To study in the UK you need an offer from a licensed student sponsor, a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS), and then a Student visa. The application fee has been £558 since 8 April 2026, plus the Immigration Health Surcharge of £776 per year for students. You must show your remaining first-year course fees and living costs of £1,529 a month in London or £1,171 a month elsewhere, for up to 9 months. For applications made on or after 30 November 2026 this rises to £1,570 in London and £1,203 elsewhere (statement of changes HC 584). After you graduate, the Graduate visa lasts 2 years if you apply on or before 31 December 2026, and 18 months if you apply on or after 1 January 2027.
Who this guide is for
Anyone aged 16 or over planning to study at a UK university or college, families deciding who can come too, and current students planning a Graduate visa. If you are 16 or 17 you need your parents’ consent; children at independent schools may need the separate Child Student visa. Figures are from GOV.UK on 17 October 2026, and rules change often, so check the linked pages before you apply.
From choosing a course to getting your visa
- Choose the course, then check the provider is a licensed student sponsor. Compare content, assessment and entry requirements before the city.
- Prove your English. The level is equivalent to CEFR B2 for degree level and above, and B1 below degree level. You can use a Secure English Language Test (SELT), certain qualifications, or in some cases an assessment by your university itself.
- Get your CAS. After you accept an offer, your university sends a CAS reference number. You must include it in your application.
- Get your money in place early. It must be in your account for at least 28 days in a row, and the end of that 28-day period must be within 31 days of the date you apply.
- Apply at the right time. From outside the UK, the earliest is 6 months before your course starts. From inside the UK, the earliest is 3 months before, and your new course must begin within 28 days of your current visa expiring.
- Wait for a decision: usually 3 weeks from outside the UK, 8 weeks from inside.
Documents you will need
- A current passport or other valid travel document.
- Your CAS reference number.
- Proof of money for fees and living costs, unless you are exempt.
- An ATAS certificate if your course and nationality require it.
- Tuberculosis test results if you are from a country where you must take the test.
- Written consent from your financial sponsor if you have been sponsored in the last 12 months.
- If you are under 18: written parental consent and a birth certificate or government document showing your parents’ names.
How much money you need to show
| Item | London | Outside London |
|---|---|---|
| Student living costs per month (up to 9 months) | £1,529 | £1,171 |
| Student total for 9 months | £13,761 | £10,539 |
| Each eligible dependant per month (up to 9 months) | £845 | £680 |
| Each dependant total for 9 months | £7,605 | £6,120 |
On top of living costs, you need your course fees for one academic year (up to 9 months), as shown on your CAS. The 9-month totals are the monthly figure multiplied by nine; GOV.UK does not state a start date for these amounts.
Accepted evidence includes bank statements, a regulated or government student loan, and official financial sponsorship. Money in another currency is converted at the OANDA spot rate on the date you apply, so leave a margin for exchange-rate swings.
Who does not need to show living costs?
- Anyone who has been in the UK with a valid visa for at least 12 months on the date of application.
- British National (Overseas) passport holders and nationals of the countries listed on GOV.UK, although UKVI may still ask for evidence.
Visa fees and the health surcharge
| Item | Amount | Effective date or note |
|---|---|---|
| Student visa (inside or outside the UK) | £558 | From 8 April 2026; unchanged in the 8 October 2026 table |
| Health surcharge for students and dependants | £776 per year | GOV.UK, at time of review |
| Graduate visa (inside the UK only) | £937 | From 8 April 2026; unchanged in the 8 October 2026 table |
| Health surcharge on a Graduate visa | £1,035 per year | GOV.UK, at time of review |
The surcharge covers the full length of your visa, not just teaching months. GOV.UK gives the example of £1,552 for a 2-year student visa. If UKVI sends you a request to pay, you have 10 working days inside the UK or 7 working days outside the UK, or your application will be refused. Work out the total for you and your family in the visa cost calculator.
Who can bring a partner and children?
You can bring dependants if you are:
- a government-sponsored student starting a course longer than 6 months, or
- a full-time student on a postgraduate course (RQF level 7 or above) lasting 9 months or longer.
