UK Student Visa

UK Student Visa

The United Kingdom remains one of the most appealing places in the world for higher education. However, the rules for international students have become stricter than they have been in over a decade. As we approach late 2025, the Home Office has put in place tough measures to balance migration targets with the need to attract real talent.

For international students and their families, the application process has changed from a simple task to a complicated legal challenge. Recent changes, particularly the big increase in financial requirements starting in November 2025 and the shift to a fully digital immigration status, require applicants to be very well prepared. This guide outlines the essential legal requirements, financial thresholds, and compliance issues that every applicant must deal with to secure their place in the UK.

At Bekenbey Solicitors, led by Dr. Ergul Celiksoy, we recognize that the Student Visa is not just permission to enter the UK; it's the foundation of your long-term academic and professional journey. While this route provides valuable chances for study, personal growth, and post-graduation opportunities, it needs to be managed wisely from the beginning. The Student Visa is often the first step toward future options like the Graduate Route, Skilled Worker Visa, or other long-term immigration categories. Our immigration experts offer detailed support, not only in securing your visa but also in helping you use it effectively to establish a stable, long-term future in the United Kingdom.

1. Navigating the New Student Visa Landscape

The Student route operates under a rigid points-based system. To be granted a visa, an applicant must score a total of 70 points.

• 50 Points: Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS)
• 10 Points: Financial Requirement (Maintenance funds)
• 10 Points: English Language Proficiency

While these points appear objective, they are underpinned by a subjective "genuineness" test. Home Office caseworkers retain significant power to refuse an application if they doubt a student's true intention to study, even if the applicant technically scores the full 70 points.

2. The Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS)

2.1 Understanding the CAS

The CAS is essential for your application. It is not a physical certificate; rather, it is a unique digital reference number created by your university or college in the Home Office system. When a school assigns a CAS, it takes legal responsibility for you as a student. They confirm that they have verified both your academic ability and your English language skills.

Because universities could lose their sponsor license if too many of their students are denied visas, they often perform strict "pre-CAS" checks. These internal checks can be more demanding than the visa application itself. You may need to provide financial documents or pass a credibility interview with the university admissions team before they agree to issue the CAS number.

2.2 Validity and Risk Management

A CAS is valid for six months and can be used only once. If your visa application is refused, that specific CAS number becomes invalid. You cannot use it again for a second application. You will need your university to issue a new CAS, and they are not required to do so if they consider you a high risk for a second refusal.

2.3 Academic Progression

If you are already in the UK and want to extend your visa or switch to a new course, you must follow the "Academic Progression" rule. Usually, your new course needs to be at a higher academic level than the one you completed before. For instance, you could move from a bachelor's degree to a master's degree.

There are a few exceptions where you can study at the same level. However, the new course must relate to the previous one and provide deeper specialization or support your career goals. Simply pursuing a second master's degree to stay in the UK longer is often grounds for refusal unless you have a strong academic reason.

3. Financial Requirements: The November 2025 Increase

The financial requirement is the most common reason for visa refusal. It is a strict, binary assessment with no room for error.

3.1 New Maintenance Thresholds

Table 1: Financial Maintenance Requirements (2025)

Location of Study	Monthly Funds Required	Max Period Calculated	Total Living Costs (Max)
London	£1,529	9 Months	£13,761
Outside London	£1,171	9 Months	£10,539

Calculating Your Total Funds

You must show evidence of the Total Living Costs plus any Outstanding Tuition Fees for the first year of your course.

Example Calculation:

Imagine you are studying a 1-year Master's degree in Manchester (Outside London). Your tuition fee is £18,000 and you have already paid a £5,000 deposit to the university.

• Outstanding Tuition: £13,000
• Living Costs (9 months x £1,171): £10,539
• Total Bank Balance Required: £23,539

If you have been living in the UK with a valid visa for at least 12 months on the date of your application, you are generally exempt from showing these maintenance funds.

3.2 The 28-Day Rule

3.3 Accommodation Offset

If you have paid your university for campus accommodation, you can deduct part of this amount from the maintenance funds you need to show. However, there is a limit. For applications made after 11 November 2025, you can offset a maximum of £1,529. Even if you pay £6,000 in advance for halls of residence, you can only deduct £1,529 from your required bank balance.

3.4 Low Risk Nationals

Nationals from certain countries, including the USA, Australia, China, and EU member states, are seen as "low risk" under specific arrangements. If this applies to you, you do not have to upload financial documents or degree certificates with your initial application.

However, this does not mean you are completely exempt. The Home Office may conduct random checks. If they ask for your documents, you must provide them right away. If you did not actually hold the funds for the 28-day period at the time you applied, your application will be denied. We advise all clients to prepare their finances as if they were required to submit them, no matter their nationality.

4. Credibility Interviews: The Genuine Student Test

The Home Office uses credibility interviews to detect applicants who may be using the student route for economic migration rather than education. These interviews are usually conducted via video link.

4.1 What to Expect

The interviewer will ask specific questions about your course, your university, and why you chose to come to the UK. They will check if your English level matches your test results and if your study plans make sense based on your career history.

4.2 How to Prepare

Generic answers often lead to rejection. You need to be specific and well-researched.

