Do you want to study in the UK? You would need to get a UK Student Visa. In this article, we would be going through everything you need to know about applying for a UK study visa.

UK visa requirements are managed by UK visas and immigration, which has an easy-to-navigate site that helps you know whether you need a student visa to study in the UK.

Before we delve into the discussion, let’s look at some of the headlines for the discussion.

• Types of UK Study Visas
• UK Study Visa Requirements
• UK Study Visa fees
• Part-time Job Options
• How to Apply

Types of UK Study Visas

There are two major types of study visas you can receive when coming to the UK as a student. If you are studying for a short-term course, you would need to apply for a short-term study visa.

This type of visa is valid for 6 months and can be extended to about 11 months. If you are studying for a longer course, you will need to make your chosen institution holds a Tier 4 Sponsor License.

You can apply for this student visa as long as you are above the age of 16 years. The Tier 4 Sponsor License can be divided into the Tier 4 Child student visa and the Tier 4 General student visa.

The next phase is knowing what requirements are needed in the application process.

UK Study Visa Requirements

You would need to apply for a student visa 3 months in advance before the start date of your course. Your course provider can apply for a UK student visa once you have been offered the course of study.

In order to meet the requirements needed for a student visa in the UK, you must be able to provide the following:

• Passport Photograph
• Offer of admission by the university in the UK
• Proof of adequate English Language skills demonstrated by documents such as (SELT).
• Proof of financial support throughout your stay in the UK
• If you are studying a course that is sensitive, you will need to provide an ATAS certificate.

The proof of financial support requested during the application is to ascertain whether you are capable of supporting yourself throughout your study period.

You must prove that you have a minimum of £1,015 for living costs if studying in the UK outside London and about £1,265 if studying in London.

Other documents may also be requested like your academic qualifications, biometric test, and a digital scan of your fingerprints.

You would need to apply online for the Tier 4 General and Child student visa 3 months before your course start date. Before we delve into the application process, let’s look at how much the UK student visa would cost.

UK Study Visa fees

For the long-term studies, you would be required to pay a sum of £348 for the Tier 4 General student visa. You’ll need to pay a healthcare surcharge of £150 per year in order to access the National Health Service during your stay.

The short-term study visa cost £97 for the six-month option and £186 for the 11-month option. When you enter the UK, a UK Border Agency officer will put a stamp on your passport that states the duration of your stay in the UK.

If your stay is 12 months in the UK, you can stay for the full duration of the course plus an additional four months. You cannot extend your stay beyond this period.

When coming to the UK, it is advisable to immunize yourself, pack your immunization kit including your records.

Part-time Job Options

International students have the option of working part-time while studying in the UK. Students from public universities on Tier 4 student visa can work about 20 hours per week and full-time during term breaks.

This option is available only to students above the age of 16. If you are between 16 and 17, you can work for a maximum of 10 hours per week during term time.

How to Apply

You can apply for a streamlined visa processing to study for a master’s degree at one of the 27 eligible universities. This is part of the new Tier 4 study scheme.

Your course of study would need to be at most 13 months and you can apply inside or outside the UK. The pilot study scheme allows you to stay longer after the end of your course (up to 6 months).

Once you have finished your course, there wouldn’t be any need to submit documents showing your academic results or proof of funds.

For more information on the eligible universities where you can apply for a master’s degree to study in the UK, check it out right here.