UK Student Visa Requirements 2026: Complete Guide
Key requirements at a glance
To apply for a UK Student visa you need:
- CAS number from your university (14 characters, starts with a letter)
- Valid passport
- Financial evidence (living costs + tuition)
- English language test from a SELT-approved provider
- ATAS certificate (if required for your subject)
- Tuberculosis test result (if you are from a listed country)
What is a CAS number?
Your Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies is issued by your university after you have:
- Accepted an unconditional offer (or met all conditions of a conditional offer)
- Paid any required deposit
- Provided all required pre-enrolment documents
The CAS number links to your details in the UKVI database. The visa application form pulls your course, start date and fee details automatically from the CAS record.
English language requirements
UK Student visas require a test from an approved Secure English Language Test (SELT) provider. Standard IELTS is not accepted for visa purposes — you need IELTS for UKVI (Academic). The required scores typically match university entry requirements:
| UKVI-approved test | Minimum for degree entry |
|---|---|
| IELTS for UKVI Academic | 6.0–6.5 overall |
| LanguageCert Academic | B2 Communicator |
| PTE Academic UKVI | 51–59 |
| Trinity ISE III | Distinction in all components |
Financial evidence
UKVI requires you to show funds covering both living costs and tuition. For a 1-year master’s starting September 2026:
- London: £1,334/month × 9 months = £12,006 living + tuition fees
- Outside London: £1,023/month × 9 months = £9,207 living + tuition fees
You must have held these funds in your bank account for at least 28 consecutive days before the application date.
ATAS (Academic Technology Approval Scheme)
ATAS clearance is required for certain postgraduate courses involving dual-use technologies. Subjects typically requiring ATAS:
- Advanced materials science
- Nuclear and particle physics
- Certain areas of computer science (security, cryptography)
- Some engineering specialisations
Apply via the ATAS online portal; allow at least 20 working days. Your university will tell you if your course requires ATAS.
Processing times
| Application type | Standard processing |
|---|---|
| Applying from outside the UK | ~3 weeks |
| Extending inside the UK (online) | ~3–8 weeks |
| Priority service (outside UK) | 5 working days |
Apply no earlier than 3 months before your course starts, and at least 6 weeks before to avoid risk.
Sources: UK Visas and Immigration 2025 guidance, UKVI Student visa requirement document, ATAS scheme guidance.