Applying
Entry requirements and the Student visa.
Two sets of conditions stand between an offer and a lecture theatre: what the university asks for, and what the Home Office asks for. Meeting one and missing the other gets you nowhere, so both are here, in the order they happen.
The five things a course asks for
Nearly every UK course expresses its requirements across these five categories. The second one — subject requirements — is the one applicants most often miss.
Academic requirements
The grades or points a course asks for. UK offers are commonly expressed as A-level grades, but universities publish equivalents for a wide range of qualifications. A published requirement is a threshold, not a prediction of who gets in — competitive courses often receive many more qualified applicants than places.
Subject requirements
Specific subjects you must have studied. These are separate from grades and are the requirement most often missed: an applicant can exceed the grade profile and still be ineligible because a required subject is absent. Engineering usually requires mathematics and physics; medicine usually requires chemistry and biology.
English language requirements
Evidence that your English is sufficient for the course. Each university publishes which tests it accepts, the overall score required, and the minimum in each individual component. The component minimum catches people out — a strong overall score with one weak section can fall short.
International qualifications
Universities assess qualifications from other education systems against their own standards, and publish country-specific requirements. Some qualifications map directly to a UK offer; others require a foundation year first. The university's international pages are the authority on this, not a general conversion table.
Course-specific requirements
Some courses require more than grades. Portfolios for art, design and architecture; admissions tests for medicine, law and some Oxford and Cambridge courses; interviews; work experience; and background checks for courses involving children or patients.
What to check for every course
Run this for each course on your shortlist before you apply. Progress is saved in this browser.
0 of 9 done
Part two — the Home Office
Once a university says yes, the Student visa begins
The visa is the last part of the journey, not the first. Nothing below can begin until a UK university has offered you a place and you have accepted it — but the documents take longer to gather than most applicants expect, so it is worth reading before you need it.
The ten stages of a Student visa
In order, from the moment you accept an offer to the day you fly. This explains how the process fits together — the numbers themselves belong to the Home Office.
- 01
Receive your offer
Nothing visa-related can begin until a UK university has offered you a place on a course that is eligible to sponsor a Student visa.
- 02
Accept your offer
You accept one offer as your firm choice. Only the university you accept will sponsor your visa application.
- 03
Meet your conditions
Conditional offers become unconditional once you provide the results, English test scores and documents the university asked for.
- 04
Receive your CAS
The university issues a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies — a reference number confirming your sponsored place. You cannot apply without one.
- 05
Prepare your documents
Passport, CAS, qualifications used to obtain the offer, and any additional documents your circumstances require. The list depends on your nationality and history.
- 06
Prepare your financial evidence
You must show you can pay your course fees and support yourself. The amount, the acceptable forms of evidence and how long funds must be held are all set by the Home Office.
- 07
Submit your application
Applications are made online from outside the UK, with a fee and the immigration health surcharge paid at the same time.
- 08
Complete the required checks
This normally includes biometrics, and depending on your circumstances may include a tuberculosis test or an interview about your study intentions.
- 09
Receive your decision
Processing times vary by country and time of year. Apply as early as the rules permit rather than as late as you can manage.
- 10
Prepare to travel
Confirm your arrival window, arrange accommodation and keep your key documents in your hand luggage, not your hold bag.
Documents you may need
The exact list depends on your nationality, your course and your circumstances. Treat this as what to start gathering, and confirm the specifics against current guidance and your university’s international office.
0 of 8 done
Common visa mistakes
Most refusals and delays come from process errors rather than from anything about the applicant.
- Applying before the CAS has been issued — the application cannot be made without it.
- Holding the required funds for a shorter period than the rules specify, or in an account that does not qualify.
- Submitting bank statements that do not show the account holder's name, the date, and the balance clearly.
- Booking flights before a decision is made.
- Letting a passport expire partway through the course.
- Assuming the requirements are the same as when a friend or sibling applied — they change frequently.
- Missing that some courses require an ATAS certificate, which itself takes time to obtain.
Visa terminology
The vocabulary is the first barrier. These are the terms you will meet repeatedly.
CAS (Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies)
A unique reference number issued by a licensed student sponsor confirming they have offered you a place. It carries details of your course, fees and the qualifications used to make the offer, and is required before you can apply.
Sponsor
The university or college holding a licence to sponsor international students. Your visa is tied to studying with that sponsor on that course.
Immigration health surcharge
A charge paid as part of the visa application that gives access to the National Health Service during your stay. It is separate from the visa fee and is normally paid for the full length of the visa up front.
Biometric information
Fingerprints and a photograph, collected as part of the application. How and where this is done depends on your country and the type of application.
Maintenance funds
Money you must show you hold to cover course fees and living costs. The amount depends on where you will study and how long for, and the rules on how long the money must have been held are strict.
ATAS
Academic Technology Approval Scheme. A certificate required before studying certain sensitive subjects, mostly in engineering, physical sciences and technology. Your university will tell you if your course needs one.
Common questions
About entry requirements
Do I have to meet the published requirement exactly?
The published requirement is what the university expects to ask for. Some universities make contextual offers that are lower, and some make higher offers for oversubscribed courses. If you are close but not certain, apply anyway and include the course as an ambitious choice alongside a realistic one.
My qualification is not listed. What do I do?
Contact the university's international admissions team directly. They assess qualifications they have not published equivalents for regularly, and they would far rather answer before you apply than reject an application they could not evaluate.
What if my English score is below the requirement?
Many universities offer pre-sessional English courses — short programmes taken before your degree starts that satisfy the requirement on completion. Ask about these when you receive a conditional offer, since places are limited and they must be booked early.
Can I retake to improve my grades?
Usually, but some competitive courses treat resat qualifications differently, and a few state that they will not consider them except in defined circumstances. Check the individual course policy before assuming a retake will be accepted.
How long is an English language test valid for?
Most accepted tests have a validity period, and universities apply their own rules about how recent a test must be at the point you start the course, not just when you apply. Check both.
About the Student visa
When should I start the visa process?
As soon as you have accepted an offer and met your conditions. There is an earliest date before which you cannot apply, but processing times vary considerably by country and peak sharply over the summer, so applying at the earliest permitted point is the safest approach.
How much money do I need to show?
The amount covers your outstanding course fees plus living costs for a set number of months, and it differs depending on where in the UK you will study. Both the figures and the rules on how the money must be held are set by the Home Office and reviewed regularly — check the current requirement on gov.uk rather than relying on any third-party summary.
Can I work while I study?
Student visas normally permit limited work during term time and more during vacations, but the limits depend on your course level and the conditions printed on your visa. Working beyond your conditions is a serious breach, so confirm what your specific visa allows.
Can my family come with me?
Dependants can only be brought in specific circumstances, and the rules on which courses qualify have changed in recent years. Check the current position on gov.uk before making any plans that assume dependants can join you.
What happens if my visa is refused?
You will be given the reasons in writing. Depending on the grounds, you may be able to correct the issue and reapply, or request an administrative review. Contact your university's international office immediately — they deal with this regularly and can advise on next steps.