UK Visa

Indian students should try to begin their UEL application process at least 6 to 8 months before the course date starts. Given below are the important guidelines for the submission timeline -

• The students should aim to get their CAS issued at least 3 to 4 months in advance. 
• The submission of the UK student visa should be done at least 10 to 12 weeks before the course starts. 

For a UK Student visa in 2026, the required minimum IELTS score is determined by the academic level of your course such as bachelor's, master's or doctoral course. The UK government sets these minimums based on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). A CEFR B2 level of proficiency is usually accepted for most courses in UK. For geting bachelor's and master's degrees in UK, a minimum 5.5 IELTS band score is accepted.

In 2026, the latest changes on the UK student visa include:

1. The minimum cost you need to show in your bank account for the cost of living in the UK has increased to £1,529/month in London and £1,171 elsewhere.
2. The launch of eVisa facility
3. Undergraduate students will not be able to bring their dependents in the UK. Only students coming for postgraduate research and above courses are allowed to do so. 
4. The post-study work permit duration is going to be cut-short to up to 18 months (1.5 years) from two years - from 01 Jan 2027 onwards. 

If an Indian student has received a CAS from the University of Liverpool, they should then apply for a UK student visa. This process can take time. The university suggests applying 3 months before the programme starts. 

To apply for a UK student visa the applicant would need to apply via the embassy and also submit some important documents and the visa application fee. 

Along with the essential course completion requirements, your application for the Graduate Visa in UK depends on the following aspects of your course as well:

1. the university or your course provider
2. how long did you study in the UK
3. what kind of a course you studied - bachelor's, master's or any doctoral course

No, studying on a Graduate Visa in UK is generally not possible. Students can do so only if their chosen course is not eligible for a student visa in the UK. If you choose a course that is eligible for a student visa then you can apply for the extension of your UK student visa instead. The courses allowed on a Grdauate visa may include professional, recreational or online courses like short courses or skills development that are not covered by a full Student visa. 

Since applicants need to pay for a minimum of three years when applying for a Skilled Worker Visa in the UK, applicants with a job offer with lesser in length than that keep looking for a UK work visa that's valid for only 2 years. 

For that reason, one can apply for a "India Young Professionals Scheme visa". This visa allows Indians from 18 to 30 years old to work in the UK for 2 years. The only conditions for getting this visa include- 

• you must have a minimum saving of £2,530
• you must get selected in the India Young Professionals Scheme ballot 

Students applying from outside the UK need to pay the following UK work visa fee -

• For up to 3 years - £769 per person 
• For longer than 3 years- £1,519 per person 

No, IELTS is not mandatory for the visa if your university accepts you without it. The Visa Officer only checks your CAS Letter. If your university writes on the CAS that they have checked your English already, then the embassy will not ask for any IELTS score. You can get the UK Student Visa easily without the exam.