The UK Student Route — the post-2020 successor to the Tier 4 visa — is one of the more predictable student visas globally when the financial documentation lines up. The CAS letter from the sponsoring university is the gateway document; everything else hangs off it. This guide covers what the visa requires, what the application costs, and the documentation work KC's team does for every UK applicant.

For the broader UK picture — universities, programs, costs, post-study work — see our Study in UK destination guide.

What is the Student Route visa?

The Student Route replaced the Tier 4 General visa in October 2020. It covers any course at a UK Student Sponsor — degree, research, foundation, English-language, short-term — and lets you study full-time, work part-time during term, and bring dependants if you're on a long PhD or postgraduate research programme. The visa duration matches the course length plus a short post-study buffer (4 months after a course of 12+ months, 2 months for shorter courses).

The Student Route is education-purpose. Post-study work happens on the Graduate Route, which is a separate visa with no sponsorship requirement.

Who is eligible to apply?

Core eligibility:

• Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) from a licensed Student Sponsor (almost all UK universities qualify)
• English proficiency — IELTS UKVI 6.0+ (no band below 5.5) for most undergrad, 6.5+ for masters, 7.0+ for top institutions. PTE Academic and TOEFL accepted by most; the UKVI variant of IELTS is mandatory if the institution requires Secure English Language Test (SELT)
• Academic prerequisites — Class XII 65%+ for foundation, 75%+ for direct undergraduate entry to top institutions; second-class bachelors (55-60%+) for general masters entry, 60-70%+ for Russell Group
• Financial capacity — first-year tuition + 9 months of maintenance
• Age — 16+ (younger applicants use Child Student visa)
• Genuine Student requirement — implicit in the application's overall profile; the Home Office assesses credibility from financials, course choice, English ability, and any prior immigration history

How much funds do I need to show?

UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) requires evidence of:

Funds must be held in your name (or your parent/legal guardian's name with a consent letter) for 28 consecutive days before the application. The bank statement showing this 28-day period must be no more than 31 days old at the time you submit.

Acceptable account types: savings, current, fixed deposit, building society. Recurring deposits, mutual funds, shares, and PPF accounts are not accepted. A sanctioned education loan from a recognised lender (with a sanction letter dated within 6 months) qualifies as well.

For most Indian students, the cleanest path is a sanctioned education loan. See education loans for studying abroad for lender shortlists.

What documents do I need for the application?

Submitted via the UK government's Visa4UK portal:

Identity + character

• Passport (current + any old passports referenced in the application)
• Two recent passport-sized photographs
• Tuberculosis (TB) test certificate from an approved clinic (mandatory for Indian applicants)
• Police clearance — required only for some doctoral programmes (e.g., research into sensitive subjects)

Education

• All academic transcripts (Class X onwards)
• Degree certificates
• IELTS UKVI / PTE / TOEFL score report
• CAS letter from the UK institution
• Statement of purpose (most universities require this separately as part of the application)

Financial

• Bank statements covering 28+ consecutive days (with the closing balance meeting the threshold)
• Loan sanction letter (if applying via education loan)
• Sponsor's affidavit + KYC if funds are in a parent/guardian's name

Visa-specific

• Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) payment receipt
• Online application form printout

KC's UK desk reviews every document before submission and handles the IHS payment flow (which is a separate online step that catches applicants out every cycle).

What is the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS)?

The IHS gives you access to the National Health Service (NHS) for the duration of your visa. It's paid upfront as part of the visa application — non-refundable except in narrow circumstances.

Current rates (2026):

Children and adult dependants pay the same rate. The IHS covers GP visits, hospital treatment, and most NHS services; prescription costs and dental/optical care are still paid out-of-pocket.

How long does the visa take to process?

UKVI publishes standard processing times by visa application centre and stream:

Most Indian applicants use the standard service. Apply 3 months before your course start date — earlier than 6 months won't be accepted, and last-minute applications run into appointment-slot shortages at VFS centres.

Biometrics: book a slot at the nearest VFS Global centre in India (Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, and others). Bring the application printout, passport, and a self-addressed prepaid courier slip for return delivery.

