The British student visa fee rose to £558 in April 2026 and maintenance fund thresholds have climbed again. Hike Visa walks you through the current UKVI rules and builds a CAS-backed file that meets them the first time.
What changed this year
Figures per UKVI's April 2026 fee schedule and current Appendix Finance thresholds. Confirmed current as of this page's last review.
From 8 April 2026, the UK Student visa application fee rose to £558, up from £524. It's the submission date that decides which fee applies — not when your CAS was issued or when you started preparing. The Immigration Health Surcharge stays unchanged at £776 per year of your visa, but since Student visas are usually issued for your course length plus a buffer, most applicants pay for more than the course itself.
Maintenance fund thresholds have also moved. For courses starting in 2026, applicants must show £1,529 a month for up to nine months studying in London, or £1,171 a month outside London — on top of any unpaid first-year tuition shown on your CAS. This money must sit in an eligible account for 28 consecutive days, with the statement dated no more than 31 days before you apply.
The bigger structural change is coming for 2027: from 1 January 2027, the Graduate Route work period for bachelor's and taught master's graduates shortens from two years to eighteen months. It's the date you apply for the Graduate Route that matters, not when your course started — so a September 2026 starter who graduates in 2027 falls under the new, shorter window. PhD graduates keep their three years.
Note: UKVI reviews visa fees, IHS rates, and maintenance thresholds on a rolling basis and can change them with short notice. We confirm the live figures for your intake before we file.
£558 applies to any application submitted on or after 8 April 2026, regardless of when your CAS was issued.
£776/year of your Student visa — a 1-year master's is typically issued for ~16 months, so most applicants pay for two years.
£1,529/month (London) or £1,171/month (outside London), for up to 9 months, held for a continuous 28-day window.
Bachelor's/Master's graduates get 18 months from 1 Jan 2027, down from 2 years. PhD graduates remain at 3 years.
Only postgraduate research courses (9+ months) and government-sponsored students can generally bring family members.
A Student visa is assessed on your CAS, your funds, and your English ability. Every point below is something a UKVI caseworker will check.
An electronic reference issued by your licensed UK sponsor once you accept an unconditional offer. Valid for 6 months from issue.
Applicants aged 16–17 need written parental or guardian consent covering the application, living arrangements, and travel.
Unpaid first-year tuition (per your CAS) plus £1,529/mo (London) or £1,171/mo (outside London) for up to 9 months, held 28 consecutive days.
Most degree-level courses require CEFR B2, evidenced by a Secure English Language Test (SELT) such as IELTS for UKVI, or your sponsor's own assessment.
An Academic Technology Approval Scheme certificate is required for postgraduate research in sensitive STEM subject areas.
A tuberculosis test is required for applicants from certain countries, including India. No criminal inadmissibility.
The exact list depends on your course level and sponsor. This is the baseline set we prepare for every applicant.
CAS reference number from your UK sponsor, confirming course, fees, and start date.
Valid passport covering your intended stay, plus a digital photo.
IELTS for UKVI (or equivalent SELT) result meeting your course's CEFR level, where your sponsor requires independent evidence.
ATAS certificate, only if your postgraduate research course falls in a sensitive STEM area.
TB test certificate from an approved clinic, valid for 6 months.
Bank statements covering 28 consecutive days, with a closing balance at or above the required threshold on every day.
Proof of tuition paid, cross-checked against the exact figures on your CAS.
Parent/sponsor account letter, if funds sit in a parent's account, with proof of relationship.
Education loan sanction letter, if funding your studies through a loan.
IHS payment confirmation, paid online as part of your application before submission.
From unconditional offer to visa stamp, here's how a Hike Visa file moves.
Confirm your unconditional offer with your sponsor, who issues your CAS reference number once you're ready.
We assemble bank statements or sponsor documents that clearly meet the £1,171–£1,529/month threshold for the full 28-day window.
We file your application on the UKVI portal and calculate your exact IHS payment based on your CAS course dates.
Book and attend your visa application centre appointment for fingerprints and photograph, typically within days of applying.
Standard decisions take around 3 weeks. Once approved, we brief you on activating your eVisa via your UKVI account after arrival.
Note: funds proof is money you must show you have — not a fee you pay to UKVI. It sits on top of any unpaid tuition shown on your CAS, and higher amounts apply for accompanying dependants where eligible.
Good to know: the accommodation offset lets you deduct up to one month's maintenance from your funds requirement if you've already paid for university accommodation — ask us whether your booking qualifies.
We're not affiliated with any single institution — we guide applications to licensed sponsors across the UK, from Russell Group research universities to teaching-focused institutions that fit tighter budgets.
A UK degree doesn't grant settlement directly, but the Graduate Route gives you unsponsored work rights straight after — a genuinely valuable window, even as it narrows from 2027.
You apply for the Graduate Route from inside the UK, after your sponsor confirms successful completion of your course to the Home Office.
Bachelor's and taught master's graduates currently get 2 years to work or look for work without needing a sponsor; PhD graduates get 3 years. From 1 January 2027, new bachelor's/master's applications get 18 months instead.
Any job at any skill level qualifies while on the Graduate Route — it's designed as an open, unsponsored work period.
To stay longer, you'll need an eligible job offer and sponsorship under the Skilled Worker route, which currently requires a minimum salary of £41,700 (lower thresholds apply for some STEM PhD holders and shortage roles).
The application fee is £558 for applications submitted on or after 8 April 2026, up from £524. You'll also pay the Immigration Health Surcharge of £776 per year of your visa — for a typical 1-year master's, the visa runs about 16 months, so most applicants pay for two years of IHS.
A Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) is an electronic reference number your UK sponsor issues once you accept an unconditional offer. It confirms your course, fees, and qualifications, and is valid for 6 months. You cannot apply for your visa without it.
For 2026, you need any unpaid first-year tuition shown on your CAS, plus £1,529/month (London) or £1,171/month (outside London) for up to 9 months. This must be held in an eligible account for 28 consecutive days, ending no more than 31 days before you apply.
Most degree-level courses require CEFR B2, which typically maps to an IELTS for UKVI overall score of around 5.5–6.5 depending on your sponsor and course. Some sponsors accept their own English assessment instead of a separate SELT — we confirm what your specific offer requires.
Generally only if you're on a postgraduate research course of 9 months or longer, or you're a government-sponsored student on a course of 6 months or more. Most taught master's and undergraduate students cannot bring dependants under current rules.
Most full-time Student visa holders can work up to 20 hours per week during term time and full-time during official vacations, subject to your sponsor's confirmation and any course-specific restrictions.
Currently 2 years for bachelor's and taught master's graduates, and 3 years for PhD graduates, with no sponsor required. From 1 January 2027, new bachelor's/master's Graduate Route applications reduce to 18 months — it's your application date, not your course start date, that decides which rule applies.
Tell us your target course, intake, and current documents. We'll tell you plainly where you stand under the 2026 rules — funds gap, CAS timeline, and English requirement — before you spend a rupee.
No charge. No obligation. Just honest advice.
