UK Student Visa for Indians - Requirements, Process & Fees

UK Student Visa Latest Updates for Indian Students 2025

Below are the new immigration rules of the UK visa in 2025:

1. Starting July 15, 2025, international students started getting an eVisa, which is an online record of their immigration status. The eVisa is rolled out only when the application for a UK student visa is approved.
2. The UK student visa fee has been raised from £490 in the year 2024 to £524 in 2025.
3. International students will only be able to change their UK student visa status to a Graduate visa after the completion of their original degree program. Earlier, students could change it before completing their original degrees (the one for which they had applied for a UK student visa).    
4. International students on most postgraduate taught courses can no longer bring their family members (spouses, children) as dependents.

Types of Study Visas in the UK 2025

There are 4 main types of study visas in the UK, depending on the length and the level of course that you're going to study in the UK. 

1. Student Visa: Meant for students above 16 years of age enrolled on a degree or higher course at a registered student sponsor (university/college) in the UK. It is valid for the period of your studies; however, if required, this duration can be extended. This visa has replaced the Tier 4 (General) Visa.

2. Child Student Visa- This visa is meant for children aged between 4 and 17 years who wish to study at an independent school in the UK. However, this visa is not eligible for public schools, requires parents' consent and remains valid only until the course completion. It was formerly termed a Tier 4 (Child) Student Visa

3. Short-term study visa UK: Short-term UK Study Visa is for those who want to study English language courses that are from 6 to 11 months long. This visa cannot be extended and cannot be switched to another visa form, hence, requiring the recipient to leave the UK at the end of their course.

4. Standard Visitor Visa: This visa is meant for short courses, university exchange programs, or entrance exams/interviews. The visa lasts for up to 6 months and does not allow the recipient of this visa to take up any work, including internships or placements.

In this article, we will focus on the "UK Student Visa" for Indian students. 

Check: Student Guide to the United Kingdom (UK)

UK Student Visa Requirements 2025

The UK Home Office has very specific requirements for the UK Student Visa. The following are the fundamental pillars of your application; you must meet all of them.  

• Be 16 years or above. Students between the ages of 16 and 17 need to submit parental consent along with their visa application.
• Courses allowed: Choose a course that is on the list of "courses valid under the UK student visa". One can also apply for a UK Student Visa if they're elected for a full-time position as a Student Union Sabbatical Officer. The types of courses that you can take as a UK student visa holder are:
  • A full-time course that would help to obtain a below degree level qualification (or RQF level 3, 4 or 5). The course must include at least 15 hours per week of scheduled daytime studies.
  • A full-time course which would help to obtain a degree-level or higher qualification (RQF level 6, 7 or 8).
  • A full-time degree-level or above course (RQF level 6, 7 or 8), delivered as part of a longer course overseas, which is equivalent to a UK higher education programme
  • A part-time programme which will lead you to obtain an above degree level qualification (RQF level 7 or above).
  • An English language programme at CEFR level B2 or above.
• Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS): The student must have applied for an allowed course and received a CAS letter for it from a licensed student sponsor (university/college). It is one of the most important documents in your UK student visa application. It is a unique reference number that is used by the visa authorities to check the nature, duration and other aspects of your course and the university or college that you are admitted to. Having a CAS letter means that a licensed student sponsor in the UK has offered you an unconditional offer of a seat/place on one of their courses. The CAS letter is provided by the universities only after you have accepted an unconditional offer and paid the deposit amount.
  • How to get a CAS letter: To get a CAS letter, you first need to be accepted by a recognised university in the UK. The university you choose must have offered you an unconditional offer, which you must respond to within 24 hours to 1 week. To accept the offer, you must submit the deposit amount towards your course within the said period. After you accept the offer, the university will releases the CAS letter for you.
  • What does a CAS letter contain- The CAS letter includes your name, address, course details, tuition fees (and the amount you've already paid towards the course, i.e. the deposit amount), and the university's license number.
  • Validity period of a CAS letter- A CAS letter remains valid for 6 months.
• Financial Requirement- You need to prove that you have sufficient balance to support yourself in the UK. On failing to do so, you might get a rejection on your student visa application. Check the reasons for rejection of UK student visa. The two components of living costs in the UK are given below.
  • Tuition Fees: The amount of tuition fees required for your chosen course will be stated on your CAS letter. If you have paid a deposit or part of your fees, this will also be noted on the CAS, and you only need to show the remaining balance.
  • Living Expenses (Maintenance): You must show you have a specific amount per month for up to 9 months. The amount of money that you need to show to sustain your cost of living in the UK is also set by the UK Home Office, and these are:
    • London: £1,483 per month for 9 months
    • Outside London: £1,136 per month for 9 months
  • This amount must remain in your or your sponsor's bank account for at least 28 consecutive days before submitting the visa application. The provided bank statements must not be more than 31 days old too.
• English Language Proficiency: The student must be able to speak, read, write and listen to the English language in an academic environment. For a degree level course, you need to have CEFR B2 level of proficiency in English. Check the B2 Level Grammar for IELTS.
  • How to prove your proficiency in English: 
    • By taking a SELT test like IELTS UKVI or PTE Academic 
    • By holding a GCSE, A-level, Scottish National Qualification level 4 or 5, Scottish Higher, or Advanced Higher in English, obtained through education at a UK institution while you were under the age of 18; or
    • By holding a degree-level qualification that was taught in English. Note that if you have received your bachelor's degree from outside the UK, you will need Ecctis verification.

