Visa to study in the UK

The British student visa, officially called the Student visa, is compulsory for all international students wishing to study in the UK for more than 6 months. Studying in England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland offers the opportunity to enter world-renowned universities such as Oxford, Cambridge, Edinburgh or UCL.

For a school stay of less than 6 months: You don’t need to obtain a British student visa, just apply for a travel authorization by completing the online ETA form.

Who needs a student visa for the UK?

You must apply for a student visa if you :

• Age 16 or over
• Have been accepted at an accredited educational establishment in the UK
• Wish to follow a study program lasting more than 6 months
• Are not a British or Irish citizen
• Not eligible for a UK ETA

EU citizens have also had to apply for a student visa since the UK’s exit from the EU.

UK student visa requirements

For your application to be accepted, you must :

✅ Receive a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS), issued by your university or college
✅ Demonstrate a sufficient level of English (generally level B2 for higher education)
✅ Prove that you have sufficient financial resources to cover the costs of tuition, accommodation and day-to-day living on site
✅ Pay the Immigration Health Surcharge to benefit from the NHS during your studies

Student visa validity period

The duration of the visa depends on the length of the school program:

• For courses of 6 to 11 months: visa of equivalent duration
• Bachelor’s, Master’s or PhD: program duration + 1 to 2 additional months
• Possibility of extending or renewing the visa in the event of further study or change of establishment

Graduates can then apply for a Graduate Visa, to stay for up to 2 years after graduation (3 years for a PhD).

How much does a student visa for the UK cost?

Student visa (standard)	490 £
Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS)	776 per year (or £388 for 6 months)

Visa fees are paid online at the time of application. This fee is non-refundable, even in the event of refusal.

How to apply for a student visa

1. Receive a CAS from the chosen establishment
2. Create an account on gov.uk and fill in the application form
3. Pay visa fees + IHS
4. Make an appointment at a visa application center for biometric data
5. Submit supporting documents
6. Waiting for the decision

Once approved, your visa will allow you to work up to 20 hours a week during course periods, and full-time during vacations.

Can I study in the UK with an ETA and without a visa?

Yes, in some cases, a few months’ school stay in the UK can be carried out with an ETA for the UK, but this depends on the exact nature of the stay. Here are the details:

• Stay less than 6 months
• School exchange or unpaid program
• The host institution is accredited in the UK
• Student is a national of an ETA-eligible country (EU, Canada, Japan, etc.)
• The program does not include work, paid internships or long-term formal schooling.

Example: a European student goes to a British school for a term as part of an exchange program → an ETA is all that’s needed.