There are UKVI requirements you must meet if you have a current UK visa and want to apply for 'permission to stay' in the UK as a Student. For example, you must meet the rules on academic progression and ensure that any time limits on study do not affect your application. These requirements are complex so it is important that you contact us to check your eligibility.
If you are eligible, you must apply before your current visa expires; you will be lawfully resident in the UK regardless of the length of time it takes for the Home Office to make a decision on your application.
If you are starting a new course, it must begin within 28 days of your current visa expiring and the earliest you can apply is 3 months before your course starts.
If you not eligible or are unable to apply before the expiry of your current visa, you must return to your home country and apply for a new Student visa from there.
If your UK visa is not a Student visa, you must check whether you are permitted to switch to a Student Visa from within the UK. You can check this on the GOV.UK website .
Please refer to our FAQs (PDF) for more information about the process of applying for a Student visa from within the UK.
Making a Student Visa application in the UK
View all Close all
- Receive your CAS statement from St George’s.
- You need to:
- fill in the online application form
- have your documents ready
- pay the application fee
- pay the immigration health surcharge
- book an appointment at a UKVCAS service centre to enrol your biometric information and have your supporting documents checked or use the 'UK Immigration: ID Check' app to scan your identity documents. You'll be told what you need to do when you apply.
- Receive decision from UKVI and notify us.
- Biometric residence permit (BRP) sent to you via courier.
- Take your BRP to the Student Centre so that a copy can be taken and placed on your student file.
Please note, you are permitted to retain your passport throughout the application process but you are required to remain in the UK until you receive a decision on your application. If you leave the UK while the decision is pending, you are automatically treated as having withdrawn your application. Your immigration health surcharge should be refunded but your application fee will not be refunded.
You must apply online for your visa.
The application processing time and cost varies depending on the service you opt for. The costs below include the biometric enrolment fee:
- standard service - £490 – a decision within 8 weeks after attending your biometrics appointment.
- priority service - £990 – a decision within 5 working days after attending your biometrics appointment.
- super priority service - £1,490 - a decision the next working day following your biometrics appointment.
Please note, your new biometric residence permit (BRP) is sent via courier and can take up to 10 days to arrive after a decision on the application has been made.
You can book an appointment at either a ‘core’ service point or an ‘enhanced’ service point. How quickly you will be able to book an appointment depends on availability.
- An appointment to have your passport scanned and enrol your biometrics at a core service points is free of charge. The nearest core service point is in Croydon, London.
- There are a number of enhanced service points situated in local libraries in London including Wimbledon, Victoria, Hammersmith, Stratford and Kensington. There is an additional charge to book an appointment.
Appointments outside of core hours (10am to 4pm) may be available at an increased charge. There are a number of ‘value-added services’ available that you can select at an additional cost after you have submitted your application online. These services include document checking and translation services.
If you intend to apply from overseas, you should follow the procedure outlined in Applying from outside of the UK (entry clearance).
For more information, go to: