Documents Required for UK Student Visa - Your Step-by-Step Guide to Visa Success

Documents Required for UK Student Visa: The second-most popular study-abroad destination in the world, the UK welcomes nearly half-a-million international students every year. Such large numbers is down to one single fact: many UK universities are listed among the top universities in the world. QS, in fact, has as many as nine inside the top fifty. If you too are planning to study in UK, one advice would be to apply early for your student visa. It is because the process is long and complicated. You can simplify things though by keeping a list of documents required for UK student visa handy. You can use this list as a checklist and never go off-track.

This Story also Contains

1. Do you need a student visa to study in UK in the first place!
2. UK Student Visa categories
3. Documents Required for UK student Visa from India
4. Documents required for UK Student Visa for Below 18 Years
5. Documents required for Tier 4 (Child) Student Visa
6. Tier 4 (General) student visa
7. How long can you stay with Tier 4 (General) student visa
8. Documents required for Tier 4 (General) Student Visa

But first let’s find out...

Do you need a student visa to study in UK in the first place!

EU/EEA/Swiss nationals do not need a visa

If you are an EU/EEA/Swiss national you do not have to apply for permission to live, work or study in UK. You can use your EU/EEA/Swiss passport or national ID card to travel with in the UK and study a programme of your choice without restriction. And with visa a non-issue, you obviously do not have to prepare a list of documents required for UK student visa!

Non-EU/EEA/Swiss nationals do need a visa

If you belong to this category, you will need to obtain permission to come and study in the UK. Permission here means getting your UK student visa approved by UK immigration office.

Depending on the type of study programme you choose, your visa type may differ. For each of these visa categories, you have a different set of documents required for UK student visa application as well.

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UK Student Visa categories

Depending on whether you pursue short-term or longer course in UK, you have following visa options:

1. Short-term study visa

2. Tier 4 (Child) student visa

3. Tier 4 (General) student visa

Documents Required for UK student Visa from India

UK student visa documents checklist India is different for different categories of visa and age group of students seeking to study in UK.

Short-term Study Visa Eligibility

• Students pursuing a short-term course in the UK

• A citizen outside the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland

• Students who have been offered a place of study in a UK institution

• Students who have the necessary financial resources to fund their studies

Documents required for UK student visa: Short-term visa

• A current passport or any other valid travel ID

• Proof of financial capability that you can finance your studies for the duration of the course in the form of bank statements or payslips for the last six months

• Details of your intended place of stay and travel plans

• If you are from a region where you have to take the tuberculosis (TB) test, you have to submit your medical reports

• Contact details of at least one parent or a guardian in your home country if you are below 18 years.

You are required to submit originals of these UK Student Visa documents Also, if any of these documents are not in English, you must get certified translations of such documents. You can get certified copies of originals by getting it signed and dated by an approved personnel like a solicitor.

As for the passport, it must have a page that is blank on both sides for the visa.

The list of documents for UK student visa under this category also includes documents related to your course.

Study-related Documents required for UK Student Visa:

• As proof of your acceptance at a UK institution, you may submit a letter of acceptance from the institution preferably on official headed paper. The name of the course, duration and cost should be clearly outlined in the official letterhead.

• Other generic UK Student Visa documents may include:

a) Academic Transcripts

b) Reports of English language proficiency tests, like IELTS, TOEFL, etc.

c) Financial sponsor’s occupation, income, funds, etc.

d) Accommodation and travel plans

Documents required for UK Student Visa for Below 18 Years

Case 1: Travelling alone

If you are under 18 and travelling alone, your list of documents for UK student visa may get a little longer. You will need documents:

• Stating your parents or guardian’s consent to your travel to the UK. The document must also contain their contact details.

• The letter of consent should also provide proof that you have somewhere suitable to live in the UK.

• The address of the place along with the name and other details of the person you will be living with.

• Your relationship with the person you will be living with in the UK.

• A written consent from your guardian in the UK who has taken the responsibility to look after you.

You will need to get a letter from the school where you will be studying stating that it has notified the local authority about your visit and your care arrangements, if you:

• Will be studying in UK during your stay

• Below 16 years

If the local authority has replied to the school, you must include that reply in your list of documents for UK student visa as well.

Case 2: Travelling with an adult

If you are accompanied by an adult person, in that case you:

• Must identify the person in your visa application.

• Can identify up to two persons in your visa application. At least one of them must accompany your during your visit to the UK.

• Must ensure that both of you apply separately, though you may apply at the same time.

Tier 4 (Child) student visa

If you are anywhere between 4 and 17 years of age, you can apply for the the Tier 4 (Child) student visa to study at an independent school in the UK.

If you are applying for the Tier 4 (Child) student visa from outside the UK, It would cost you £328.

Who is it for?

• Students who have been offered an unconditional place on a course with a licensed Tier-4 sponsor.

• Students with financial resources to cover their study and living costs.

• A student who is pursuing a course that conforms to the national curriculum.

How long can you stay with Tier 4 (Child) student visa

Documents required for Tier 4 (Child) Student Visa

• A current or any other valid travel ID. In fact, this document is among the most common documents required for US student visa across all visa categories.

• Financial proof showing you can finance your studies and living expenses for the duration of your stay.

• Parental or legal guardian consent to your intent to study in the UK.

• If you are from a region where you have to take the tuberculosis (TB) test, get a medical report of your latest status.

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Tier 4 (General) student visa

The most common route to pursuing higher education in the UK is through the Tier 4 (General) student visa route. If you are 16 or above, you can apply for this visa provided you:

• have been offered an unconditional place on a course with a licensed Tier-4 sponsor.

• have financial resources to fund your study and study in the UK.

How long can you stay with Tier 4 (General) student visa

The general visa allows you to arrive in the UK before your course starts:

• up to 1 week in advance, if your course lasts 6 months or less.

• up to 1 month in advance, if your course lasts more than 6 months.

There is no fixed threshold on how long you can stay using this visa as it varies from course to course. While some courses may allow you an easy route to pursue post-study work in UK, others may have some restrictions and conditions.

Tier 4 (General) Student visa covers the following courses:

• Full-time course leading to a qualification that is rated level 6 at the least on Ofqual register.

• An UK equivalent overseas degree level course that is being run by an overseas higher education institution.

• Full-time course, with minimum 15 hours of weekly organised daytime study, leading to a qualification which is at least level 3 on the Ofqual register.

• A recognised foundation programme as a postgraduate doctor or dentist.

Documents required for Tier 4 (General) Student Visa

• A current or any other valid travel ID

• UK Student Visa documents showing you have the financial resources to finance your studies and living expenses for the duration of your stay

• Parental or legal guardian consent for those below the age of 18 years

• If you are from from a region where you have to take the tuberculosis (TB) test, get a report of your latest status

The cost of the Tier 4 (General) student visa is £328 if you are applying from outside the UK.