UK Student Route Visa Requirements 2026 — Everything International Students Need to Know

What is the UK Student Route Visa?

The UK Student Route visa — formerly known as the Tier 4 (General) Student visa — is the immigration permission that allows international students aged 16 and over to study a full-time course at a UK institution that holds a Student sponsor licence from the Home Office. The rebrand to "Student Route" happened in October 2020 as part of the UK's points-based immigration system, but the substantive requirements have evolved significantly since then and continue to be updated each year.

If you plan to study in the UK for longer than 6 months, or if you are coming from outside the Common Travel Area (Ireland is the main exception) to study a course of any length at a university or degree-level institution, you will almost certainly need this visa. Short-term study visas exist for courses under 6 months, but they come with restrictions — you cannot work, switch into another visa category from within the UK, or extend your stay.

It is worth being precise about terminology: UKVI (UK Visas and Immigration) no longer uses "Tier 4" in official guidance. Always use "Student Route" when writing letters, emails, or application forms, as outdated terminology can occasionally cause confusion at decision-making stage.

Who Needs a UK Student Visa?

You need a UK Student Route visa if you are a national of a country outside the UK and Ireland, you intend to study a course that lasts longer than 6 months, and your institution holds a Student sponsor licence. As of 2026, there are over 1,100 licensed student sponsors on the Home Office register.

Citizens of the following groups do NOT need a Student Route visa to study in the UK:

• British and Irish nationals
• Individuals with Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) or Settled Status under the EU Settlement Scheme
• Individuals with Pre-Settled Status who already have permission to study
• Nationals of certain territories who benefit from specific visa exemptions (always verify on GOV.UK as this list changes)

If you are a national of an EEA country or Switzerland who did not apply to the EU Settlement Scheme before the 30 June 2021 deadline, you now need a Student Route visa just like any other international student.

UK Student Visa Requirements — The Full List

The Home Office assesses your application against a points-based framework. You must score 70 points to be granted the visa. The requirements below are mandatory; failing to provide evidence of any single item will result in refusal.

• Valid passport or travel document. Your passport must be valid for the duration of your stay. Expired passports are not accepted, even if they contain a previous valid visa.
• Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) number. Your university generates this unique reference number after they have made you a formal offer and you have accepted it. It is valid for 6 months from the date of issue.
• Proof of English language proficiency. You must demonstrate you meet the English language requirement for your course. For degree-level study this means a Secure English Language Test (SELT) from an approved provider, or an exemption (e.g. you are a national of a majority English-speaking country, or hold a degree taught in English).
• Financial evidence (bank statements). You must show you can pay for your course and support yourself. See the dedicated section below for exact figures.
• Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) certificate, if applicable. Required for postgraduate students studying certain sensitive subjects in science, engineering, or technology. Your university will tell you if you need one; allow 20 working days to obtain it.
• Tuberculosis (TB) test results, if required. Applicants from over 100 countries — including India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nigeria, China, and the Philippines — must provide a TB test certificate from a UK-approved clinic in their country.
• Parental or guardian consent, if under 18. You must provide written consent from both parents (or legal guardian), evidence of your travel and care arrangements in the UK, and confirmation of your accommodation for your first night.
• Academic qualifications. While not always formally assessed by the Home Office, your CAS will reference your qualifications and the university will have verified them before issuing it.
• Passport-sized photographs meeting the UK photo requirements (35mm x 45mm, plain white background, taken within the last month).
• Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) payment receipt. Paid online as part of the application at £776 per year of your visa — which runs a little longer than your course. A 3-year course costs about £2,716 in surcharge alone.

How Much Money Do You Need in Your Bank Account?

Financial evidence is one of the most common reasons Student Route visa applications are refused, so it is essential to get the figures right. The amounts are set by the Home Office and are reviewed periodically.

The required maintenance funds are:

• £1,529 per month if your course is in London (defined as the London boroughs and the City of London)
• £1,171 per month if your course is anywhere else in the UK

These figures cover living costs only. You must also show you have enough to cover any outstanding tuition fees not already paid, up to a maximum of one year's fees.

