The UK’s rich culture and diverse academic and career paths make it an ideal study choice for many international students, but being accepted into a UK university is only the first step to accessing these opportunities. Next comes the right to obtain a visa to study in the UK – this is dependent on you submitting the correct supporting documentation when you apply.
To start the process of applying for a student visa, you will need to complete the online student visa application form which can be found on the GOV.UK website. The fee is £490 and you must also pay a medical surcharge when you apply – usually this is £1,552 for a two-year visa, but the exact amount depends on the length of your visa.
You can submit your documents yourself when filling out your online application, or you can pay for a value-added service and submit your documents when you provide your biometric information at the Visa Application Centre (we describe this process below). Before we start looking at the documents you’ll need, let’s first understand the requirements you need to keep in mind.
Eligibility requirements for a UK student visa
Before you start your visa application, you need to find out if you are eligible for a UK student visa. To qualify, you must have:
- Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) issued by a valid UK institution
- English proficiency score
- Document proving you have sufficient funds to study and reside in the UK
While the above eligibility requirements are mainly for UK student visas, there are several other types of study visas available. Before you come to the UK, check what type of visa you need for your degree course – most undergraduate or postgraduate courses will require a student visa, but some English-only courses or short courses may require a different type of visa.
We’ll take a closer look at the differences and details in the table below.
Documents Required for UK Student Visa Application
The documents you need to provide with your application will depend on a number of factors, including your circumstances, your course and the university you want to attend. While some documents are marked as mandatory for all applicants, others may be required depending on your specific situation.
In summary, the documents you will need include:
- Current passport
- Your CAS
- Financial documents
- ATAS certificate (if required)
- Proof of guardian’s consent (if applicable)
- Proof of your relationship with your guardian (if applicable)
- Your tuberculosis certificate
- Written consent from your financial guarantor (if applicable)
- Documents regarding your dependents (if applicable)
All documents you submit for your UK student visa application must be original (no scans or photocopies), and if the document is not in English, you must provide a certified translation.
Any translated copy must include the following information:
- Confirm that the translation is accurate (this is usually done by having a lawyer certify that your translated copy is a “true copy”.)
- Translation date
- Translator’s full name and signature
- Translator contact information
The most important part to remember is to submit all the documents required for your application, as failure to do so may result in your visa being denied. We’ll go over all the documents in detail below, and there’s also a handy UK student visa document checklist available to download to help you out.
Current passport
Your passport is a mandatory requirement and is used to prove your identity and nationality. Always check ahead of time that your passport is current and valid to ensure that the passport you submit is not expired.
CAS from the course provider
Another compulsory document is your CAS – you will receive this from your course provider confirming that you have been accepted onto their course. Your CAS is used to determine whether you meet the requirements for a UK student visa, your work rights and whether you can bring your dependants with you to the UK.
Your CAS is actually assigned to you by the institution you plan to study at along with your course acceptance letter. Each CAS has a unique reference number that links it to your:
- Personal Information
- sponsor
- Course of Study
- financial
- Academic and English language skills
Your CAS is one of the most important documents you submit with your application as it allows the visa officer to access your details which can influence their decision about your visa.
