The UK remains one of the world's top three study destinations in 2026, home to Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial, UCL, and dozens of Russell Group universities. The old 'Tier 4' visa is now formally called the Student Route, but the requirements — sponsorship, funds, and English — follow the same familiar framework. This guide walks you through every 2026 requirement, from your CAS to the Immigration Health Surcharge, so your application arrives at UKVI complete on the first try.
Understanding the Tier 4 Student Visa Process
The UK Student Route (still widely called Tier 4) is granted by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) to international students accepted onto a full-time course at a licensed student sponsor. It replaces the old Tier 4 (General) route but keeps most of its rules and the same 5-point scoring system.
- Apply online up to 6 months before your course start date if applying from outside the UK.
- Apply up to 3 months before if you are already in the UK and switching visa.
- Standard decision time in 2026: 3 weeks (outside UK) and 8 weeks (inside UK). Priority (5 days) and Super-Priority (next working day) services are available for extra fees.
- Visa is granted for the full length of your course plus a wrap-up period — typically 4 months after a bachelor's or master's, 1 month after shorter programs.
- After graduation, you can switch to the Graduate Route for 2 years of open work permission (3 years for PhDs) without needing employer sponsorship.
Key Eligibility Criteria and CAS Requirement
UKVI awards 70 mandatory points across three categories — sponsorship (CAS), financial, and English language. All three must be satisfied; you cannot trade one off against another.
- Sponsorship (50 points): an unconditional offer from a UKVI-licensed student sponsor, confirmed by a CAS (Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies) letter with a unique 14-digit reference number.
- CAS validity: 6 months from issue — you must apply within this window.
- Financial (10 points): proof you can pay one year of tuition + monthly maintenance funds (see below).
- English language (10 points): SELT test at CEFR B2 (usually IELTS 6.0 with no band below 5.5) for bachelor's/master's, or an internal test administered by the university where allowed.
- Genuine Student assessment: UKVI may require a credibility interview to assess whether you are a genuine student — refusal is a common reason for denial.
- Age: at least 16 for higher education courses (13+ for independent schools).
- TB test certificate required for applicants from most countries in Asia, Africa, and parts of Europe.
Documents Checklist: What You Need to Prepare
Missing or inconsistent documents cause the majority of Student Route refusals. Prepare originals plus scanned PDFs of every item below:
- Valid passport (with at least one blank page for the vignette).
- CAS statement from your university (14-digit reference number).
- Academic transcripts and certificates listed on your CAS.
- English language test results (IELTS / TOEFL / PTE / Duolingo) if required by CAS.
- Financial evidence — see next section.
- TB test certificate (if applicable).
- ATAS certificate (only for certain postgraduate STEM subjects like nuclear engineering or aerospace).
- Parental consent letter and birth certificate if you are under 18.
- Proof of relationship + dependant documents if bringing a partner or child (only permitted for postgraduate research students and government-sponsored courses of 6+ months).
- Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) payment reference.
Financial Requirements (Maintenance Funds)
You must show enough money to pay the first year of tuition (or the full course fee if shorter than 9 months) plus fixed monthly maintenance for up to 9 months. UKVI rates for 2026:
- London courses: £1,483 per month × 9 months = £13,347 in maintenance.
- Outside London courses: £1,136 per month × 9 months = £10,224 in maintenance.
- Plus first year tuition (or full course fee if shorter than 12 months) as stated on your CAS.
- Money must be held in your name (or your parent's/legal guardian's name with a consent letter) for at least 28 consecutive days ending no more than 31 days before you apply.
- Accepted formats: personal current or savings account, fixed deposit, or an official loan letter from a regulated lender or government scheme.
- Some deposits already paid to the university (tuition or accommodation) can be deducted — only if they are shown on your CAS.
Note: stocks, shares, and pension funds are NOT accepted as maintenance evidence. Cash held in someone else's account (aunt, uncle, sponsor) is also not accepted — funds must be in your or your parent's name.
Healthcare Surcharge and Visa Application Fees
The Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) is what gives you full access to the UK's National Health Service (NHS) during your stay. It is now the single largest cost of a UK study visa for most students.
- IHS for students: £776 per year of your visa, paid upfront in one lump sum when you apply.
- A 3-year bachelor's = £2,328 IHS; a 4-year integrated master's = £3,104; a 1-year master's = £776 (+ 4-month wrap-up rounded up to a full year in some cases).
- Student Route visa application fee (from outside UK): £524 in 2026.
- Student Route visa application fee (inside UK): £524 (same as of 2026).
- Optional Priority Service (5 working days): £500 extra.
- Optional Super-Priority Service (next working day): £1,000 extra.
- Biometrics enrolment fee at the Visa Application Centre: usually included in the base fee; VAC premium services vary by country.
Budget roughly £1,300 for the base application (fee + biometrics) plus £776 per year of IHS, on top of your tuition and living costs. Pay everything at the point of online submission — an unpaid IHS reference will cause your application to be rejected without a decision on merit.
Related reads on LifeWestWay: our F1 Student Visa 2026 guide compares the US route, our Canadian Student Visa 2026 guide walks through Canada's equivalent process, and our Cost of Living in the USA breakdown gives a useful benchmark before you finalize your UK budget.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q.How long does a UK Student Visa take to process in 2026?
Standard processing is 3 weeks when applying from outside the UK and 8 weeks when applying inside the UK. Priority (5 working days, +£500) and Super-Priority (next working day, +£1,000) options are available in most countries.
Q.How much money do I need to show for a UK Student Visa?
First year of tuition (as stated on your CAS) plus £1,483/month × 9 months for London courses, or £1,136/month × 9 months for courses outside London. Money must sit in your or your parent's name for at least 28 consecutive days before you apply.
Q.Can I work part-time on a UK Student Visa?
Yes. Full-time degree students can work up to 20 hours per week during term-time and full-time during vacations. You cannot be self-employed, work as a professional sportsperson or entertainer, or hold a permanent full-time job.
Q.What happens after graduation on a UK Student Visa?
You can switch to the Graduate Route — an unsponsored 2-year work permit (3 years for PhD graduates) that lets you work in any job at any level. You must apply before your Student Route visa expires and while you are still in the UK.
Written & fact-checked by
LifeWestWay Editorial
Migration, Careers & Lifestyle Desk
Our team of researchers, ex-immigration lawyers and long-time expats verifies every visa rule, salary figure and tax threshold against official sources before publishing — and revisits each guide as policies change.