UK Student Visa Solicitors in London
Expert help with Student visa applications, extensions and refusals from our London immigration solicitors.
A UK Student visa lets people aged 16 or over study a further or higher education course in the UK with a licensed student sponsor. In 2026 the application fee is £558, plus the Immigration Health Surcharge of £776 per year. Applicants must score 70 points through a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS), proof of funds and English language ability.
Adam Bernard Solicitors is an SRA-regulated London law firm with offices in High Holborn and Upton Park. For 15 years our immigration team has helped international students, and the families who support them, get Student visas approved the first time. We check your CAS, bank evidence and English proof before you submit, and we act quickly if an application has already been refused.
Call 0207 100 2525 (24/7) or book a free consultation by Zoom, Teams, WhatsApp, Skype or in person.
What is a UK Student visa?
The Student visa replaced the Tier 4 (General) visa in October 2020. It is the main immigration route for international students aged 16 or over who want to study at a UK college or university.
You can use it for degree-level courses (undergraduate, master’s, PhD), certain below-degree courses and approved English language courses. How long you can stay depends on the course:
- Degree level and above: usually up to 5 years of study
- Below degree level: usually up to 2 years
- A short period is added before and after the course. The length depends on how long the course is
Is a Student visa the right route?
- Aged 4–17 and going to an independent school → Child Student visa
- Course of 6 months or less → you may be able to study as a visitor. See our Student Visitor visa page
- Already graduated from a UK degree → the Graduate visa lets you stay and work
Student visa requirements: the 70-point test
To qualify you must score 70 points: 50 for a valid CAS from a licensed sponsor, 10 for meeting the financial requirement and 10 for meeting the English language requirement.
| Requirement | Points | What you need |
|---|---|---|
| Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) | 50 | An unconditional offer on an eligible course from a sponsor on the register of licensed student sponsors. The CAS reference number must be used within 6 months of being issued |
| Financial requirement | 10 | Course fees for the first year plus living costs (see below) |
| English language | 10 | CEFR B2 for degree-level study; B1 below degree level |
You must also be 16 or over. If you are 16 or 17 you need written consent from your parents or legal guardian. Some courses (for example certain science, engineering and technology postgraduate subjects) also need an ATAS certificate before you apply.
Eligible courses
- Full-time courses at RQF level 3, 4 or 5 with at least 15 hours of organised daytime study per week
- Full-time degree-level courses at RQF level 6, 7 or 8 (or SCQF equivalent)
- Part-time courses above degree level (RQF 7 or above)
- Recognised foundation programmes for postgraduate doctors or dentists
- English language courses at CEFR B2 or above
If you are unsure whether your course qualifies, our student visa solicitors can check it against your CAS before you pay any fees.
English language: how to prove it
You can prove your English with a Secure English Language Test (SELT), a GCSE/A level/Scottish Higher in English, or a degree taught in English. For degree-level courses your university can also assess your English itself. Nationals of majority English-speaking countries (for example the USA, Canada and Australia) are exempt. See GOV.UK: Student visa knowledge of English.
Financial requirements: how much money do you need?
You must show your first year’s unpaid course fees plus living costs of £1,529 a month in London or £1,171 a month outside London, for up to 9 months. The money must have been held for 28 consecutive days, ending no more than 31 days before you apply.
| Living-cost requirement (from 11 November 2025) | Per month | Maximum (9 months) |
|---|---|---|
| Studying in London | £1,529 | £13,761 |
| Studying outside London | £1,171 | £10,539 |
| Each dependant – London | £845 | £7,605 |
| Each dependant – outside London | £680 | £6,120 |
When you don’t need to show funds:
- You have lived in the UK with valid permission for 12 months or more on the date you apply
- You are a national of a “differentiation arrangement” country (for example the USA, Canada, Japan or Australia), though the Home Office can still ask for evidence
Bank evidence is the most common reason for refusal. Typical problems are statements in the wrong name, a balance that drops below the threshold for even one day, funds held in a parent’s account without a birth certificate and consent letter, and statements from banks the Home Office does not accept. We check your evidence line by line before you submit. Source: GOV.UK: Student visa money.
Student visa fees and processing times (2026)
The Student visa application fee is £558 per person, both from outside and inside the UK. On top of this you pay the Immigration Health Surcharge at £776 for each year of your visa.
| Cost or timescale | 2026 figure |
|---|---|
| Application fee (outside UK) | £558 |
| Application fee (extend or switch inside UK) | £558 |
| Immigration Health Surcharge | £776 per year (students and dependants) |
| Earliest you can apply, outside UK | 6 months before course start |
| Earliest you can apply, inside UK | 3 months before course start |
| Standard decision, outside UK | Usually within 3 weeks |
| Standard decision, inside UK | Usually within 8 weeks |
| Priority / super priority | Available in some locations at extra cost |
Fees rose on 8 April 2026 (see the Home Office fees table) and the health surcharge is set out on GOV.UK: how much you pay. Always check the GOV.UK Student visa overview on the day you apply.
Can you bring family on a Student visa?
Since 1 January 2024 only two groups of students can bring a partner or children: postgraduate students on a PhD or other research-based higher degree, and government-sponsored students on courses longer than 6 months.
Taught master’s students (such as an MSc or MBA) can no longer bring dependants, unless the course started before 1 January 2024 or the student is government-sponsored. Eligible dependants are a spouse, civil partner, unmarried partner (2+ years’ cohabitation) and children under 18, including a child born in the UK during your studies. Each dependant needs the funds shown in the table above and pays the same £558 fee and £776-a-year health surcharge. See GOV.UK: Student visa family members.
If your partner has their own route, such as a Skilled Worker visa, it may make more sense for you to join them instead. We can compare the options.
Can you work on a Student visa?
Students on a degree-level course at a university can usually work up to 20 hours a week in term time and full-time during official vacations. Below-degree students are usually limited to 10 hours a week.
You cannot be self-employed, work as a professional sportsperson or sports coach, work as an entertainer, or fill a permanent full-time vacancy. Breaching work conditions can lead to your visa being cancelled and affect every future UK application, so check the conditions on your eVisa and your CAS before you accept any job.
How to apply for a UK Student visa: step by step
- Accept an unconditional offer and receive your CAS from your licensed sponsor
- Check the CAS details (course, dates, fees paid, English assessment) for errors. Mistakes here cause refusals
- Gather evidence: passport, bank statements (28-day rule), English proof, ATAS if needed, TB test certificate if you live in a listed country, and parental consent if aged 16–17
- Apply online on GOV.UK and pay the £558 fee and the health surcharge
- Prove your identity with the UK Immigration: ID Check app or at a visa application centre
- Get your decision. Status is now issued as an eVisa linked to your UKVI account, not a physical vignette or BRP
Student visa extension and switching
You can extend a Student visa from inside the UK if you have an unconditional offer for a new course, usually at a higher academic level (the “academic progression” rule), and the new course starts within 28 days of your current visa expiring.
Exceptions to academic progression include resitting exams, repeating modules and certain medical or dentistry intercalated degrees. You cannot switch into the Student route from inside the UK if you are here as a visitor, short-term student, parent of a Child Student, seasonal worker, domestic worker in a private household, or on leave outside the rules. You must apply from outside the UK. See GOV.UK: extend your Student visa.
After your studies: Graduate visa and other routes
Graduates of a UK bachelor’s or master’s degree can apply for the Graduate visa to stay and work. Applications made by 31 December 2026 get 2 years; from 1 January 2027 this falls to 18 months. PhD graduates still get 3 years. Source: GOV.UK: Graduate visa.
The Graduate visa has its own eligibility rules and fees. See our dedicated Graduate visa solicitors page. Common next steps after that are the Skilled Worker visa or, for graduates of top global universities, the High Potential Individual visa.
The Home Office is strict about students who stay beyond their permission. Read our guide: UK warns international students not to overstay.
Student visa refused? Your options
A refused Student visa does not carry a right of appeal. Your options are administrative review, which you must request within 28 days if you are outside the UK, 14 days if you are inside the UK or 7 days if detained, or a fresh application that fixes the problem.
- Administrative review: use it when the caseworker made an error, for example by miscounting funds or ignoring evidence you sent
- Fresh application: use it when the evidence itself was weak or missing. You will need a new or updated CAS and must pay the fee again
- Judicial review: a last resort if administrative review fails on an unlawful decision
- A human rights element (for example family life in the UK) may open an immigration appeal route
Time limits are short. If you are in the UK, your existing permission may continue only while an in-time review is pending. Contact us the day you receive the refusal.
Why choose Adam Bernard's student visa solicitors?
- SRA-regulated solicitors, listed on the Law Society’s Find a Solicitor directory
- 15 years and 15,000+ clients across UK immigration
- 4.7★ from 843 client reviews
- Pre-submission checks of your CAS, bank evidence and English proof, the three points that decide most refusals
- Two London offices, High Holborn (Central London) and Upton Park (East London), plus video consultations worldwide
- Joined-up advice from Student to Graduate to Skilled Worker to settlement, so each visa sets up the next
Call 0207 100 2525 or book your free consultation today.
Student visa FAQs
How much does a UK Student visa cost in 2026?
The application fee is £558 from inside or outside the UK, plus the Immigration Health Surcharge of £776 per year of the visa. You must also show living costs of £1,529 a month in London or £1,171 a month elsewhere (up to 9 months), plus any unpaid first-year fees.
How long does a Student visa take?
Usually within 3 weeks from outside the UK and 8 weeks from inside the UK. Faster priority services are available in some locations for an extra fee.
Can I bring my spouse on a Student visa?
Only if you are studying a PhD or other research-based postgraduate degree, or you are a government-sponsored student on a course longer than 6 months. Most taught master’s students can no longer bring dependants.
How many hours can I work on a Student visa?
Usually up to 20 hours a week in term time on a degree-level course, or 10 hours below degree level. You can work full-time during official vacations.
What is the 28-day rule for Student visa funds?
The required money must have been in your account for 28 consecutive days, and the end of that period must be no more than 31 days before you apply. If the balance drops below the required amount on any day, the application is likely to be refused.
Can I appeal a Student visa refusal?
No. Student visa refusals carry no right of appeal. You can request an administrative review within 28 days (outside the UK) or 14 days (inside the UK), or make a fresh application.
Can I travel to Europe on a UK Student visa?
Not by itself. Most countries need their own visa. See our guide to countries you can travel to with a UK student visa.
Can I switch from a Student visa to a Skilled Worker visa?
Yes, normally once you have completed your course, or after 24 months of a PhD. Our Skilled Worker visa team can advise on timing so you are not left without permission.
This page is for general information only and does not constitute legal advice. Figures correct as of 1 October 2026; check GOV.UK before applying.
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