What are common reasons for visa refusal?

The UK refusal rate for Indian students is low (typically under 5%) but the refusal triggers are predictable:

• 01.Financial threshold not met or held too briefly — the 28-day rule trips applicants who deposit funds shortly before applying
• 02.Source of funds unclear — large unexplained inflows in the 28-day window trigger refusals
• 03.CAS withdrawn — if the university revokes the CAS before visa issue (typically due to academic concerns or non-payment of deposit)
• 04.Failed credibility interview — the UKVI may call applicants for a credibility interview; vague answers about course content, university choice, or career plan trigger refusals
• 05.Prior visa refusal history — undisclosed prior refusals (UK or other countries) are typically caught and refused on character grounds

If refused, you can request an Administrative Review within 14 days (cheaper but only addresses procedural errors) or appeal at the First-tier Tribunal (only some refusal grounds are appealable). Most applicants reapply with corrected documentation instead.

Can I work in the UK on a student visa?

Yes, with limits:

• During term-time — up to 20 hours per week
• During scheduled breaks — full-time (up to 40 hours)
• Placements / internships — unlimited if they're a formal part of your course
• Self-employment / freelancing — not permitted; only PAYE work for an employer

The UK National Living Wage is £12.21/hour (2025-26). Part-time work realistically covers 50-70% of living costs in non-London cities.

You cannot start work before your course officially begins. Working during the pre-course visa-valid period is a breach.

What happens after I graduate?

The Graduate Route (introduced 2021, retained through the 2024 policy review) gives:

No sponsorship required. No salary threshold. You can take any job, switch employers freely, and use the time to find a Skilled Worker employer for the long-term route.

Skilled Worker visa minimums (2025-26): salary £38,700+ (or 80% of the going rate for the occupation, whichever is higher). The Migration Advisory Committee periodically reviews these thresholds.

Related resources

• Study in UK — universities, costs, visa timeline 2026
• UK destination guide
• Post-study work visa comparison

Frequently asked questions

How much does the UK Student visa cost?

Application fee: £524 (2026) when applying from outside the UK. Add the Immigration Health Surcharge (£776 × visa years), the IELTS UKVI test (£215), TB test (around INR 4,300), VFS appointment fee (around INR 1,800), and any priority service charge. For a one-year masters: roughly £1,500-2,000 in total fees before tuition.

Can I bring my spouse on a UK student visa?

Only if you're on a postgraduate research programme of 12+ months (PhDs, MPhils, and similar). Taught masters and bachelors students cannot bring dependants under current rules (post-January 2024 policy change). Once you transition to a Skilled Worker visa post-study, full dependant rights resume.

Is the Graduate Route at risk of being abolished?

The UK government's 2024 Migration Advisory Committee review explicitly retained the Graduate Route. Policy can shift between reviews — the Home Office has signalled tighter salary thresholds for the Skilled Worker transition, but the Graduate Route itself has political support across both major parties as an export-earnings retention mechanism.

Do UK universities accept Indian board results directly?

Yes. Most UK universities accept CBSE / ICSE / state-board Class XII results with conversion to UCAS tariff points. The International Baccalaureate (IB) is accepted directly. Some top institutions (Oxbridge, Imperial) prefer A-Levels or a UK foundation year — KC's counselling team maps the right pathway based on your Class XII percentile and target university.

What's the difference between Russell Group and non-Russell Group?

The Russell Group is a self-selected association of 24 research-intensive UK universities (Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial, UCL, LSE, Edinburgh, King's, Manchester, etc.). Russell Group membership is a useful signal of research depth and graduate-recruiter recognition, but strong non-Russell universities like Bath, St Andrews, Loughborough, and Surrey often outperform Russell Group ones for specific subjects.

Can I switch from a Student visa to a Skilled Worker visa without leaving the UK?

Yes. You can switch in-country once you have a job offer from a licensed Sponsor that meets the Skilled Worker salary and occupation requirements. The switch can happen anytime — you don't have to wait for the Graduate Route to expire. Many students switch directly from Student → Skilled Worker if they secure a sponsoring employer before graduation.