A big congratulations to you! You have come so far in your struggle to get admission to the world-recognized university of the United Kingdom. You are just one step away from your study destination. To cross this step, you have to obtain a student visa to enter the country. With a student visa, you are legally not allowed to enter the country. Obtaining a visa is a stressful process. This article is aimed at providing you with a guide on how you can obtain a student visa for the United Kingdom in an easy way. If you follow all the listed steps in their original order, then you will obtain the visa in no time. 

Step 1: Obtain your acceptance letter 

Before applying for a student visa, you must have got selected in any university in the country. That is why you are here. So, in the selected university, you have to obtain an acceptance letter from the university which states that you are being selected by the university in any of the courses offered by them. This acceptance letter is an important document that has to be submitted while applying for a student visa in your own country. 

Step 2: Find out which type of student visa you want 

The term of the course and your age defines which type of student visa is suitable for you. If you are enrolled in any short-term course and your age is above 18 years, then you can apply for a short-term study visa. This visa will allow you to stay in the country minimum of 6 months and a maximum of 11 months. 

But if you are enrolled in a long-term course, then you can apply for Tier 4 (Child) Student visa if your age is between 4-17 years. But if your age is above 16 years, then you can apply for a Tier 4 (General) Student Visa. This general student visa does not have any predetermined period of availability. It depends on the length of your course. 

Step 3: Where to apply for a student visa 

You have two options in your hand to apply for a student visa. Either you can visit the United Kingdom embassy in your home country and do paperwork offline or you can fill the application form online. If you apply online, then you might have to visit the visa application centre once to get your fingerprints and photograph taken. 

Step 4: Eligibility criteria for Tier 4 (General) Student Visa

1. Your age must be greater than 16 years. 

2. You have been accepted by any university in the United Kingdom.

3. You can speak, read and write English fluently. 

4. You have arranged for all your finances to study in the UK.

Step 5: Submit the documents required for obtaining Tier 4 (General) Student Visa

1. A completed application form of student visa 

2. Details of your passport

3. Recent passport size photographs 

4. Acceptance letter from the university 

5. Proof of English speaking skills by passing the secure English language tests (SELT)

6. Financial proof that you can support yourself with the expenses of living and tuition fees during your stay in the country. It can be in the form of financial statements. 

7. Screening test for tuberculosis (selected countries only) 

Step 6: Pay the cost of the student visa

The cost of Tier 4 (General) Student Visa is about £348 and you also need to pay a healthcare surcharge of £150 per year to get access to the National Health Service (NHS) during your visit.