Key date: if your postgraduate course starts on or after 1 January 2024, it must be a PhD or other doctorate (RQF level 8) or a research-based higher degree. In practice, most students on taught master’s courses who are not government-sponsored cannot bring family. Confirm how your course is classified with the university before you plan a family move.
Working while you study
Appendix Student of the Immigration Rules (rule ST 26.1) sets these limits:
| Type of study | During term time | Outside term time |
|---|---|---|
| Full-time, degree level or above, sponsored by a higher education provider with a track record of compliance | 20 hours a week | Full-time work permitted |
| Full-time, below degree level, sponsored by such a higher education provider | 10 hours a week | Full-time work permitted |
| All other study, including all part-time study | No work | No work |
Students cannot be self-employed (apart from narrow exceptions), work as a professional sportsperson or sports coach, work as an entertainer, fill a permanent full-time vacancy, or claim public funds. Your conditions, including work limits, are shown on your eVisa, so check them before accepting a job. For general employment rights, read working in the UK.
Visa length and the Graduate route
If you are 18 or over, you can usually stay for up to 5 years on a degree-level course and up to 2 years below degree level.
The Graduate visa
- Eligibility: you must be in the UK on a Student visa, have completed an eligible course, and your university must have told the Home Office you completed it successfully.
- Timing: apply before your Student visa expires. You do not have to wait for your graduation ceremony or certificate.
- Length: 2 years if you apply on or before 31 December 2026, 18 months if you apply on or after 1 January 2027, and 3 years for PhD or other doctoral graduates. It starts from the day your application is approved.
- Extension: you cannot extend a Graduate visa, but you may be able to switch to another route such as Skilled Worker.
- Work: you can work in most jobs, be self-employed and look for work, but you cannot work as a professional sportsperson.
If you finish around the end of 2026, your application date decides whether you get 2 years or 18 months.
Common mistakes
- Breaking the 28-day rule. Moving money out early, or using a period that ended more than 31 days before you apply.
- Assuming every postgraduate can bring family. Since 1 January 2024 this is limited to doctoral and research degrees and some government-sponsored students.
- Leaving the Graduate application until after your Student visa ends. You must apply before it expires.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a UK Student visa in 2026?
£558 since 8 April 2026, whether you apply from inside or outside the UK, plus the health surcharge of £776 per year.
Can I bring my spouse and children on a master’s course?
For postgraduate courses starting on or after 1 January 2024, only if the course is a PhD, other doctorate or research-based higher degree, or if you are a government-sponsored student on a course longer than 6 months.
How many hours can a student work?
Usually 20 hours a week in term time at degree level, 10 hours below degree level, and full-time outside term time, subject to the conditions in the table above.
Is the Graduate visa 2 years or 18 months?
2 years if you apply on or before 31 December 2026, and 18 months if you apply on or after 1 January 2027. PhD graduates get 3 years.
This page is general information, not legal advice. If you have a previous refusal or a complex immigration history, speak to a regulated adviser, such as an SRA-regulated solicitor or an adviser registered with the Immigration Advice Authority, through our immigration lawyers directory.
Sources
- GOV.UK — Student visa ↗
- GOV.UK — Student visa: money you need ↗
- GOV.UK — Student visa: your partner and children ↗
- GOV.UK — Student visa: documents you must provide ↗
- GOV.UK — Student visa: knowledge of English ↗
- GOV.UK — Student visa: what you can and cannot do ↗
- GOV.UK — Student visa: apply ↗
- GOV.UK — Financial evidence for Student applicants ↗
- GOV.UK — Immigration Rules: Appendix Student ↗
- GOV.UK — Immigration health surcharge: how much you pay ↗
- GOV.UK — Graduate visa ↗
- GOV.UK — Graduate visa: eligibility ↗
- Home Office — Immigration and nationality fees, 8 April 2026 ↗
- Home Office — Immigration and nationality fees, 8 October 2026 ↗
Your next step
Work out visa and surcharge costs for you and your family in the visa cost calculator, then plan your monthly spending in the cost of living planner. If you need an English course first, search the English courses directory.
Reviewed 17 October 2026.