UKCISA - international student advice and guidance - Student route: eligibility and requirements

Eligible courses

Last modified: 04 July 2023

Students on the Student route can study a range of courses, but those courses must meet certain requirements including minimum levels of qualifications.

For information about how different qualifications compare across the UK and Ireland, see the guide Qualifications can cross boundaries

You may be able to undertake work placements as part of your course, depending mainly on the level of your course. Students on the Student route are subject to time limits on their study.

If the course you want to study does not seem to fit within the Student route requirements, ask the course provider for advice and you might want to consider whether you can qualify for permission under a different category which permits study, for example, the Youth Mobility Scheme visa or UK ancestry.

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Full-time degrees and degree-level courses

Part-time postgraduate courses

Study abroad

Courses below degree level

Pre-sessional courses

English language courses

Re-sits and repeats

Postgraduate doctors and dentists in training

Supplementary study

Time limits

Last modified: 23 June 2023

There are time limits ('caps') on how long you can study with a Student visa. Before they issue your CAS, a Student sponsor will check that your proposed studies will not take you over the cap. When assessing your application, the Home Office will also check that you will not exceed the cap, unless there are "compelling and compassionate circumstances", such as injury or disability.

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How the time limit is calculated

Your course is below degree level

Your course is degree level

Time limits and Coronavirus (Covid-19)

Requirements

Last modified: 11 October 2023

In addition to studying an acceptable course and not exceeding any relevant time limits on study with Student immigration permission, there are some other requirements you must meet in order to apply for permission as a Student.

Information about how you prove that you meet these requirements is set out in Evidence.

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Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS)

Financial requirements

'Financial requirements' refers to the need to show that you have enough money to pay for your course fees and your living costs. The Home Office calls this the 'financial requirements'.

For Student permission applications made in the UK from 9.00 am on 5 October 2020, you will be exempt from meeting the financial requirements if you have been living in the UK for 12 months or more with permission at the time of your application.

Similarly, if you apply from either inside or outside the UK under the Student route as a Student Union Sabbatical Officer or as a doctor or dentist in training on a recognised foundation programme, you also will be exempt from meeting the financial requirement. This also applies to applications made from 9.00 am on 5 October 2020. Please refer to paragraph ST 12 of Appendix Student of the Immigration Rules for further details.

If you are applying from outside the UK or if you have been living in the UK with immigration permission for less than 12 months, you must meet the following financial requirements:

Course fees

You must have enough money to pay for the course fees for the first year of your course, or the entire course if it is less than one year long. If your CAS has been issued for further study on a course that you are already part-way through, the 'first year of study' means the first year of this new period of study. The Home Office will use the details in your CAS to confirm how much money you need for your course fees.

If you have already paid all your course fees, or for study abroad or other course with no fees, your CAS will confirm this.

Living costs

The Home Office uses fixed amounts, which may or may not reflect your actual living costs.

If you wish to study in London, you will need £1,334 for each month of your course, up to a maximum of nine months. This means that if you will be studying in London for a course that lasts one month only, the amount that you will need is £1,334. If you will be studying in London for a course lasting nine months or more, the amount that you will need is £12,006. If you are not sure whether you will be studying in London, ask your Student sponsor.

For study elsewhere in the UK, the monthly amounts are lower: you will need £1,023 for each month of your course, and up to £9,207 for a course lasting nine months or more.

Use the course start and end dates on your CAS to calculate the length of your course and therefore how many months' maintenance you will need. If the length of your course includes a part of a month, round it up to a full month. For example if your course dates are 30 May until 1 October, this is four months and two days so you would need to show five months' of funds.

Deductions

You can deduct the following from the total amount of money that you need as part of your immigration application:

money that you have already paid to your Student sponsor towards your course fees, and
up to £1,334 that you have already paid to your Student sponsor for your accommodation fees, if you will be living in university or college accommodation.

You cannot deduct any advance payment for any other type of housing, nor can you adjust the amounts if you will have no housing costs (for example if you will be living with a relative free of charge).

Your CAS may include details of any money paid to your institution. If not, you will need to provide a paper receipt confirming how much you have paid towards your course fees and/or your accommodation fees.

Low-risk applicants who have a receipt do not need to include it with the application.

