UK
Study
Visa
Student Route Visa
If you require a visa to study in the UK, and your studies are for more than six months you will need to apply for a Student Route visa.
Do I need Student Visa?
If you have doubt that you need a visa to study in the UK, you can visit GOV.UK website. This tool will tell you if you need a visa and if it is a Student Route visa.
List of documents to submit for your Student route Application
Depending on your course, and if you have studied in the UK before you will have to provide the following:
- A current Valid Passport or other valid travel documentation.
- Confirmation of Acceptance or Studies (CAS)
- Biometrics Residence Permit (BRP) – if you have a current UK visa
- Qualifications used to meet the course requirements - You should refer to your CAS to ensure you provide the correct qualifications
- Tuberculosis (TB) testing evidence - if required (click here to check if you require a TB test)
- Any English Language evidence - if applicable as listed on your CAS. Click here for more information to check if it applies to you
- Financial Evidence – if applicable (The Academy will ask students to provide financial evidence of outstanding fees and maintenance requirement even if they have been in the UK for 12 months or more when making an in-country visa application inside the UK)
- The types of document you can provide to prove your finances are:
- Personal bank statements or building society statements
- Bank letters
- Official loan letters
- Official financial sponsorship letters
- Official translations of any documents not in English
If you are a national of one of the exempt countries listed here, the Home Office specifies that you can be considered under the differential evidence requirement. While this means that you do not need to send financial and educational qualification documents with your visa application, you must still ensure that you obtain them ahead of applying. This is because the Home Office can request the evidence as part of their decision process and they will refuse your application if you are unable to provide it within the specified time-frame.
You will still have to send your original passport and all other relevant supporting documents.
Student route Requirements
To apply for the Student Route you must meet the requirement of 70 points:
| Points Type | Relevant Requirements | Number of Points |
|---|---|---|
| Study | • CAS for studies requirement – given to you by JCA | 50 |
| • Course requirement | ||
| • Qualification requirement | ||
| • Level of study requirement | ||
| • Place of study requirement | ||
| Finance | • Relevant evidence that you have funds covering any unpaid fees and maintenance | 10 |
| English | English qualification at CEFR B2 or above* | 10 |
*offers may require an English qualification higher than CEFR B2 or you might not need to take separate english language qualification. For more details see the List of documents to submit.For more information on eligibility and how to meet the requirements, visit the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) pages.
Approved English Language Tests for UKVI Purposes:
The following organisations provide UKVI-approved tests that meet JCA’s admission requirements:
- Language Cert (ESOL SELT)
- Pearson Education (PTE Academic UKVI)
- ELTS SELT Consortium (only the "IELTS for UKVI" test, identified by a unique UKVI number)
- Trinity College London (tests available within the UK only)
- PSI Services (UK) Ltd (for tests taken overseas)
Healthcare Charges
All Student visa applications made for a programme of study of more than 6 months in duration will be required to pay a fee for access to NHS health care in the UK. You must pay this fee in advance, it is a mandatory requirement for a visa application even if you hold alternative health insurance. If you do not pay it, your visa application will be refused. You can find out more information about the health surcharge here.
Visa Processing Times
The busiest time of the year for the Home Office is the summer period, therefore you should submit your Student Route visa application as soon as you have received your CAS letter and gathered the correct documentation.
Please do not travel to the UK until you have received your Student Route visa and only travel from or after the first date that visa is valid.
Once you have submitted your visa application online, the waiting time starts when you either:
• Attend your appointment and provide your biometric information at the visa application centre.
• Verify your identity using the UK immigration: ID check app. This will depend on the visa you apply for; you will be advised by the Home Office whether you can use this.
You should receive a decision on your application within 3 weeks after you have attended your visa appointment or verifying your identity using the ID check app, however, this could be longer during busy periods.
Always check with your visa application centre how long their processing times are. Due to higher demand than usual over the summer could mean that there may be a delay in processing your visa application.
Please note that priority and super priority visa services refer to the visa processing times and do not account for the time it takes for your documents to arrive at the Visa application centre for collection.
We understand that delays to your visa application process can be distressing, however we advise that you do not apply for a Visitor visa to travel as you are unable to switch from this visa into the Student Route from within the UK.
How to apply for your VISA outside UK
To make a successful UK visa application you will generally follow these steps.
- Complete and submit your online application form
- When you start your application, you will choose your country of application.
- You should normally apply in the country where you are living.
- You cannot complete and submit the application until you have your CAS.
- Book your appointment at your Visa Application Centre
After submitting your visa application, you will be directed to your account with the local Visa Application Centre run by “vfsglobal” or You need to apply online through student visa website: https://www.gov.uk/student-visa/apply-online - Pay for any additional services
There might be various services such as priority services, courier return or ‘keep my passport’. Different services are available at different Visa Application Centres. - Self upload your documents
Self-upload your documents to the VAC (before you attend your appointment). There are alternatives to self-upload depending on the type of visa and the services available at the particular VAC. - Attend your Biometric Appointment
Attend your biometric appointment at your chosen VAC (fingerprints and digital photo) - Wait for the decision
The standard waiting times are here. - The Vignette
If your application is successful, the visa will be placed in your passport. It will be valid for 90 days from the date of travel stated in your application from (unless the decision is made after the stated date of travel).