The calculation period is capped at 9 months, so the maximum you need to show in maintenance funds (excluding tuition) is:

• £13,761 for a London-based course (£1,529 × 9)
• £10,539 for a course outside London (£1,171 × 9)

The critical rule that catches many applicants out is the 28 consecutive days rule: the funds must have been sitting in your bank account (or a parent/legal guardian's account, with appropriate documentation) continuously for at least 28 days before the date of your visa application. The 28-day period ends no more than 31 days before the date of your application submission.

Tip: Use the same bank account for the full 28-day period. Do not transfer funds in the final days before the window starts — UKVI will reject statements showing large, unexplained deposits immediately before the qualifying period begins.

Acceptable forms of financial evidence include personal bank statements, official bank letters, and — for sponsored students — a letter from your government or employer sponsor. Cryptocurrency holdings, property values, and investment portfolios are not accepted.

What IELTS Score Do You Need for a UK Student Visa?

The Student Route visa requires you to prove English language ability at a minimum CEFR B2 level for degree-level courses. Most applicants do this by taking an IELTS for UKVI test (also called IELTS SELT — Secure English Language Test), which is offered by the British Council and IDP.

For a degree-level course (undergraduate or postgraduate), the typical minimum required by UKVI is IELTS 5.5 overall, with no component (listening, reading, writing, speaking) below 5.5. However, the vast majority of UK universities set their own admission requirements above this floor — commonly 6.0 to 7.0 — and you must meet the higher of the two thresholds.

Key points about the UKVI English language requirement:

• You must take a test from a UKVI-approved SELT provider. Not all IELTS tests qualify — you must specifically book "IELTS for UKVI" rather than standard IELTS Academic.
• Nationals of majority English-speaking countries listed on the Home Office register (including the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Jamaica) are exempt from the language test requirement.
• If you have already studied a course of at least one academic year, taught in English, at a university in a majority English-speaking country, you may qualify for an exemption — your university's international admissions team can confirm this.
• IELTS test results are valid for 2 years from the test date. If your results have expired, you must re-sit.

Alternative approved SELTs include PTE Academic for UKVI, LanguageCert International ESOL SELT, and Skills for English. TOEFL iBT is accepted for university admission purposes but is not currently on the UKVI SELT list — meaning it satisfies your university's offer conditions but you would still need a separate SELT test for the visa application, unless you qualify for an exemption.

How to Apply — Step by Step

1. Receive and accept your university offer. Your institution will issue a formal offer letter, which you must accept before they can generate a CAS.
2. Request your CAS number. Once you have accepted your offer and met any conditions (e.g. submitted final exam results), your university's international office will generate your CAS. This is a 14-character reference number beginning with a letter.
3. Gather your supporting documents. Collect your passport, financial evidence, TB test certificate (if required), ATAS certificate (if required), English test results, academic qualifications, and passport photographs.
4. Complete the online application on GOV.UK. The application form is called "Apply for a UK visa." You will create an account, select "Student" as your visa type, and enter your CAS number. Do not use third-party websites — only GOV.UK.
5. Pay the application fee and IHS. The application fee is £558 for applications made outside the UK. The IHS surcharge is paid at the same time, at £776 per year of your visa.
6. Upload your documents. Most applicants now upload documents digitally rather than posting originals. Ensure scans are clear, unobstructed, and in the correct file format (PDF or JPEG).
7. Book and attend your biometric appointment. After submitting the application, you will book an appointment at a Visa Application Centre (VAC) in your country. You will provide fingerprints and a digital photograph.
8. Wait for a decision. Processing times vary by country and priority level (see below).

UK Student Visa Processing Time

Processing times depend on where you are applying from and whether you choose a priority service. As a general guide for 2026:

• Standard processing: approximately 3 weeks (15 working days) from the date of your biometric appointment. In some countries and peak periods (July–September), this can extend to 6–8 weeks.
• Priority service: approximately 5 working days where available. Not available in all countries; typically costs an additional £250–£500 depending on location.
• Super priority service: next working day decision in some locations. Costs vary significantly — check your local VAC's fee schedule.

You can apply for your Student Route visa no more than 6 months before your course start date and no earlier than the date your CAS was issued. Most advisors recommend applying 8–12 weeks before your course start, even if you choose standard processing, to allow time for any issues to be resolved.

Important: Do not book non-refundable flights or accommodation until you have received your visa decision. If your application is refused, you may request an administrative review within 14 days, but this takes time and is not guaranteed to succeed.