ability: You will usually need to meet the required level. Your evidence may be assessed by your provider or demonstrated through a recognised qualification or approved test. An IELTS test is not required in every case.
- Other documents: Depending on your circumstances, you may need a passport, parental consent, a TB certificate, an ATAS certificate or evidence relating to a scholarship or student loan.
The application details should match the CAS and supporting evidence. For example, check that the course information and fees shown in your application are consistent with the CAS and any payment evidence. We raise discrepancies with you before submission so they can be addressed.
How Much Money Do You Need to Show?
The financial requirement can include unpaid course fees for the relevant academic year, up to nine months, and money for living costs. The maintenance amount depends on whether you will study in London or outside London.
Under the current published amounts, maintenance is £1,529 per month for study in London and £1,171 per month outside London, for up to nine months. The required funds generally need to be held for 28 consecutive days, with the end of that period within 31 days of the application date.
There are exceptions. For example, you may not need to provide financial evidence if you have been in the UK with a valid visa for at least 12 months on the date of application. Some applicants may also be covered by differential evidence arrangements, although UKVI can still request evidence.
The calculation can be affected by payments already made to your education provider, accommodation payments shown on your CAS, a student loan, official financial sponsorship and your application history. We check the figures and evidence against the requirements that apply to you rather than relying on a general estimate.
Can You Bring Your Family as Student Dependants?
Student dependant eligibility is limited. It is generally available if you are a government-sponsored student starting a course lasting longer than six months, or a full-time student on an eligible postgraduate course lasting at least nine months. For postgraduate courses starting on or after 1 January 2024, the course must normally be a PhD, another doctoral qualification or a research-based higher degree.
A taught master’s course does not normally allow a new student to bring dependants. Transitional rules and individual circumstances can matter, so check before making plans. Our Student dependant rules guide explains the main restrictions.
When Can You Apply, and How Long Does a Decision Take?
If applying from outside the UK, you can usually apply up to six months before your course starts. If you are applying from inside the UK, you can usually apply up to three months before the course starts and must apply before your current permission expires. Other timing requirements may apply to an in-country application.
The published decision estimate is usually three weeks for an application made outside the UK and eight weeks for one made inside the UK. These are estimates, not guaranteed decision dates. Identity appointments, missing documents or additional checks can affect the overall timetable.
When you enquire, include your course start date, CAS issue date and current visa expiry date if you are already in the UK. That helps us understand the timing and what needs to happen next.
What Does Student Visa Assistance Cost?
Our published professional fee for Student Visa application assistance is £1,500. The standard service covers the agreed application work for one applicant, including the eligibility and timing review, CAS and evidence checks, application preparation and submission support. We confirm the scope in your engagement terms before you instruct us.
The professional fee does not include Home Office charges, the Immigration Health Surcharge or third-party costs. Dependant applications and additional work are quoted separately.
The Home Office application fee is currently £558. The Immigration Health Surcharge is charged separately, and the amount depends on the length of permission granted. These government charges may change.
See our immigration fees, or Start a Query with your course and application details so we can confirm the relevant service and costs.
What Can You Do on a Student Visa?
Your work conditions depend on your course and sponsor. Some students can work a limited number of hours during term time and more during vacation periods; others have different or no work permission. Check the conditions on your grant and do not assume the same limit applies to every student.
Student permission generally does not allow self-employment, work as a professional sportsperson or access to public funds. If you are unsure whether a job or activity is permitted, check before starting it.
After completing an eligible course, you may be able to apply under the Graduate route if you meet its requirements. You may also be able to switch to another route, such as Skilled Worker, if you qualify. Read our Graduate Visa guide when considering your next step.
What Happens When You Get in Touch?
Start a Query with your course, education provider, CAS status, application location and course start date. If you are already in the UK, include your current visa type and expiry date. Tell us whether family members may apply with you and whether there have been previous refusals or immigration issues.
We review the enquiry to establish whether we can help within our authorised scope. We then explain the appropriate service, work and fee. Detailed advice and application preparation are agreed before they begin.
Start a Query or Request a Call Back.
UK Student Visa Questions
Can I apply for a Student Visa without a CAS?
No. You need a valid CAS reference from your licensed student sponsor before you apply. Check that the details are correct and that you apply within the permitted period after it is issued.
Do I have to take IELTS?
Not always. English-language evidence can sometimes be met through a recognised qualification or assessed by your higher education provider. The method and level depend on your course and circumstances.
Can I work full-time during university holidays?
Your work conditions depend on your course and sponsor. Check the conditions on your eVisa or grant notice before accepting work, including during vacation periods.
Can I apply from inside the UK?
In some cases. Your current immigration permission, course start date and the switching rules all matter. Some categories of permission cannot be used to switch in-country, so check your position before applying.
What if my Student Visa is refused?
Tell us promptly and provide the refusal decision and relevant application documents. We can check whether the matter falls within our authorised scope and explain the next step. Complex refusal advice or work outside our scope may need referral to a solicitor under a separate engagement.
Can I extend my Student Visa or switch to another route?
You may be able to extend to continue eligible studies or switch if you meet the requirements of another route. Each application has its own timing and eligibility rules. Check your current permission and future plans before relying on a particular option.
Ready to Plan Your Studies in the UK?
Tell us your course start date, CAS status and current visa expiry date, if you are already in the UK. We will explain the appropriate application support and what you need to do next.
Prefer a conversation? Request a Call Back.
AHJ Immigration is a brand of Knightsbridge Immigration Ltd, which is authorised and regulated by the Immigration Advice Authority. All advice and casework are managed through Knightsbridge Immigration Ltd.
