The UK Student visa: what to have ready before you apply

Most UK Student visa problems start weeks before the application form. A missing bank statement or money that sat in the account for 20 days instead of 28 can undo months of planning. Here is what to have ready, in the order you will need it.

Start with your offer and your CAS

Your application is built on a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS). Your university issues it once you have accepted an unconditional offer and met its conditions. The CAS is a reference number, not a certificate, and it records your course, your fees and how the university checked your English.

Read your CAS as soon as it arrives. The course dates, fees paid and qualifications listed must match your documents exactly. Ask the university to correct a mistake before you apply, not after.

You can apply from India up to six months before your course starts.

Show the money, and keep it there

You need to prove you can pay your course fees for the first year and your living costs. For living costs, the UK government currently asks for:

• £1,529 a month if you study in London
• £1,171 a month if you study anywhere else in the UK

Both are counted for up to nine months. The money must stay in the account for at least 28 consecutive days, and the statement must be dated within 31 days of your application. This is where most delays come from. Plan the transfer early and don't move the money until your visa is decided.

If you are funding your studies with an education loan, the sanction letter usually needs specific wording. Ask your lender for it early. Abigya can help you prepare the loan paperwork, but the lender decides on approval and terms.

Prove your English

Many universities assess your English themselves and record it on your CAS. If yours asks for a Secure English Language Test (SELT), it has to be one that UK Visas and Immigration approves, such as IELTS for UKVI. A regular IELTS Academic score may be enough for your university but not for the visa, so check before you book.

Our guide to choosing between IELTS, PTE, TOEFL and GRE explains the difference.

The rest of your documents

• A valid passport with a blank page
• A tuberculosis test certificate from an approved clinic, which applicants from India need
• An ATAS certificate, if your subject is on the list that requires one
• Your academic transcripts and certificates, as listed on your CAS

You will also pay the visa fee and the Immigration Health Surcharge. Both change from time to time, so check the current amounts on GOV.UK before you pay.

Working and family

On a taught master's course you can work up to 20 hours a week during term time. Students on taught master's courses can no longer bring dependants, so plan family visits separately.

After your course

The Graduate route lets you stay and work in the UK after you finish. It currently gives you two years. If you apply from January 2027, that becomes 18 months. Keep this date in mind if you are choosing between a September 2026 and a January 2027 start.

Where Abigya helps

We help you shortlist courses, prepare and submit your applications, check your CAS, organise your financial evidence and prepare for your credibility interview. We can also book your flights and help you look for accommodation. The decision on your visa rests with UK Visas and Immigration, but a well-prepared application removes the avoidable mistakes.

Rules and amounts change. Check the current requirements on GOV.UK's Student visa pages before you apply, or ask us to go through your case with you.