Independent advisory firm — not a government agency. UK Student visas are issued only by UK Visas and Immigration.
The UK is home to some of the world's best-known universities, including Oxford, Cambridge and Imperial College London, and to a wide range of colleges and specialist institutions. The Student visa (formerly Tier 4) lets international students study at a licensed UK sponsor, with limited work rights during their course.
The route is regulated tightly: you need an offer and a CAS from a licensed sponsor, funds held for 28 days, and evidence that you meet the English and genuine-student requirements. Costs and rules have changed in 2026, so early planning pays off.
A broad choice of internationally ranked institutions and courses.
Degree-level students can generally work up to 20 hours per week in term time and full-time in vacations.
The Graduate visa allows eligible graduates to stay and work: 2 years now, 18 months for applications from 1 January 2027.
1-to-1 Advisor Guidance
About 3 weeks
Typical UKVI decision time from the biometrics appointment (not guaranteed).
Choose the route that matches your course. We help you work out which applies.
For degree-level and other courses of more than six months at a licensed sponsor. Visa length is your course length plus a short extra period; courses of 12 months or more typically receive four extra months afterwards.
For short courses of up to six months, and English language courses of up to 11 months. No work is allowed and the stay cannot be extended.
For students aged 4 to 17 studying at an independent school in the UK.
We discuss your academic background, budget, intake and career goals.
We help you compare courses at licensed sponsors and plan your applications.
We guide you through accepting your offer and meeting its conditions so your CAS can be issued.
We help you organise the 28-day funds evidence and supporting documents.
We review your online application details with you before you submit them yourself or through your chosen representative.
We explain the biometrics appointment and how to prepare for questions about your study plan.
Accommodation, travel, insurance and arrival planning.
| Item | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Student visa application fee | £558 | Paid to UKVI when you apply (from 8 April 2026). |
| Immigration Health Surcharge | £776 per year | Charged for each year of permission; part-years pro-rata. |
| Priority services (optional) | From £500 | Faster decisions where available; not guaranteed. |
| Maintenance funds (shown, not paid) | £1,529 / £1,171 per month | London / elsewhere, up to 9 months, held for 28 days. |
| Tuition fees | Varies | Set by each university; first-year fees count towards your funds. |
Fees and funds thresholds are set by the UK Government and change without notice. Figures checked October 2026; confirm current amounts on gov.uk before applying.
Globally recognised universities and research.
3-year bachelor's degrees (4 in Scotland) and 1-year taught master's degrees.
Part-time work rights while studying and the Graduate visa afterwards.
UK qualifications are widely respected by employers and institutions.
A multicultural student environment.
Leading research and innovation across many fields.
Answers to the questions applicants ask most.
The Student visa is the UK route for international students aged 16 and over who have an offer from a licensed student sponsor. It replaced the old Tier 4 (General) route and is issued only by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI), part of the Home Office.
Not always. Courses of up to six months can often be studied as a short-term study visit under the Standard Visitor route, and English language courses of up to 11 months qualify as well. Short-term study visitors cannot work or extend their stay, so a longer or degree-level course needs a Student visa.
Yes. UAE residents apply online and give their biometrics at a UK visa application centre. From outside the UK you can apply up to six months before your course start date, once you hold your Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS).
The visa application fee rose to £558 from 8 April 2026. You also pay the Immigration Health Surcharge, currently £776 per year of visa permission, with part-years charged pro-rata. Optional priority services cost extra, and tuition and living costs are separate.
For a course in London you must show £1,529 per month for up to nine months, and £1,171 per month elsewhere in the UK, plus your first-year tuition fees less any deposit already paid. Reports indicate that the monthly figures rise on 30 November 2026, so confirm the amount that applies on your application date.
Your funds must be held in an accepted account for a continuous 28-day period, and your closing balance must not fall below the required amount at any point in that period. The 28 days must end no more than 31 days before you submit your application.
UKVI guidance says most Student visa decisions for applicants outside the UK take about three weeks from the biometrics appointment. Priority and super-priority services may be available for a fee, but processing times are not guaranteed, so apply well ahead of your course start date.
A Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies is a unique reference number issued by your sponsor university or college once you have accepted an unconditional offer and met its conditions. You cannot apply for the visa without it, and it is valid only for the course and sponsor named on it.
For degree-level study the Student route requires CEFR level B2, and for study below degree level it requires B1. You can meet the requirement with an approved English test (SELT), a degree taught in English, or an assessment accepted by your sponsor. Your university will tell you which evidence it accepts.
UKVI must be satisfied that you are a genuine student — that you intend to study, can do the course and have a sensible reason for choosing it and the UK. You may be asked to explain your study plans, finances and background, and in some cases attend an interview, so your answers and documents should be consistent.
Degree-level students can generally work up to 20 hours per week during term time, and full-time in official vacations. Students on courses below degree level are usually limited to 10 hours per week. Your visa conditions set the limit, so check the wording on your own permission.
Since January 2024 most students cannot bring dependants. The exceptions are students on postgraduate research courses (such as PhDs) and those on certain government-funded scholarships. Dependants need their own visa applications and must meet separate funds requirements.
The Graduate visa lets eligible students stay in the UK after completing a degree to work or look for work, without employer sponsorship. It is currently two years (three for PhD graduates). The Government has confirmed it reduces to 18 months for applications made on or after 1 January 2027.
Often, yes — many graduates move to the Skilled Worker route if they secure a job with a licensed sponsor. Salary and skill-level requirements are higher than they were, and the Skilled Worker English requirement rose to B2 from 8 January 2026, so plan your post-study route early.
You will usually need a valid passport, your CAS reference, evidence of funds held for 28 days, English-language evidence, your academic qualifications, and, where required, a tuberculosis test certificate and an ATAS certificate. Your online application lists exactly what applies to you.
A TB test is required if you have lived for six months or more in a country on the UK's TB-test list before applying. The test must be taken at a clinic approved by the UK Government, and the certificate must accompany your application.
The Academic Technology Approval Scheme applies to some postgraduate courses in sensitive subjects, such as certain science, engineering and technology fields. If your course requires it, you must obtain the certificate before applying, and it can take several weeks, so check early.
Visa length depends on your course length, and normally includes a short period before the course starts and an additional period after it ends. For a course of 12 months or more the extra time after the course is usually four months. Your visa decision letter shows the exact end date.
You will receive a decision letter explaining the reasons. Depending on the grounds you may be able to request an administrative review or make a fresh application with stronger evidence. Reapplying without addressing the reasons for refusal is rarely successful, so review the letter with an advisor first.
No. Visatrix Global is an independent advisory firm. Only UKVI decides whether a visa is granted, and no consultant can guarantee approval or processing times. We help you shortlist courses and prepare an accurate, well-organised application.
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Disclaimer: Visatrix Global Services – FZCO is an independent advisory firm licensed in the UAE. We are not a government agency and are not affiliated with the UK Home Office, UK Visas and Immigration or any university. UK Student visas are issued only by UKVI, and caseworkers make all decisions. We do not guarantee admission, visa approval or processing times. Where regulated immigration advice is required, it must come from an adviser authorised under UK law. Rules, fees and funds thresholds change frequently; always confirm them with official sources before acting.