English language ability

Student sponsors are required to assess your ability to read, write, speak and understand English. The method of assessment will vary. For example, there are special arrangements if you are a national of a majority English-speaking country, have a qualification taught in an English-speaking country, are spending no more than six months in the UK as part of a USA degree-level course, or plan to study at degree level at a UK higher education provider with a track record of compliance. Your Student sponsor will tell you how it will assess your English and the level of English you must have, which is subject to minimum levels set by the Home Office.

For applications made from 9.00 am on 5 October 2020, nationals of Ireland and Malta will also be regarded as being nationals from majority English speaking countries. This means you will be able to rely on your nationality to satisfy the English language requirements if you are a national of one of those two countries. Similarly, you will be able to satisfy the English language requirements if you have a degree or degree level qualification taught from an institution in Ireland or Malta.

The English language requirement can also be satisfied in one of two new ways for applications made from 9.00 am on 5 October 2020:

If you have already met this requirement successfully in a previous application made either inside or outside the UK. This requirement can only be satisfied if the level of English in the previous application was at the required level for the current application.
You have obtained either a GCSE, A Level or Scottish equivalent in English language or literature following education at a UK school whilst below the age of 18.

If you are required to take one of the Home Office's approved secure English language tests (SELTs) as evidence of your English language ability, your SELT must show that you achieved the required score in each of the components during a single sitting of that examination (unless you are exempt from a component due to a disability).

Only five test providers are considered to offer secure English language tests for UK visa purposes - IELTS SELT Consortium, Trinity College London, LanguageCert, Pearson and PSI Services (UK) Ltd - Skills for English (UKVI). Trinity College London tests must be taken in the UK only. PSI Services (UK) Ltd - Skills for English (UKVI) tests must be taken overseas only. The three other providers' tests may be taken in the UK or overseas. A list of approved test centres can be found on the Home Office website.

Trinity College London tests can be booked online. If your Student application requires a CEFR level of B1 then you should select an 'ISE I (B1)' test. If you need CEFR level B2 for your Student application then you should select an 'ISE level II (B2)' test. You may find it easier to book a test by selecting the type of test and the location from the drop down menus at the top of the page.

IELTS offer a number of different tests but a test will only be considered to be a SELT if it was taken at an approved test centre and is an 'IELTS test for UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) purposes'. These tests will have a 'UKVI number' on the results certificate. If you have any questions about whether the test you are taking is a SELT then you should check this when you make your booking. You cannot use an IELTS Life Skills test as a SELT for a Student application; instead you should check with your institution whether they require you to take an Academic or General IELTS test.

Note: IELTS results certificates state a CEFR level, however this is the CEFR level of the overall band score and is not necessarily confirmation that you have obtained this level in each of the four components. If in doubt, check with your Student sponsor.

You can book an IELTS test online by selecting the relevant country.

Criminal convictions

General grounds for refusal

Evidence

Last modified: 16 August 2023

You must meet all the Student requirements and be able to provide evidence in the required format in order to make a successful application. Your documents may be copies or originals.

Many Student sponsors offer their students help in checking documents. Make sure you submit only the documents your Student sponsor has approved, as other formats may result in a refusal. If in doubt, go back to your Student sponsor before submitting a different document, even if the difference is very small.

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Passport

Low-risk applicants

Your qualifications

English language evidence

Your Student sponsor must confirm on your CAS that it has either assessed your level of English language in reading, writing, speaking and listening, or that it is not required to do so.

Whether and how you need to provide evidence of English language in your Student application depends on what your Student sponsor has entered in this field of the CAS.

National of a majority English-speaking country
Evidence: your passport

You have a degree-level qualification taught in a majority English-speaking country or taught or researched in English
Evidence: certificate or results transcript plus a statement of comparability from Ecctis (formerly UK NARIC) confirming that the qualification meets or exceeds the level of a UK degree.

You have completed a degree in the UK
Evidence: certificate or results transcript

Study abroad student
Evidence: confirmed on the CAS, plus a statement of comparability from Ecctis (formerly UK NARIC) confirming that the course of studies overseas will lead to an academic qualification at UK Bachelor's degree level or above.

GCSE, A Level or Scottish equivalent qualification
Evidence: certificate or transcript

Met in a previous application

Evidence: although the Appendix English language and the Student and Child Student guidance do not specify how this will be evidenced, confirmation on the CAS/self-declaration on the Student application form should be acceptable.

'Gifted' degree student at a higher education provider with a track record of compliance
Evidence: confirmed on the CAS. You must also carry a letter from your institution with you when you enter the UK.

