UK Student Visa 2027 for Indian Students

This spoke covers the UK student visa path. For the full country guide, see Study in UK.

How Do I Apply for a UK Student Visa?

The UK Student visa process runs through these stages:

1. Receive your unconditional offer and CAS - your university issues a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies once you've met all conditions and (usually) paid a tuition deposit
2. Build your maintenance funds - you'll need the required amount held continuously for 28 days before applying (see below)
3. Complete the online Student visa application - through the UKVI portal, from outside the UK up to 6 months before your course starts
4. Pay the visa application fee and Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) - both paid upfront as part of the application
5. Verify your identity - either digitally via the UK Immigration: ID Check app, or at a visa application centre appointment
6. Await your decision - most Student visa decisions come through within 3 weeks outside the UK

How Long Does the UK Student Visa Process Take?

Budget 3 weeks for standard processing outside the UK, though it's wise to apply as early as your CAS allows - you can apply up to 6 months before your course start date. Priority processing (extra fee) can reduce this to 5 working days at participating visa centres if you need a faster turnaround.

What Are the UK Student Visa Financial Requirements?

The UK requires proof of both tuition funds and a fixed maintenance amount for living costs, held in a specific way:

• Maintenance funds: £1,529/month if studying in London, £1,171/month if studying outside London - capped at 9 months, so £13,761 (London) or £10,539 (outside London) maximum
• Outstanding tuition fees: the remaining balance shown on your CAS after any deposit paid
• The 28-day rule: your required total must sit in your account, never dropping below the threshold, for 28 consecutive days, ending within 31 days of your application date - this is the single most common cause of visa refusal
• Visa application fee: £558 (as of April 2026)
• Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS): £776/year of visa length, usually covering 16 months for a 1-year Master's (course plus buffer), totaling roughly £1,552

Applicants from a list of "differentiation arrangement" countries (including several EU states, the US, Japan, and others) may not need to submit financial evidence upfront, though they must still genuinely meet the requirement if asked.

What Documents Do You Need for a UK Student Visa?

Use the UKVI checklist for your nationality, then expect this core set:

• Valid passport (with blank pages and validity past your course end)
• CAS from your licensed sponsor — course name, fees, deposit paid, and any English test code must match your file
• Proof of maintenance funds meeting the 28-day rule (unless differentiation applies and you are not asked)
• English language evidence — usually IELTS for UKVI, PTE Academic UKVI, or another SELT, unless you qualify for an exemption listed on gov.uk
• TB test certificate if you are applying from a listed country
• ATAS certificate if your course requires it (some STEM postgraduate courses)
• Consent letters if using a parent or sponsor’s funds

Your CAS is the spine of the file. If the CAS says IELTS 6.5 and your TRF shows 6.0, the application stops there.

Common UK Student Visa Refusal Reasons

Refusals usually come down to one of these — often more than one:

• Maintenance funds: balance dipped below the threshold during the 28-day window, or funds were not genuinely available to you
• CAS mismatch: course level, fees, or English scores on the CAS do not match your documents
• Wrong English test: Academic IELTS submitted where UKVI was required
• Genuine student: weak progression from prior study, unexplained gap, or a course that does not fit your background
• Incomplete file: missing TB test, ATAS, or sponsor evidence

Read the refusal letter, fix the cited ground, and reapply — do not resubmit the same packet. See do you need a consultant? if the refusal cites credibility. Applying from the UAE (including non-Emirati residents) has its own failure modes: UK Student visa from the UAE.

Do You Need IELTS for UKVI for a Student Visa?

For most applicants who must prove English at visa stage, yes — IELTS for UKVI (or another approved SELT such as PTE Academic UKVI) taken at an approved centre.

• University admission may accept IELTS Academic, TOEFL, or PTE Academic.
• Student visa generally requires a SELT listed on the Home Office site.

That is why IELTS vs TOEFL and what IELTS score do you need? treat UK as a special case. Time validity through visa day: score validity.

What Is the Graduate Route? (UK Post-Study Work Visa)

After completing an eligible UK degree, the Graduate Route lets you stay and work without a job offer or sponsor — open work rights for most roles and employers.

Duration (check your application date against gov.uk):

• Bachelor’s and Master’s: 2 years for applications before policy changes; 18 months for many non-doctoral applications from 1 January 2027 onward
• PhD and other doctoral qualifications: 3 years

Eligibility snapshot:

• You must apply while in the UK with a valid Student visa (or recent Student permission)
• Your sponsor must confirm you completed the qualifying course
• You need a CAS for the Graduate Route from your sponsor before you apply
• English and criminality checks apply as listed on the current route guidance

What it is not: a permanent visa. To stay beyond the Graduate Route, most people switch to a Skilled Worker visa (job offer, licensed sponsor, salary threshold — often around £41,700 general minimum, with lower thresholds for shortage occupations and some PhD roles).

Planning tip: If immigration after study matters, compare the Graduate Route window with USA OPT and Canada PGWP before you pick the one-year UK Master’s purely on tuition.