The United Kingdom is home to some of the best and oldest universities in the world, including Oxford and Cambridge. Every year thousands of students enrol in United Kingdom universities and attain the best possible education that money can buy. Moreover, there are plenty of scholarship opportunities available as well for deserving students who can prove that they merit it.
Read on to find out more about how you can apply to the Universities and then gain your Student Visa for the United Kingdom.
There are several steps to apply for a visa. UK student visa applications are processed within three weeks of the completed application being lodged.
Visa Description
There are two student categories under Tier 4 of the points-based system:
- Tier 4 (General) Student Visa – This category is for students coming to the UK for higher education and the applicant must be at least 16 years old.
- Tier 4 (Child) Student Visa – This category is for children between 4 and 15 years of age coming to the UK for their education. Children between 4 and 15 years old can only be educated at independent fee-paying schools.
If you are enrolled in a bachelors degree program or higher at a UK college that is listed on both the official ‘UKBA Sponsor list’ and the list of ‘recognised bodies’, you are allowed to work for up to 20 hours per week for (Tier 4 General) and work full-time during vacations or summer holidays.
Please note that before following the step by step process delineated below, you must already have secured an admission to a Tier 4 United Kingdom Institution.
Step 1 – Check if you qualify
- You must be able to show that you have:
- A confirmed place at the school, university or college where you intend to study. It is called a ‘confirmation of acceptance for studies’ (CAS).
- Enough money (also known as ‘maintenance or funds’) to cover your course fees and living costs in the UK.
Step 2 – Get your documents ready
Student visa requires you to carry a lot more documents than you would for a tourist visa, by comparison. You need the mandatory documents along with supporting documents of financial and academic records. Make sure you refer to this checklist before going to the consulate for the visa interview.
You should have the following documents before applying:
- A completed student visa application form
- A letter of acceptance on the course – Your approved education provider will give you an acceptance letter (CAS) and a visa letter which are official and unconditional offers of a place on a course of study. The visa letter must be issued no more than six months before you apply. The applications where the visa letters are older than six months will be refused.
- Having a visa letter does not guarantee the application will be successful. The applicant must meet all the requirements of the category and any other requirements of the immigration rules.
- Proof of funds – The money you need to show covers your course fees for your first year of study and living costs for up to a maximum of nine months. The amount you will need depends on whether you are applying as a child or adult and also whether you will be studying in or out of London. You must show that you have held the money for at least 28 days. The end of that 28 day period must not be more than one month before the date of your application.
Step 3 – Apply online
You will need to register and create an account on the official UK Visa website.
When you have completed your online application form, you will need to print and sign your completed form. You must use the online appointment calendar to book an appointment at the visa application center. When you have completed your online application, you will receive an email message containing your application number.
Step 4 – Pay your application fee
There are 4 ways to pay your visa application fee.
- Payment at Standard Chartered Bank – You can pay your fee at some branches of the Standard Chartered Bank. The bank will issue a demand draft in favor of the ‘The British High Commission’.
- Demand draft from a nationalized or foreign bank – You can pay your fee by getting a demand draft issued by a nationalized or a foreign bank. Bank charges for this service will vary. The demand draft must be in favor of the ‘The British High Commission’.
- Payment at the visa application center – You can pay the visa application fee at the visa application center when you submit your visa application.
- Pay online – You can pay your visa application fee online using a Visa or MasterCard credit or debit card.
Step 5 – Visit the visa application centre on the appointed date.
You must book and attend an appointment at the visa application centre to submit your application and facial photograph and fingerprints.
Cost of Visa
The fee for the Tier 4 General Visa is £348. The methods of payment are stated below.
- Online using either a MasterCard or Visa card
- Through demand draft at the visa application center and selected branches of Standard Chartered Bank.
- Through Cash at the visa application center and selected branches of Standard Chartered Bank.
Book your consultation with us today to start your United Kingdom Study Visa process, we will assist you through every step of the way, from securing admission to getting your visa.