Student Route (replaces Tier 4 General) • Short-term Study (English 6–11 months)

Student visas made simple — CAS check, funds verified, decision-ready

We confirm your route (Student or Short-term English), verify your CAS, tuition and living funds, and prepare a clean, compliant application — timed to your course start date.

At-a-glance

CAS check Funds verified Compliance-ready documents Decision-ready submission

Student Route (replaces Tier 4 General)

  • Requires a CAS from a licensed sponsor (college/university).
  • Study at RQF Level 3+ (usually full-time) or HE/FE provider courses.
  • Work rights: limited, course/level/provider dependent.
  • Dependants: only in limited cases (provider/course dependent).
  • Extend/switch options available from inside the UK (if eligible).

We verify your CAS details, course, academic progression, and maintenance funds before filing.

Short-term Study (English, 6–11 months)

  • For English language courses only (6–11 months).
  • No CAS; you need an enrolment/acceptance letter from an accredited provider.
  • No work and no route to extend/switch inside the UK.
  • Must leave the UK at the end of the course.
  • Typical for intensive English preparation before further study elsewhere.

We confirm eligibility, provider accreditation, and the exact supporting documents required.

Who can apply — Student Route

  • Unconditional offer from a licensed Student sponsor and a valid CAS (Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies).
  • Genuine intention to study and ability to complete the course.
  • Maintenance funds and tuition payments evidenced per UKVI rules (we’ll verify format and bank statement requirements).
  • Parental consent where required (under 18s) and suitable care/arrangements.
  • All additional requirements met if relevant (e.g., ATAS for certain research/subjects, TB test depending on country of residence).

We review your CAS details, academic progression, and financial evidence, then prepare a decision-ready submission.

Who can apply — Short-term Study (English, 6–11 months)

  • Accepted on an English language course (6–11 months) at an accredited provider.
  • No CAS required — use the provider’s enrolment/acceptance letter.
  • Evidence of funds and accommodation for the duration of your stay.
  • Plan to leave the UK at the end of the course; no route to extend/switch in-country.
  • No work permitted on this route.

Ideal for intensive English only. If your course is academic or longer, use the Student route.

English language & compliance

  • Student route: English level depends on course level/provider. We’ll confirm if you need an approved SELT and the required CEFR level.
  • Short-term English: no formal English test is usually required, but your provider may assess your level.
  • Documents: passports, previous visas/travel history, academic docs/transcripts, financial evidence in the specified format.
  • Credibility: we prepare you for any interviews and align your personal statement with your course/progression.

We give you a tailored checklist and verify every document against current UKVI requirements before filing.

Financial evidence (maintenance, tuition & format)

UKVI requires you to show you can pay your tuition and living costs for your course. The exact amounts depend on your study location and course length. We’ll confirm your figures from your CAS and current UKVI rules.

What you must show

  • Tuition: total fees minus any paid deposits shown on your CAS.
  • Maintenance (living costs): monthly rate set by UKVI × required months (usually capped).
  • Accommodation: if you’ve paid the provider for on-campus housing, the CAS can credit part of this.
  • Dependants: extra maintenance per dependant where eligible (we’ll calculate if applicable).

Accepted financial evidence

  • Personal bank statements (or parent/guardian with consent & proof of relationship). Must show funds held for a continuous 28 days.
  • Official financial sponsor (government/scholarship): sponsor letter covering tuition and/or maintenance.
  • Student loan: official loan letter meeting UKVI wording and release conditions.
  • Currency & translation: non-GBP statements must be convertible; non-English/Welsh need certified translation.

How we calculate (example logic)

Step What we check Outcome
1. Tuition CAS tuition total − CAS deposit/fees already paid Remaining tuition to evidence
2. Maintenance UKVI monthly rate × required months (based on study location & caps) Living costs to evidence
3. Accommodation credit On-campus payments listed on CAS (up to UKVI limit) Reduce maintenance evidence
4. Total funds Remaining tuition + adjusted maintenance Final amount to hold for 28 days
Evidence timing: your closing balance date must be within 31 days before you submit your online application.
Low-risk nationals: you may not be asked to upload financial documents, but you must hold the funds and be ready to provide them if requested.

We’ll verify every figure against your CAS, apply the correct UKVI rates and caps, and produce the exact bank statement wording/format so your case is decision-ready.

Fees, IHS & decision times

We’ll confirm totals for your course length and location before filing.

Route Application fee (guide) IHS (health surcharge) Notes
Student route (outside the UK) £524 £776 / year Also £524 to extend/switch inside the UK. IHS total depends on visa length.
Short-term study (English, 6–11 months) £214 £776 (for the 6–11 month period) No CAS. No work. Must leave the UK at course end.
Priority decision (if eligible) +£500 Target: ~5 working days from biometrics/ID verification.
Super Priority (if eligible) +£1,000 Target: next working day after in-person biometrics (where offered).

Decision times

Outside the UK (standard): commonly around 3 weeks for straightforward cases — always check the live UKVI checker for your country.

Extra local fees

Some Visa Application Centres charge a user-pays fee (e.g., ~£76.50) and offer optional services (courier, lounge). We’ll flag these upfront.

Tip: Pay the IHS and visa fee in the same online journey. If your visa covers part of a year ≤6 months, IHS is usually charged at £388 for that part-year.

Documents checklist

We’ll tailor your list based on your route, course, and nationality — but here’s what most students will need:

Document Purpose Applies to
Passport (valid for entire stay) Identity and travel history All applicants
CAS (Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies) Confirms offer and course details Student route
Offer / enrolment letter Confirms acceptance at an accredited provider Short-term English
Financial evidence Proves ability to pay tuition and maintenance Both
Academic documents Qualifications used for course entry (listed on CAS) Student route
English test certificate (if required) Shows English level meets course requirement Student route
TB test certificate Required for residents of certain countries Both
Consent letters (if under 18) Parental/guardian approval and accommodation arrangements Both
Translations (if applicable) All non-English/Welsh documents must include certified translations Both
Tip: Low-risk nationals may not need to upload all supporting documents, but you must have them ready if requested. We’ll review your evidence and prepare a clean, indexed bundle for fast Home Office decision-making.

Get your Student visa application right the first time

We’ll confirm your route, verify your CAS, check your funds, and prepare your file so you can focus on your studies — not the paperwork.