Table Of Content
1. Who Can Apply For A UK Student Visa?
2. What is CAS?
3. Which Courses Can One Do On A UK Student Visa?
4. Documents Required
5. How Do You Prove Your Knowledge Of English?
6. When Can One Apply?
7. Do I Need To Appear For An Interview?
8. What Are The Common Interview Questions?
9. What Is The Course Fee?
10. How Much Money Is Required To Support Yourself
UK is a land of opportunity. The country has one of the best institutes in the world. These institutes provide the highest quality of education, and research opportunities, and prepare students for working in some of the best companies in the world. Millions of foreign students wish to study in the UK but not all of them become successful. Aspiring students need to apply for a UK student visa to be able to study in the UK. Before you apply for a student visa you must understand the visa process, eligibility, documents to attach, interview questions, and other details of the visa.
Thus we have brought you the top 10 FAQ about UK student visas and here are they
1. Who Can Apply For A UK Student Visa?
Students who meet the conditions below can apply for a UK student visa:
- You are 16 or over
- You have been offered a place on a course by a licensed student sponsor
- Financially you can support yourself and pay the course fee
- You can speak, read, write and understand the English language
- If you are 16 or 17 you must prove that you have consent from your parents
2. What is CAS?
If you need a student visa you must first receive an unconditional offer of a place on a course by a licensed student sponsor. To prove that you have it show the reference number sent to you by your education provider once they have offered you a place on the course. This reference number is called a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies and you must have it before you apply for a student visa because you must enter this reference number on your student visa application.
3. Which Courses Can One Do On A UK Student Visa?
This is one FAQ about UK student visas that is on the mind of every aspiring foreign student. A student visa is offered only for certain courses. You can do one of the following courses:
- A below-degree level full-time course that’s (RQF level 3, 4, or 5) with at least 15 hours a week of organized daytime study
- A degree level or above full-time course (RQF level 6, 7, or 8)
- A full-time course at degree level or above (RQF level 6,7 or 8) that’s equivalent to a UK higher education course and is being delivered as part of a longer course overseas.
- An above-degree level part-time course that’s (RQF level 7 or above)
- A recognized foundation programme for postgraduate doctors or dentists
- An English language course at level B2 or above in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages
4. Documents Required
The documents list includes but is not limited to the following:
You must provide:
- Your current passport or other valid travel documentation
- A Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) reference number from your course provider
You may also have to provide other documents such as:
- Documents as evidence proving that you can pay for your course and support yourself financially during your course time unless you’ve been in the UK with a valid visa for at least 12 months on the date of your application
- A valid Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) if required
- Consent from your parents or parent (if he/she has your sole responsibility) or other legal guardian and proof of your relationship with them (parent/s or legal guardian) if you are under 18
- Your TB test report if you come from a country where it is mandatory
- Your financial sponsor’s written consent for your application if you’ve received sponsorship for your course fees and living costs in the last 12 months
You may be required to submit more documents depending on your circumstances.
5. How Do You Prove Your Knowledge Of English?
This is probably the most common FAQ about UK student visas. So, this is important to address. You can prove your ability to speak, read, write, and understand the English language at a minimum level as per (the Common European Framework (CEFR) B2 level) in one of the following ways:
- Passing a Secure English Language Test (SELT) from an approved provider which includes Pearson, Trinity College London, IELTS SELT Consortium, LANGUAGECERT
- Having a GCSE, A level, Scottish National Qualification level 4 or 5, Scottish Higher or Advanced Higher in English, gained by studying at a UK school that you started when you were under 18
- You have completed a degree course taught in English if you studied abroad.
6. When Can One Apply?
When you can apply depends on whether you apply from inside the UK or outside the UK.
If applying from inside the UK the earliest possible time to apply is 3 months before your course starts and your current visa expires. Also, your new course must start within 28 days of the visa expiry date.
If you apply from outside the UK the earliest you can apply is 6 months before you start your course.
Decision Time
If you apply from inside the UK you should usually get a decision on application within 8 weeks.
If you apply from outside the UK you should get a decision within 3 weeks.
Visa fee
- £490 if you apply from outside the UK
- £490 if you are applying to extend or switch to a Student visa from inside the UK
You must pay the visa fee for each person who joins you.
7. Do I Need To Appear For An Interview?
Not every applicant needs to appear for a visa interview. The UKVI may call you for an interview if they find any inconsistencies in your application or if they require further information to authenticate your supporting documents.
You may also be invited for a visa interview if
- There is a gap of more than six years between your last educational qualification and the present time when you are applying for a study visa, or
- If the course you have applied for is significantly different from your previous field of study.
8. What Are The Common Interview Questions?
If you are worried what if I am called for a visa interview? What type of questions will be asked? Well, this is a FAQ about UK student visas is probably on the mind of all the applicants. So, here are some of the most common questions asked by UKVI:
- Why do you want to study in the UK?
- Which university are you joining?
- What field of study you have chosen?
- Who will meet your expenses?
- Where will you stay in the UK?
- Do you have any relatives or friends in the UK?
- What is your plan after your course ends?
9. What Is The Course Fee?
You need to have the money to pay for your course for the first academic year (up to 9 months). The amount you need to pay will be on your Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS).
You are exempted from this if you’ve been in the UK with a valid visa for at least 12 months.
Course fees in the UK vary depending on your study level and which place and college in the UK you are going to study. Some courses such as humanities and social sciences degrees tend to cost the least, while laboratory and clinical degrees are among the most costly courses.
10. How Much Money Is Required To Support Yourself
You must be able to support yourself financially in the UK- unless you’ve been in the UK with a valid visa for at least 12 months on the date of your application.
Studying in London is costlier than other places. You’ll need either:
- £1,483 per month (for up to 9 months) to study in London
- £1,136 per month (for up to 9 months) to study outside London
We have tried our best to bring the top 10 FAQs about UK student visas for you. However, if you need more information on UK student visas keep reading our blogs.