A Student visa is for people aged 16 or over studying with a licensed student sponsor. It depends heavily on your course, your sponsor’s documents and your evidence of funds and English.
Information checked against the sources listed below on 10 October 2026. Rules, fees and thresholds change; this is general information, not advice on your case, and does not assess whether you qualify.
What the official guidance says.
- You must be 16 or over, hold an offer of a place on a course from a licensed student sponsor, show enough money for living costs and tuition, and prove English ability. Those aged 16 or 17 need parental consent, and some 16- and 17-year-olds may instead qualify for a Child Student visa.
- From outside the UK, applications open 6 months before the course starts. From inside the UK, they open 3 months before, and must be submitted before the current visa expires.
- GOV.UK gives usual decision times of about 3 weeks from outside the UK and 8 weeks from inside.
- Degree-level courses for those 18 or over allow up to 5 years. Courses below degree level allow up to 2 years.
- Study is permitted, and some work may be allowed depending on the course and term-time. Public funds, certain jobs and some forms of self-employment are not permitted.
- Partners and children may be able to join the applicant. Rules for student dependants are narrower than for most work routes.
- Extensions and switches from other UK visas may be possible if eligible.
What usually decides the outcome.
- Whether your sponsor is licensed and the documents it has given you (the confirmation of acceptance for studies) are correct.
- Your funds, including how long they have been held and in what form.
- English language evidence and whether any exemption applies.
- Whether your dependants can come with you for your course.
- Any previous refusals or immigration history.
How we can help.
Depending on what you need, support can range from a first conversation to full representation. Ask for the scope of any work, and an explanation of our fees and separate government charges, in writing before you instruct the firm.
- Initial consultation and eligibility assessment. A conversation about your circumstances, the routes that may apply and the risks.
- Written advice and immigration planning. A considered view on your options and a plan that looks ahead to extensions, settlement or citizenship.
- Document and application checking. A review of an application or evidence you have prepared, before you submit it.
- Full application preparation and representation. Preparing and submitting the application, and dealing with the Home Office on your behalf.
- Responses to Home Office requests. Help answering requests for further information, interviews or evidence.
- Refusal analysis and next steps. Understanding why an application failed and whether to seek review, appeal, judicial review or make a fresh application.
Before you contact us
- Write a short summary of your circumstances and what you want to achieve.
- Note any decision dates, expiry dates or deadlines.
- Do not send passport numbers or sensitive documents in the first enquiry. We will explain how to share them securely.