Student Visa

The Student visa is for people aged 16 or over who want to study a course at further or higher education level in the UK with a licensed student sponsor, such as a university or college. Your permission is linked to your course and sponsor, and in most cases you can work part-time during term.

Key requirements

• Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS): an unconditional offer on an eligible course from a licensed student sponsor, confirmed by a CAS reference number.
• Age: at least 16 on the date of application. Applicants aged 16 or 17 generally need parental consent.
• English: CEFR level B2 for degree-level study and above, or B1 for courses below degree level (including pre-sessional courses).
• Money: enough to pay any outstanding course fees plus living costs, unless an exemption applies.
• Genuine student: you must genuinely intend to study.

Living costs (maintenance)

You currently need to show living costs of £1,529 a month for study in London, or £1,171 a month outside London, for up to 9 months. The money must have been held for at least 28 consecutive days, and the end of that 28-day period must be within 31 days of your application. If you have held UK permission for 12 months or more, you do not need to show living-cost funds.

From 30 November 2026: the living-cost figures are set to rise to £1,570 a month in London and £1,203 a month outside London. Applications made before 30 November 2026 will be decided under the current figures.

Documents and evidence commonly needed

• A valid passport.
• Your CAS reference number.
• Bank statements or other evidence of your funds.
• Evidence of your English level, where the sponsor has not assessed it.
• Parental consent if you are 16 or 17.

Working during your studies

If you are studying at degree level or above with a higher education provider that has a track record of compliance, you can generally work up to 20 hours a week during term time. Below degree level at such a provider, the limit is 10 hours a week. Full-time work is generally allowed outside term time. Students at other institutions may not be allowed to work at all, so check your conditions before accepting a job.

Partners and children

Most students cannot bring dependants. Dependants are allowed only if you are a government-sponsored student on a course longer than 6 months, or a full-time postgraduate on a course of at least 9 months. For courses starting on or after 1 January 2024, the course must be a PhD, another doctorate or a research-based higher degree. See our Dependant Visas page for more.

After your course

If you complete an eligible degree, you may be able to apply for the Graduate visa from inside the UK. You may also be able to switch into a work route such as the Skilled Worker visa if you meet its requirements.

Recent and upcoming changes

• The Statement of Changes HC 584 makes changes to parts of the Student rules from 8 October 2026. Applications made before that date are decided under the previous rules.
• The increase in living-cost figures described above applies to applications made on or after 30 November 2026.

Common problems we help with

• Bank statements that do not cover the full 28-day period or fall outside the 31-day window.
• Financial sponsorship letters that are not in the right form.
• Discrepancies between the CAS and the documents submitted.
• Previous refusals or gaps in study.
• Switching from another route, or planning the move to work after studies.

How Stonebridge can help

We check your CAS and financial evidence against the rules, advise on the right figures for your application date, prepare and submit the application, and advise on work conditions and your options after graduation.

To discuss your study plans, book a consultation.