You have to apply for a UK student visa online. It’s necessary to submit all necessary documents along with the application, which includes:
- a current passport or other valid documentation for traveling to the UK
- a CAS (Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies) issued by the institution providing the course to you
Other documents you may have to submit include:
- proof of having sufficient money to support yourself and meet the expenses of your course (depending on the circumstances you are in)
- proof of consent of a parent/other legal guardians in case your age is under 18 years
- a valid ATAS certificate in case your course and nationality need it
- written consent from your financial sponsor for your application in case you have got sponsorship for your course fees and cost of living in the last 12 months
- results of your test for tuberculosis
- proof of how you are related to your parent/guardian if you are aged under 18 years
To be eligible for a UK student visa, you must procure an unconditional offer to join a course with a licensed student sponsor. Once you are offered a place on the course, you will receive a CAS from the education provider. The CAS is required to apply for a student visa in the UK.
It’s necessary to have sufficient funds with you to pay for your study fees and to meet the expenses of living in the UK. You have to show proof of this while applying. Expenses could be:
- Visa fees
- Living expenses
As part of the visa application process, you have to submit one of the following to prove your identity:
- A photograph and your fingerprints (biometric information) at a VAC (visa application center)
- Scanned copy of your identity document using the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ app
Another requirement to apply is English language proficiency. The required level of skill is determined with the CEFR scale. Here are the levels of language skills required by the course category
- Below degree level – CEFR level B1
- Degree level or above – Equivalent to CEFR level B2
After applying online, application processing takes up to 3 weeks. You may get faster processing of the application wherein you will get a decision on your visa application within 5 working days (priority service) or by EOD of the next working day (super priority service).