UK Student Visa Fee 2025

The UK student visa fee in 2025 is £524 (INR 61,399.23, as per the exchange rate on July 24, 2025, £1 = 117.17 INR). The cost is the same irrespective of whether the students are applying from within or outside the UK. The methods of UK student visa fee payment are stated below.

• Online using either a MasterCard or a Visa card.

• Through a demand draft at the visa application centre and selected branches of Standard Chartered Bank. 

• Through Cash at the visa application centre and selected branches of Standard Chartered Bank. 

To extend or switch to a UK Student Visa from within the UK, you will have to pay a fee of £524. For this, you will also have to provide your fingerprints and a photo taken; there is no fee for this.   

Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) Fees for the UK Student Visa 2025

Paying the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) is mandatory when applying for a visa in the UK and you will need to pay the health surcharge fee along with the payment of your student visa fee. You can avail of the National Health Service (NHS) right from the day the validity of your student visa starts in the UK upon paying the IHS. 

The IHS Fee for Indian students on a UK Student Visa is £776 per year. The fee is to be paid for each year of your stay in the UK; for example, you will pay £1,552 for a 2-year visa. It is to be noted that your dependents (if any) also have to pay the same amount for the Immigration Health Surcharge, i.e. £776 per year. For more details, check https://www.immigration-health-surcharge.service.gov.uk/checker/Type.

Note that certain services like assisted conception, dental treatment, eye tests and prescriptions do not come under the NHS and you'll have to pay for these services yourself.  

Check: April and May Intakes in the UK for Indian Students

How long can You Stay on a Student Visa in the UK?

The validity period of your student visa in the UK depends on your course's length and the course that you've already completed in the UK. If you are 18 or above, then the duration for how long you can stay in the UK based on your course level is given below. 

UK Student Visa Validity Period
Course Length	Visa Validity Period
Degree-level course	Up to 5 years (extendable)
Below degree-level	Up to 2 years

Can I Apply for a UK Student Visa Extension?

Yes, you can apply for a UK Student Visa extension if your current visa is nearing its expiration date but you woud need more time to complete your course; or you are starting a new course. The application process, required documents, fees, processing times and everything else remain the same while applying for an extension of the current UK student visa.  

To apply for an extension of your existing UK Student Visa, you have to fulfil the following requirements:

• You must be in the UK on your existing student/Tier 4 visa. 
• You must have received an unconditional offer of a seat in your chosen course from a licensed student sponsor in the UK. This can be proved by means of showing the CAS letter you receive from your course. 
• You need to show that your new course is at a higher academic level than your current course. This condition comes with some exceptions as per the different requirements of the applicants. 

You can seek assistance from your college/university on how you can apply for an extension on your visa.  

When to Apply for a UK Student Visa?

The answer to "when you should apply for a UK student visa" lies in the fact that - where you are at the time of application. The recommended time of application varies if you're applying from within or outside the UK. So:

1. When applying from outside of the UK: You must apply for the student visa in the UK at least 6 months before the day your course starts.
2. When applying from within the UK: Apply for the UK student visa at least 3 months in advance. However, you must note two important conditions if you're applying from within the UK, these are:
   • Apply to switch to the UK student visa before the validity of your current visa expires.
   • Your course must begin within 28 days of your current visa expiration date.  

