UK Study Visa: Requirements, Processing Time, New Rules & Fees

Dreaming of studying in the UK? If so, do apply for a UK student visa (or UK study visa) and enjoy the perks/benefits of UK student visa to the fullest. Students who are above 16 years of age can apply for a student visa for UK from any part of the world. The UK is the top study-abroad destination in the world for international students. Offering a wide range of career opportunities and an excellent global perspective, the UK has so much to offer to its students.

Now, if you are thinking about how to apply for UK student visa from India? This blog will answer all your queries. Keep reading with The Student Helpline.

Why UK Student Visa? Exploring the Benefits of UK Student Visa

International students who are above 16 years of age and want to pursue higher education in the UK must apply for a UK Student visa. The UK is considered the best study-abroad destination among aspiring international students as it is home to some of the most prestigious and oldest universities. 

The career opportunities, the high quality of education, the global perspective, the high standard of living, the modern infrastructure, and the friendly environment for international students in the UK attract thousands of applicants from across the world to apply for different kinds of UK student visas.

In the sections below, we will talk more about the UK study visa, its requirements, eligibility criteria, duration, fees, and more.

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What’s New? UK Student Visa New Rules 2025–26

The UK government has introduced UK student visa new rules for international students. Some changes took place from the 2025 session and some changes will take effect from 2026 next year. The new rules for UK student visa 2025-26 majorly affect the financial requirements, dependent policies, and transition from UK study visas to work visas. The UK student dependent visa new rules 2025-26 are made to make the immigration system better in the UK. Take a look at the UK student visa new rules 2025-26: 

2025 Changes:

• Dependent’s Policy: This UK student visa new rule started on 1st January 2025 only allows the applicants enrolled in PG or research degrees to bring their dependents (spouse and children).
• Transition from study to work visa: As per the new rules for UK student visas 2025-26, UK study visa holders can shift to work visas only after completing their course and 24 months after completing their PhD courses.

2026 Changes:

• Financial Requirements: According to the new rules for UK student visa 2025-26, to support higher studies in the UK, applicants are required to submit more financial proofs, than befroe. From 2026, the living expenses in London will be £1,483 per month (approx. INR 1.6L per month) and outside London, will be £1,136 per month (approx. INR 1.2L per month).
• Saving Requirements: UK study visa holders are required to show proof of funds for up to 9 months of their study in the UK. For London, applicants need to show £13,348 (approx. INR 15L).

UK Student Visa Requirements: Your UK Student Visa Document Checklist

To apply for a UK student visa, it takes a lot of documents, transcripts, and statements. The UK study visa requirements have a long list and applicants must strictly follow them. In this section, we will talk about the documents required for UK student visa, UK student visa financial requirements, etc. Keep scrolling with The Student Helpline.

• Filled out UK student visa application form
• A valid passport
• A letter of acceptance
• UK student visa financial proof documents
• The UK student visa fee receipt
• Previous academic transcripts
• English language proficiency test results: minimum IELTS score for UK student visa (5.5 or above), minimum PTE score for UK study visa (45 and above), etc.
• Health coverage

Step-by-Step UK Student Visa Process From India: A Comprehensive Guide

The UK student visa process is quite complex. Applicants need to fulfill all the UK study visa requirements as well as perform each UK student visa process step-by-step with focus. It is always advisable that UK student visa applicants must take professional assistance while applying for a UK study visa. Below is the UK study visa process in simple steps to help you understand without any confusion:

• Step 1: Get the offer letter from the selected university for your course.
• Step 2: Clear the required English Language Proficiency tests like IELTS, TOEFL, PTE, etc.
• Step 3: Arrange the UK student visa fund requirements.
• Step 4: Collect all your previous academic mark sheets and certificates like 10th, 12th, Undergraduate, Postgraduate, and other degrees (as per your course requirements).
• Step 5: Fill out the online UK student visa application form very carefully and book an appointment date for yourself.
• Step 6: Pay the UK embassy fees for student visa (demand drafts, cash at the application center, or online)
• Step 7: Book a biometric appointment to provide your fingerprints and photographs as a part of the UK study visa requirement.
• Step 8: Wait till the UK student visa processing time (usually 3 weeks) to get your UK study visa.

Fig 1: UK Student Visa Process

UK Study Visa Fees: How Much Is the Student Visa Fees for UK From India?

To apply for a UK study visa from India or any other country, you need to pay UK student visa fees in Indian rupees along with the UK student visa application form. However, the exact UK student visa fees depend on the types of UK study visa and the duration of the UK study visa, but here is a general overview of the UK student visa fee for applicants' reference, take a look:

• For Tier 4 (General UK Student Visa), the UK student visa fee is approx. £490 (INR 55K approx. as per the recent currency exchange rate). In addition to UK embassy fees for student visas, there are other fees included to get a UK study visa like Health Surcharge. It costs around £776 per year (INR 83K approx.). However, the health surcharge amount varies by the course, duration, and location.
• The methods of paying the UK student visa fees are: Online mode (via Mastercard or Visa cards), Demand Drafts from selected national banks, or cash at the Visa application center.

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UK Student Visa Acceptance Rate for International Students

UK Student Visa Acceptance rate is 99% making it easy to get if all the UK Study visa requirements for Indian students are met timely. The UK student visa success rate 2024 from India was 94%, showing a decrease of 6% from the last academic year. Talking about the UK student visa rejection rate, it is around 1%. As a student you are required to fulfil certain UK student visa documents checklist at first. Therefore, while applying for a UK study visa, applicants must be very careful and get an expert’s advice first.

Types of UK Student Visas: An Overview

We have learned in the above sections that if you are above the age of 16 then you can apply for a UK student visa. But, there are different types of UK student visas depending on your age group, course type, and duration of stay. Therefore, check your eligibility and then apply for the type of UK study that suits you the most. Check out the list of types of UK student visas and choose wisely:

What Are the UK Embassy Interview Questions for Student Visa?

