Applying for a Student Route visa

You will need to use a personal email address on your visa application, as the Home Office will contact you using the email you provide.

Please do not use a QQ email address (widely used in mainland China), as this service can be unreliable for receiving international messages and may lead to delays or missed communication.

As part of your application, you'll need to prove your identity. How you do this depends on where you're from and the type of passport or resident permit you have.

You'll either:

1. Use the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check' app to scan your identity document - you'll also create or sign in to your UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account. Follow the instructions listed on the Using the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check' app webpage.
2. Use a UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS) service point to give your fingerprints and a photograph (biometric information) – this is to get a biometric residence permit.

You'll be told what you need to do when you apply for your student visa. 

The documents you can provide as proof you can pay your fees and maintenance vary depending on how you are going to be financed. We run through the different financial options below, with information on the supporting documents required.

Government sponsorship

If you are officially financially sponsored by your government, you will need to submit an up-to-date Financial Sponsor letter.

Educational loan

If you are receiving an educational loan, you will need a loan letter confirming the following:

• The loan is regulated by the appropriate body
• There are no conditions on release of funds
• The funds will be made available to you before you travel to the UK

The loan must be provided by your national government, state or regional government. Alternatively, it could be provided by a government sponsored student loan company or be part of an academic or educational loans scheme.

Self-funded

If you are self-funded, you can show your personal bank statement or letter. You can also show a bank statement or letter of your parents' bank account or of a joint bank account showing your name and another name.

The required funds must be held in the account for 28 consecutive days prior to submitting your Student Route visa application. The balance must not fall below the required amount on any day in the 28-day period. The date of the closing balance must not be earlier than 31 days from the date you submit your student route visa application.

Using your parents’ bank statement or letter

If you use your parents' bank statement/letter, you will also be required to show your original Birth Certificate. A consent letter from your parents confirming you can use their funds for your tuition fees and living costs is needed too.

Maintenance fees

You must show maintenance of £1,529 per month up to 9 months (£13,761), plus any unpaid tuition fees for the next academic year. To find out your course fee, visit the course page on our website. If you are repeating modules only, check with the finance team what your tuition fees are.

You can find information on the finance team on this webpage.

Overseas currency

If you are using an overseas currency, you will need to provide a currency conversion from OANDA and convert the money into (GBP British Pound). Upload the conversion page to show the lowest balance in the 28-day period. You will also need to upload the closing balance of your bank statement converted into (GBP British Pound) on the day you submit your Student Visa application. 

When applying for a Student Route visa, you will have to upload scanned copies of your original documents. You are required to have all your original supporting documents in date when you submit the application. 

If any documents are not in English, you are required to have the documents officially translated into English. The original must be accompanied by a fully certified translation by a professional translator/translation company.  

This translation must include:

• Details of the translator/translation company's credentials
• Confirmation that it is an accurate translation of the original document
• Translator/translation company's contact details

It must also be dated and include the original signature of the translator or an authorised official of the translation company. 

International students from certain countries do not have to upload evidence of their qualifications or finances when they initially submit their student visa application. 

These students are covered under the UK Government’s differential agreement. 

If you qualify under differential evidence, the Home Office can ask to see your evidence at any time during the application process. If you are asked to provide evidence and fail to provide it by the deadline, your student visa application may be refused. 

Nationals from countries covered by differential agreement 

The list below outlines nationals from the countries who do not have to upload evidence of their qualifications as part of the differential agreement.

Please visit the GOV.UK website for a full list of countries that require differential evidence.

The list also includes nationals whose passport shows they are registered as a British National (Overseas) or whose passport was issued by the competent authorities of Hong Kong SAR, Macau SAR or Taiwan.