UK Student Visa Application Process 2025

You can apply for a student visa in the UK online. To apply for a UK Student Visa from outside of the UK, you will need to prove your identity first. You can do so by either of the following:

• By scanning your identity document on the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’  app. For this, you'll also need to create or sign into your UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account.
• You'll be required to get your fingerprints and photo taken at a visa application centre.  

From the above two methods of ID verification, which one you will need to go with will be indicated when you apply for the visa.

If you're called for an appointment:

• You will be required to carry your passport to the visa application centre, and after it is verified, your passport will be returned to you the same day.
• You might be required to visit your nearest visa application centre. 

There are several steps to apply for a UK Student Visa. Note that since the UK Student Visa application process involves a number of steps, you can save your application at any time during this process and complete it later as per your convenience. UK Study Visa applications are processed within three weeks of the completed application being lodged.

Step-by-Step Process for UK Student Visa Application

The following are the steps to apply for a UK student visa:

Step 1 - Get a confirmed place/offer from the school, university or college where you intend to study. It is called a ‘confirmation of acceptance for studies’ (CAS).

Step 2 - Take the required English test, such as PTE, IELTS or TOEFL, whichever suits your requirements.

Step 3 - Gather proof that you have enough money (also known as ‘maintenance or funds’) to cover your course fees and living costs in the UK.

Step 4 - Get your academic and supporting documents ready such as previous exam mark sheets, passport with complete travel history (for at least a period of last 2 years), sponsor letter, etc.

Step 5 - Register and create an account on the official UK Student Visa Application website, i.e. https://visas-immigration.service.gov.uk/next.

Step 6 - Fill out the application form online. Upload scanned documents, sign declaration form and pay the UK Visa fee. When you have completed your online application, you will receive an email message containing your application number.

Step 7 – Book the biometric appointment to provide your finger prints and photographs at the visa office. Visit the visa application centre on the appointed date. The status of visa approval can be checked later on the government website.

Note: If needed, students are allowed to withdraw their applications. For this, they need to contact UKVI (UK Visas and Immigration). If their application processing has not started, their fee will be refunded.

Also Read:

Student Visa Requirements	Student Visa - Interview Tips
Top Universities in UK	Top MBA Programs in London

Check out the application process for UK Student Visas in the video below:

You can also check out a video on Visa counselling sessions on the UK and Ireland study visa by in-house Shiksha counsellors. This video covers various topics like types of a student visa, step-by-step process to get a visa, document checklist, and source of funding, and commonly asked questions, from students.

Documents Required for the UK Student Visa Application

Applying for a student visa requires you to carry a lot more documents in comparison to a tourist visa. As a part of fulfilling the UK Student Visa requirements, applicants need the mandatory documents along with supporting documents of their financial and academic records. There are some other requirements as well that one should remember and meet. Make sure you refer to the UK Student Visa checklist before going to the consulate for the visa interview.

You should have the following documents before applying for a UK student visa:

• A completed student visa application form

• If you're below 18 years of age, you need to get proof of your parent's or guardian's consent and proof of your relationship with the parent/guardian

• A valid passport or other valid travel document

• A letter of acceptance on the course: Your approved education provider will give you an acceptance letter (CAS or Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies) and a visa letter that are official and unconditional offer of a place on a course of study. The visa letter must be issued no more than six months before you apply. Students need to apply for their UK study visa within 6 months of receiving their CAS.

• 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 9 months (1 academic year). The amount you will need depends on whether you are applying as a child or adult and 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.

  • Starting from Jan 2025, you must show the following amount of money to meet basic living costs (minimum maintenance funds - not inclusive of tuition fees),  for a period of up to nine months i.e. £13,347 for nine months (£1,483 per month) if you are living in London and £10,224 for nine months (£1,136 per month) if you are living outside London.

  • However, if a student has been in the UK, with a valid visa, for at least 12 months, he/ she does not have to show proof of funds for visa application

• The visa fee payment confirmation receipt

• ATAS certificate if your nationality and course need it

• Payslips

• Original mark sheets/provisional certificates

• Scoresheet of exams like TOEFL, GMAT, IELTS, etc.

• TB report

Also Check:

• Timeline for September Intake in the UK

• British Council Scholarships for Indian Students

UK Student Visa Application Processing Time

The time it takes to get a decision on your UK student visa application again depends on the place from which you applied for the visa. If you:

• Applied from outside of the UK: You will usually get a decision within 3 weeks.
• Applied from within the UK: You will usually get a decision within 8 weeks.