Your Student application is for degree-level study at a higher education provider with a track record of compliance, and you don't meet any of the previous provisions
Evidence: your CAS confirms that your Student sponsor has assessed your English language ability to be at a minimum of CEFR level B2 in each of the four components. Your CAS must also state the method of assessment that your Student sponsor used. If a SELT was used to determine your English language ability, enter the test reference number on your Student application form so that the Home Office can verify your SELT results online.

Your Student application is for degree-level study at an institution that is not a higher education provider with a track record of compliance, and you don't meet any of the previous provisions
Evidence: your CAS confirms that your Student sponsor has assessed your English language ability to be at a minimum of CEFR level B2 in each of the four components, using one of the Home Office's approved secure English Language tests (SELTs). Enter the test reference number on your Student application form so that the Home Office can verify your SELT results online. No further evidence is required.

Your Student application is for study below degree level and you don't meet any of the previous provisions
Evidence: your CAS confirms that the Student sponsor has assessed your English language ability to be at a minimum of CEFR level B1 in each of the four components, using one of the Home Office's approved secure English language tests (SELTs). Enter the test reference number on your Student application form so that the Home Office can verify your SELT results online. No further evidence is required.

Evidence you meet the maintenance requirements

If you are a 'low-risk' applicant, you should obtain the evidence of your money in the format explained here, but you do not need to include it with your initial application. All other applicants (except those who are exempt from meeting the financial requirements - see Financial requirements) must include this evidence with their application.

Evidence of your money must meet specific requirements. If it does not, your immigration application is likely to be refused.

If you have already paid money to your institution for your course fees or accommodation, submit paper receipts with your application as evidence of this, unless this information is included in your CAS. See 'deductions' in Financial requirements for more information.

As evidence of your money, you can use any one or more of these forms of evidence:

personal bank statements
certificate(s) of deposit [see below]
letter from your bank, or a regulated financial institution
letter from an official financial sponsor [see below]
letter from a regulated financial institution confirming that you have a loan [see below] from the national government, the state or regional government, or a government-sponsored student loan company
letter from a regulated financial institution confirming that you have a loan [see below] that is part of an academic or educational loans scheme
statements of a passbook from a building society

Certificate of deposit

This is a certificate issued by a bank to confirm that the named person has deposited or invested a specific amount of money. Certificates of deposit are not listed as acceptable evidence in the Immigration Rules but the Home Office's Financial requirement casework guidance confirms that a certificate of deposit is accepted if it meets the following requirements:

the certificate of deposit must have been issued by a bank that confirms that an individual has deposited or invested a sum of money
the funds have been held for the required 28 day period
the applicant can access the funds at any time

There are no further requirements for the certificate. For example, there is no maximum time limit on how long you have held the funds, and a certificate is acceptable even if it has wording that says the funds are 'frozen' or 'inaccessible'.

Loans

If you are applying for your visa from overseas the loan must be available to you before you travel to the UK, unless it is a loan from your country's national government in which case it must be made available to you before you begin your course. Alternatively, the funds must be paid directly to your Student sponsor before you travel to the UK. In this case, the living costs part of the loan, must be made available to you by the time you arrive in the UK. Any other type of loan will not meet the Student route requirements. If you wish to use money from any other type of loan, you need to transfer the funds to a bank or building society account in your name (or a parent's name) and use one of the other forms of evidence listed above.

Check your financial documents carefully

It is very important that your financial documents contain all of the required information. Appendix Finance details all the information that must be included in any financial document that you use to support your application.

Maintenance must be in the form of cash funds. You cannot use evidence of other types of finances, such as shares, bonds, or a pension fund. You also cannot use an overdraft facility or a credit card.

Unless you are using a loan letter, your financial documents must show that the full amount of money that you need has been in the account for 28 consecutive days up to the date of the closing balance. This means that the account must not have dropped below the amount that you need to show at any time during the 28 day period. If it does your immigration application is likely to be refused. In addition, the final date of this 28 day period must not be more than 31 days old on the date that you submit your application.

A loan letter must not be dated more than six months before the date on which you make your application. The loan must be in your name only.

A bank account can be in your name or in one or both of your parent's or legal guardian's name, and it can be a joint account you hold with someone else. You can use more than one account if necessary, and you can use a combination of your account(s) and your parent's or legal guardian's account(s).

You can use an overseas bank account. If your funds are not in British pounds (GBP), you should convert the closing balance into GBP using OANDA and the conversion rate on the date on which you make your application. Write this sum on the statement.