• Course Details: Do not just say you want to study "Business". Know the specific module titles, like "Strategic Marketing" or "Corporate Finance". Understand how the course is assessed, whether through exams or coursework.
• University Choice: Explain why you chose this particular university over others. Avoid simply quoting league table rankings. Mention specific facilities, academic staff, or industry connections that attracted you.
• Return to Home Country: Be clear about your plans after your studies. While the Graduate route allows you to stay temporarily, your main focus must be on studying. If you seem like you only want to come to the UK to work, you may be refused.

5. English Language and TB Testing

5.1 Secure English Language Tests (SELT)

Unless you are from a majority English-speaking country or have a previous degree taught in English, you must pass a Secure English Language Test (SELT). You must take a test from an approved provider, such as:

• IELTS SELT Consortium (specifically IELTS for UKVI)
• Pearson (PTE Academic UKVI)
• LanguageCert (International ESOL SELT)
• PSI Services (Skills for English UKVI)

It is vital that you book the "UKVI" version of these tests. A standard IELTS academic test taken for personal development will not be accepted for the visa application.

5.2 Tuberculosis (TB) Testing

Residents of many countries, including India, Pakistan, China, Nigeria, and South Africa, must provide a TB certificate from a clinic approved by the Home Office. Certificates from other doctors are not accepted. This certificate is valid for six months. We recommend booking this test early because appointments can be hard to find during the peak summer months.

6. Bringing Dependants: The 2024/2025 Restrictions

6.2 Existing Dependants

If you started your course before 1 January 2024, these new rules do not apply to you. Your dependants can generally extend their visas. Similarly, children born in the UK to valid student visa holders can usually be added as dependants.

7. Work Rights and Restrictions

7.1 Permitted Hours

Most degree-level students are allowed to work 20 hours per week during term time. It is important to know the legal definition of a week. The Home Office defines a week as the time from Monday to Sunday. You cannot average your hours over a month. If you work 30 hours one week and 10 hours the next, you have violated your visa conditions. During official vacation periods, as defined by your university's academic calendar, you can work full-time.

7.2 Prohibited Work

Students are strictly forbidden from certain types of work, including:

• Self-employment (this includes freelancing or gig-economy work like Uber or Deliveroo).
• Professional sports (including coaching).
• Working as an entertainer.
• Filling a permanent full-time vacancy.

8. Post-Study Options: Graduate and Skilled Worker Routes

8.1 The Graduate Route

Upon successful completion of your degree, you can apply for the Graduate visa. This allows you to work in any job (except as a professional sportsperson) for 2 years, or 3 years if you have completed a PhD. You do not need a job offer to apply.

Important Future Change: The government has confirmed plans to reduce the validity of the Graduate visa to 18 months for applications made on or after 1 January 2027. PhD students will retain the 3-year period.

8.2 Switching to Skilled Worker

You can switch to a Skilled Worker visa if you find an employer who is willing to sponsor you. However, current rules do not allow you to switch before finishing your studies. You need to complete your course, or at least 24 months of a Ph.D., before starting a Skilled Worker job. You can apply up to three months before your course ends, but the job's start date must be after your course completion date.

8.3 Innovator Founder

From 25 November 2025, a new provision allows students who have completed their course to switch directly into the Innovator Founder route from within the UK. This is an excellent option for entrepreneurial graduates who have a business idea endorsed by an approved body.

9. The Digital Border: eVisas

The UK is phasing out physical biometric cards (BRPs) in favour of a fully digital system.

• BRP Expiry: All current BRP cards have an expiry date of 31 December 2024. This does not mean your visa expires then, but the card itself does.
• eVisas: You must create a UKVI account to access your "eVisa". This digital status is what you will use to prove your rights to landlords and employers via a "share code".
• Travel: By late 2025, most visa holders will travel using only their passport, which is linked digitally to their visa record. You must keep your passport details updated in your UKVI account to avoid delays at the border.

10. Costs and Fees (November 2025)

• Student Visa Application Fee: £524 (Standard service)
• Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS): £776 per year
• Priority Service: An additional £500 (approximate) for a 5-day decision
• Super Priority Service: An additional £1,000 (approximate) for a next-day decision

11. How Bekenbey Solicitors Can Maximise Your Success

The UK Student Visa route in 2025 has higher costs and stricter rules. Students in London now need over £13,000 in maintenance funds, and taught postgraduates no longer have rights for dependants. Also, the switch to eVisas means applicants need to be comfortable with technology.

Despite these challenges, for those who prepare properly, the UK is still a top choice for education. The key to success is to start early. Make sure your funds are set for the full 28 days, research your course thoroughly for the interview, and know the exact terms of your stay. At Bekenbey Solicitors, we help navigate these challenges so that you can focus on your education instead of red tape.

Do not leave your future to chance. With stricter immigration rules, higher financial requirements, and closer scrutiny of student intentions in 2025, professional help is essential. Contact Bekenbey Solicitors today to schedule a consultation with Dr. Ergul Celiksoy. This is your first step toward a secure and successful academic future in the UK. Whether you plan to move into the Graduate Route, the Skilled Worker pathway, or long-term settlement options, our team will make sure your Student Visa effectively supports your broader immigration journey.

Disclaimer: The information in this article is for general guidance only and does not constitute legal advice. Immigration rules change frequently. Please contact Bekenbey Solicitors for advice specific to your circumstances.