It is exciting to start your UK journey but it demands a lot from the UK student visa applicants. After submitting all the valid and required documents to the UK embassy, applicants need to clear a UK student visa interview. This step is very crucial as the UK embassy officials need true and on-the-point answers. Therefore, it is important to prepare well in advance to avoid any sort of miscommunication. Here is the list of the top 10 UK embassy interview questions for student visas, you can read and prepare your answers accordingly:

• Why do you want to go to the UK?
• Why do you want to pursue higher education in the UK instead of your home country?
• Do you have any known in the UK?
• Have you traveled abroad before?
• What is your educational background?
• What do you do currently?
• Why particularly this course and university?
• How are you supporting your cost of studying and living expenses in the UK?
• What are your plans after completion of your course?
• How do you plan to manage the cultural differences and adjust to the new country?

Learn In Depth About: MBA In UK For Indian Student

How To Get a UK Post-Study Work Visa?

After pursuing higher education under a Student Visa UK, international students can also apply for a UK Post-study work visa. A UK post-study work visa is also called a Graduate Visa, under which UK study visa holders can stay in the UK for at least 2 or 3 years after successful completion of their respective course. 

Applicants can apply for the UK Post study work visa online through the official UK government website. The UK post-study work visa application fee is around £822 (INR 88K approx.) and additionally, a health surcharge of approx. £1,035 per year (INR 1.1L per year) is also asked to paid in full. Choose The Student Helpline as your visa advisor and easily apply for the UK post-study work visa.

Who Can Assist You in Your UK Study Visa Process? Final Verdict

If you are worried about “how to apply for a UK student visa from India?” or “how to get student visa for UK”, then you are in the right place. The Student Helpline, the best visa advisor in India, has got you covered. 

From UK study visa applications, UK study visa requirements, UK student visa process, and UK student visa fees, our experts are proficient in everything. So, if you are worried about the complex UK study visa process just enroll with us today and apply for your visa at the earliest. With above 90% satisfaction rate and years of experience in Visa assistance, we can be a perfect guide for your UK student visa process.

FAQs Regarding UK Student Visa

Is a UK Study Visa or a UK Student Visa the Same?

Yes, UK study visas and UK student visa are the same, as they are synonyms. Both visas allow students to live and study in the UK until the selected course is completed. There are other types of UK student visas, like Student route visas, Child student visas, and Short-term study visas. To explore the types of student visas in UK, contact The Student Helpline today.

Is IELTS Needed for a UK Student Visa?

Yes, proof of English language proficiency is needed for a UK student visa. If you are applying through IELTS, the minimum IELTS requirement for UK student visa varies by course and university. However, a minimum band score of 6.0 and above is considered competitive to obtain a UK student visa. Enroll with The Student Helpline and achieve the UK student visa IELTS requirement on the first go.

How Many PTE Scores Are Required for a UK Student Visa?

43-45 is the minimum PTE score for UK student visa for lower degree levels and for higher degree levels, 59-60 is the minimum PTE score for UK student visa. However, to know the exact UK student visa requirements, always check the University’s official site before applying. Trust us, our counsellors at The Student Helpline will help you obtain a student visa for UK hassle-free.

How Long Does a UK Student Visa Take?

3 weeks is the UK student visa processing time. To get your student visa for UK on time, ensure all the required documents that are submitted to the embassy are valid and up-to-date. Sometimes, the student visa UK gets delayed or even rejected due to insufficient or invalid documents submissions. Therefore, apply for your UK student visa with The Student Helpline, the best visa consultant in India.

Which Exam Is Required for the UK Student Visa?

IELTS, PTE, SELT, TOEFL, etc. are the main language proficiency exams required for the UK student visa. Some universities also ask for certain entrance exams depending on the course and the university like the SAT, GMAT, etc. Trust The Student Helpline as your UK student visa guide and start your UK journey stress-free.

Is UK Student Visa Easy To Get?

No, getting a UK student visa is not easy. The UK study visa process is stringent and requires a lot of documents and transcripts. The UK study visa application form also needs to be filled out with proper care and focus. Therefore, it is always helpful to take assistance from the professionals. Contact the best visa advisor in India, The Student Helpline, and get your visa at the earliest.

Is a UK Student Visa Interview Compulsory?

No, all applicants are not required to appear for the UK student visa interview. The majority of students applying for the UK study visa do not need to attend visa interviews. Only the applicants whose online UK student visa application or documents do not meet the UK student visa requirements sit for the interview. With The Student Helpline, avoid discrepancies in your UK study visa applications and start your UK journey smoothly.

What Are the Documents Required for a UK Student Visa?

A valid passport, a conditional offer letter, proof of financial documents, English language proficiency scores, and academic transcripts are included in UK student visa requirements. Additional requirements can be included depending on the applicant’s home country and chosen course. For an accurate UK study visa document checklist and UK study visa requirements, enroll with The Student Helpline.

What Is the Rejection Rate for a UK Student Visa?

3% to 5% is the rejection rate of UK study visas. The top UK student visa rejection reasons may include incomplete application forms, insufficient financial funds, health problems, some misleading/irrelevant information, and criminal records. Always apply for your UK study visa carefully and under expert supervision. With The Student Helpline, you can get your student visa for the UK approved without any hindrances.

How Much Is the Bank Balance Required for a UK Student Visa?

The minimum UK student visa fund requirements for a UK study visa depend on the location and course you are applying for. However, you are required show enough funds to support your UK tuition fees and living expenses. The minimum living expense in London is set to be £1,334 per month and £1,023 per month outside London. Enroll with The Student Helpline to apply for your UK student visa hassle-free.