Since you are reading this, you might be a prospective international student of the UK and might fall under any of the three cases: getting admission to the UK, planning to study in the UK, or waiting for a response from the university on your application. Well, if you fall into the first case, then congratulations to you as you have secured your place at the University of the United Kingdom. You must be wondering how to apply for a UK student visa when everything seems to be so intricate. So, we have broken down the whole process into 8 easy steps that you can follow easily without any external help. The steps are:  

1. Decide on the course and university 

Select the course you wish to study and explore which universities in the United Kingdom provide that course. After shortlisting the universities, you can see the rankings of those universities and start applying to them. We will always recommend you to prioritize the course instead of the university because, in the end, that is all that you will be gaining from the university. 

2. Obtain a CAS letter from the university 

If you have met the eligibility criteria and other conditions of the university, they will grant you admission. You can accept the offer from any university that you like the most in case you have been offered admission from multiple universities. Once you have accepted the offer, the university will send you a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) letter, which is a primary requirement for your visa application.  

3. Start preparing financial evidence 

Meanwhile, you need to begin arranging finances for your stay in the UK. It is because you need to present financial evidence as per UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI). If you are being funded by any sponsor, then you need to show the sponsorship letter obtained from them. The financial evidence includes tuition fees (paid for first year), livings expenses, etc.  

4. Identify the suitable visa for you

Now, you have to select the best visa suitable for your study goals. The different types of student visas issues by  UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) are: 

1. Tier 4 General Visa – This visa is for students above the age of 16 and wish to study in the UK for more than 6 months. 

2. Tier 4 Child Visa – This visa is for students in the age group of 4 – 17 years. 

3. Short-term Visa – This visa is for students above the age of 16 months and wish to study in the UK for 6 -11 months only. 

5. Complete the online visa application form

Go to the website of UK government and there you can select the visa for which you wish to apply. Fill out the online visa application form carefully. You can even apply by visiting the nearby UK embassy or consulate. You also have to pay the application fee of 348 GBP. 

6. Prepare required documents

The next step is to prepare the documents required by the embassy. The list of the documents is as follows: 

• Completed visa application form

• Valid Passport

• 2 recent passport-sized photographs

• Financial evidence that you can support yourself during your stay

• Visa application fee slip 

• CAS number

• English language test scores

• Original academic documents mentioned on your CAS

• Immigration Health Surcharge: 150 GBP per year of study

• Other requirements that may vary depending on your country of origin

7. Submit your documents and biometrics 

Students from certain nationalities need to submit their biometrics like fingerprints, signatures, etc. Schedule your appointment with the embassy and then submit the prepared documents and biometrics. 

8. Collect your visa and plan your journey 

This is the final step where you collect your study visa if it gets approved. You can now book tickets to the UK and plan out your journey.