Everything in this guide is taken from the official gov.uk pages linked under each section — no guesswork, no out-of-date forum answers. Your adviser walks you through every step when you apply with us.
✓ Last checked against gov.uk: July 2026Four routes cover almost every student journey. Pick one from the menu to jump straight to it, or compare them in the table below.
| Visa | Who it's for | Application fee | Length of stay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Student visa | 16+, offered a place by a licensed student sponsor | £558 | Up to 5 years (degree level); up to 2 years (below degree level) |
| Graduate visa | Student visa holders who complete an eligible UK course | £937 | 2 years (18 months from 1 Jan 2027); 3 years for PhD |
| Child Student visa | Children aged 4–17 with a place at a UK independent school | £558 | Course length up to 6 years (under 16) or 3 years (16–17), plus 4 months |
| Skilled Worker visa | Graduates with an eligible job offer from an approved UK employer | £819–£1,618 (from outside UK) | Up to 5 years, then extend or apply to settle |
This is the visa nearly all of our university applicants need. Here's what gov.uk requires.
You must have been offered a place on a course by a licensed student sponsor — every university on our destinations pages qualifies.
You must show you can support yourself and pay for your course. How much depends on your course and where you'll study.
You must speak, read, write and understand English, and be 16 or over — with parental consent if you're 16 or 17.
| Where you apply | Earliest you can apply | Usual decision time |
|---|---|---|
| From outside the UK | 6 months before your course starts | 3 weeks |
| From inside the UK (extend or switch) | 3 months before your course starts | 8 weeks |
If you're 18 or over and your course is at degree level, you can usually stay in the UK for up to 5 years.
If your course is below degree level, you can usually stay for up to 2 years.
| Cost | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Application fee | £558 | Same fee applying from outside the UK, or extending/switching from inside |
| Immigration health surcharge | £776 per year | Student rate — gives you NHS access for the length of your visa |
Source: gov.uk — Student visa · gov.uk — healthcare surcharge rates
If you're applying from outside the UK, the earliest is 6 months before your course starts, and decisions usually take 3 weeks. We recommend applying as soon as you have your CAS (confirmation of acceptance) so there's slack for busy periods.
The application fee is £558, plus the immigration health surcharge of £776 for each year of your visa. A 3-year degree therefore costs roughly £558 + (3 × £776) — your adviser will calculate your exact total, including the extra months added to your visa.
Usually yes — but how much depends on your course level and whether it's term time. You can always work as a student union sabbatical officer. You can't be self-employed or work as a professional sportsperson. We confirm your exact permitted hours before you accept any job.
Yes — you must be able to speak, read, write and understand English, and universities set specific test requirements per course. Check the accepted tests (IELTS, TOEFL, PTE Academic, Duolingo) on each course card in our course finder, and note some nationalities are exempt.
Yes — most graduates switch to the Graduate visa (2 years now, 18 months for applications from 1 January 2027, 3 years for PhDs), and from there many move onto a Skilled Worker visa with an eligible job offer. Both are covered below.
Source: gov.uk — Student visa
The post-study work route. No job offer needed — you apply from inside the UK once you've successfully completed your course on a Student visa.
2 years for bachelor's and master's graduates (18 months if you apply on or after 1 January 2027), and 3 years for PhD and doctoral graduates. It can't be extended — most people move onto a Skilled Worker visa.
Work in most jobs, look for work, be self-employed, and travel abroad and return. You can't apply for most benefits or work as a professional sportsperson.
£937 application fee, plus the healthcare surcharge — usually £1,035 for each year you'll be in the UK.
Source: gov.uk — Graduate visa
For children with a place at a UK independent school. Academies and local-authority-funded schools aren't eligible on this route.
Children aged 4–17 with a confirmed place at a UK independent school, with the consent of a parent or legal guardian (proved during the application).
Apply up to 6 months before the course (decision usually 3 weeks from outside the UK). Under-16s can stay for a course of up to 6 years plus 4 months; 16–17-year-olds up to 3 years plus 4 months.
£558 application fee plus the healthcare surcharge. At 16+, limited part-time work is allowed (up to 10 hours a week in term time). Parents can apply separately for a Parent of a Child Student visa.
Source: gov.uk — Child Student visa
The main visa after your Graduate visa ends: work for an approved UK employer, with a path to settling permanently.
A job offer from a UK employer approved by the Home Office, a certificate of sponsorship, a job on the eligible occupations list, English language ability, and a salary that meets the minimum for your role.
The standard minimum is £41,700 per year or the going rate for your job, whichever is higher. A reduced minimum of £33,400 applies in some circumstances, and some healthcare and education roles use national pay scales instead.
Lasts up to 5 years before you need to extend. After 5 years you may be able to apply to settle permanently in the UK (indefinite leave to remain). Decisions usually take 3 weeks from outside the UK, 8 weeks inside.
| Cost (applying from outside the UK) | Up to 3 years | More than 3 years |
|---|---|---|
| Standard application fee | £819 | £1,618 |
| If the job is on the Immigration Salary List | £628 | £1,235 |
| Immigration health surcharge | £1,035 per year | |
Source: gov.uk — Skilled Worker visa · gov.uk — salary requirements · gov.uk — fees
The UK is one of the world's most popular study destinations. Latest full-year figures from HESA (the official higher education statistics agency), academic year 2023/24.
International students enrolled at UK universities in 2023/24 — including 656,735 from outside the EU.
Of all full-time postgraduate students in the UK in 2023/24 were international — you'll be far from alone in a master's classroom.
Year-by-year totals are awaiting verification against the primary HESA tables and will be added once confirmed — we don't publish figures we can't verify.
Source: HESA Higher Education Student Statistics UK 2023/24, as reported by ICEF Monitor; see also Office for Students official statistics. Data year: academic year 2023/24 (latest full-year figures available, published March 2025).
Your adviser handles the paperwork, checks every document, and preps you for the process — it's all part of applying with us.
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