The format requirements for a bank statement (either printed or online) can be found in the Financial requirement casework guidance. The requirement for online statements to either be stamped on each page or to be accompanied by a supporting letter from the bank or building society has been removed. You cannot use mini-statements obtained from automatic teller machines (ATMs).

Acceptable and unacceptable financial institutions

Using your parent(s) or legal guardian(s) funds

You may use a personal bank account in your parent's or guardian's name (or names). Business accounts are not acceptable because the Immigration Rules (Appendix Finance) specify that accounts must be personal.

If you wish to use a personal bank account in your parent's or guardian's name (or names), you must also include evidence of their relationship to you. (If you are a 'low-risk' applicant you should obtain this evidence, but you do not need to include it with your application.) This evidence of your relationship with your parent(s) or legal guardian(s) can be:

your birth certificate, or a copy, showing the name of your parent(s) whose bank account you are using for your immigration application
if you are adopted, the certificate of adoption, or a copy, showing your name and the name of your parent(s) whose bank account you are using for your immigration application
if you have a legal guardian, a court document, or copy, which shows the name of your guardian(s) whose bank account you are using for your immigration application

If you do not have any of the above, but you have a government-issued household register showing your name and your parent or parents' name(s), the Home Office's Financial requirement casework guidance confirms that this is acceptable evidence of your relationship, though this option is not listed on the application form.

The Student and Child Student guidance also identifies that 'regional variation' may occur when assessing proof of relationship documents. Home Office staff are instructed to accept documents that contain "the required information and is in English or is accompanied by a verified translation." Therefore you can use whatever official document your country of nationality issues as evidence of its nationals' birth and family relationships, even if it is not called a 'birth certificate'. However, this provision is only for people whose country of nationality does not issue birth certificates at all. If your country of nationality does issue birth certificates then you must submit this as evidence of your relationship to your parent(s).

You must also provide a signed letter from your parent(s) or legal guardian(s), confirming the relationship between you, and confirming that they consent to the funds being available to you for study in the UK.

Any other relative (or unrelated person) can pay money direct to your Student sponsor on your behalf, for example to pay your course fees or housing costs. If any other relative or unrelated person wishes to support you financially with your Student application, the financial evidence (such as a bank statement) must be in joint names – see Check your financial documents carefully. Alternatively, the money can be held in your partner’s name – see Using your partner’s funds

Using your partner's funds

A ‘partner’ means either:

• your spouse;
• civil partner; or
• unmarried partner. Previously the Immigration Rules used to specify that unmarried partners must have been living together in a relationship similar to a marriage or civil partnership for at least two years in order to qualify as an 'unmarried partner'. RWP 5.1 of Appendix Relationship with Partner, no longer refers to a two-year cohabitation period, but does confirm that in order to qualify as an 'unmarried partner' you must have 'been in a relationship similar to a marriage or civil partnership for at least two years before the date of application'.

If your partner is applying for immigration permission at the same time as you, the evidence of the funds used in your Student application can be in your partner’s sole name. This applies regardless of whether or not you and your partner are making entry clearance or permission to stay applications.

Alternatively the evidence of funds used in your Student application can be in your partner’s name only, if your partner already has some form of immigration permission. The immigration rules do not specify what type of immigration permission your partner has to have.

Together with the financial document in your partner’s name, you will be required to submit evidence to confirm the proof of your relationship with your partner. This will mean either a marriage/civil partnership certificate, or proof that you have been in a relationship with your partner for at least two years prior to the date of your application in the case of unmarried partners. For further details concerning the evidence that unmarried partners may be required to submit, please refer to the Dependants page and Home Office caseworker guidance.

According to FIN 5.1 of Appendix Finance, this means that financial documents can only be held by the following people in order to make an application under the Student route:

• Solely by you;
• In joint names with you and with someone else;
• In the name of your partner solely (if your partner is applying at the same time as you); or
• In the name of your partner solely if your partner has some form of immigration permission

Although relying on funds in your partner's name is permitted under the Immigration Rules, we have heard reports that this is not reflected in any of the options when completing the Student application form itself. Reports suggest that the only options in which to select are that the funds are in your name or the name of your parent(s). If this is the case and you wish to rely on funds in your partner's name, you may wish to add a note in the free text section of the application form, correctly stating that you are relying on funds in your partner's name.

Student route: eligibility and requirements

Eligible courses

Time limits

Requirements

Course fees

Living costs

Deductions

Evidence

Certificate of deposit

Loans

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