Premium Visa Services

If you need a decision on your application earlier than the suggested time, then you may do so by opting for either the Priority Visa Service or the Super Priority Visa Service to shorten the visa processing time for an added fee.

• The priority service gets you a decision on your UK Student Visa application within 5 days only.
• The super priority service gets your decision by the end of the next working day (this excludes the weekend or bank holidays). 

However, if there is something that the Home Office needs to verify from you, then it may add some additional time to get a decision beyond the designated period of the priority services. If that happens, you will not be refunded any amount for the priority services.

Here are the costs of opting for the priority services for your UK student visa application:

UK Student Visa Aplication Processing: Priority Services Charges
Priority Services	£500
Super Priority Services	£1,000

How can I check the status of my UK student visa application?

The Embassy will evaluate your application before conveying the result to you. Depending on your nationality, it may take 2-3 weeks for your UK student visa processing time. Make sure that everything on your application is completed and not pending in order to avoid rejection. Certain cases may take a longer duration. With the help of your receipt, you will be able to track your application number. A reference number that would have been issued to you on your appointment day will have to be used for the same. Those who will choose SMS services will be intimated via SMS and email.

Check: Living costs for International Students in UK

What happens after your application for a UK Student Visa is accepted?

If your application for the UK student visa is successful, you'll be granted an eVisa, as per the new rules. The eVisa keeps an online record of your immigration status, and you'll be required to link all your travel documents (the ones with which you'll travel to the UK) with your UKVI account. 

When Should You Travel to the UK?

You must arrive in the UK before your course starts. You can arrive in the UK-

• up to 1 week before your course start date if your course lasts 6 months or less. 
• up to 1 month before your course start date if your course lasts more than 6 months.

However, you must not travel to the UK before the validity of your student visa starts. The date of the beginning of its validity is usually mentioned on your visa. Make sure you travel on or after this date, no matter when your course starts. 

Can I Bring Dependents on my UK Student Visa? 

The wife or children get a Dependent Visa for the same duration as the primary applicant. This is applicable only to the research-based master's degree applicant right now. Your course must be at least 9 months in duration and must be at RQF level 7 or above. Note that undergraduate applicants cannot take dependents with them to the UK.

Each dependent completes a separate application form and pays a separate fee. To apply, your partner and/or children must enter your unique application number, which is called the Global Web Form (GWF) or a Unique Application Number (UAN). Along with this, the dependants will also be required to get their photo and fingerprints taken at a nearby visa application centre. 

Along with your own maintenance funds, you need to show an additional £845 (within London) and £680 (outside London) for each dependent for each month that you are applying for up to a maximum of 9 months' maintenance funds. You can use a scholarship to cover the maintenance funds for your dependents if you already have a scholarship. The scholarship letter must state that funds are also intended for your dependents.

Check more details on bringing your dependants on a UK student visa in 2025.

Part-time Work Policy under the UK Student Visa

If you are enrolled in a bachelor's 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 (UK Student Visa) and work full-time during vacations or summer holidays. In this regard, students must note that if their course is below the UK degree level (e.g. foundation or pre-sessional English), they can work for 10 hours per week. Moreover, students who hold a Short-term Study Visa cannot work.

Check: Scholarships to Study in UK

Switch to Other Visas After Your UK Student Visa Expires

If you want to work there after completing your studies then you need to apply for a Graduate Visa. The Graduate visa, also commonly referred to as a "post-study work visa in UK", allows students to stay back in the UK for at least 2 years for the purpose of looking for work or establishing their own business. If students become successful in finding a job or establishing their own business during this time, then they can switch to the "Skilled Worker Visa". This visa is meant for Skilled Workers and professionals in the UK, and its validity is for up to 5 years. So, along with your student visa, you don’t get a work permit. You need to apply for a work visa separately.

Check: Part time Work Options in UK for International Students

Scholarships for Studying in the UK

UK’s education system is considered one of the best in the world. However, most international students need financial assistance to pursue their higher education there. In order to fulfil the aspirations of international students, different types of scholarships are available to study in the UK. Below you will find a list of some of the top fellowships for studying in the UK.

International Scholarships Award	London Business School Fund Scholarships
PhD Scholarships in the UK	The Oxford and Cambridge Society of India Scholarships- University of Cambridge

When to Apply for a UK Student Visa Extension? 

Read: Tough Realities of Securing Student Visas to Study Abroad

This was all about the UK Student Visa 2025 for Indian students to study in the UK. If you seek assistance to study in the UK, request a call back from Shiksha's Counselling Services for free.