Read on to find out what a Student visa is, how to apply for the first time, and learn about visa requirements and costs. Plus, find out how our Visa Support team can help you when it’s time to submit your application.
A Student visa allows you to live and study a degree-level course in the UK. It is issued by the UK government.
You can only apply for a visa after your offer to study at a UK university has been made unconditional and you have received a Confirmation of Acceptance of Studies (CAS) - there's more about this below.
You must have received your Student visa before you travel to the UK.
To apply for a Student visa, you’ll need:
Depending on your circumstances, you may also need to supply additional evidence and documents, such as:
All documents must be in English.
For more guidance explore our detailed Student visa information. You can also read the Home Office Student visa guidance.
From 9 April 2025 a Student visa will cost £524. As part of your application, you'll also have to pay an Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) costing £776 a year.
The surcharge allows you to use the National Health Service (NHS) to receive healthcare. You'll be able to access a huge range of services and treatments for free, but will need to pay for certain services such as dental treatment, eye tests, and prescriptions.
You apply for your Student visa online.
As part of the process you’ll need to prove your identity.
You can either use the UK Immigration: ID Check app to scan your identity document, or attend a visa application centre to have your photo taken and your fingerprints scanned – this is your biometric information.
You’ll be told what you need to do when you start your application.
The earliest you can apply for a visa is six months before the start of your course: any sooner, and your application may be rejected.
But don’t leave submitting your application until the last minute – remember, you shouldn’t travel to the UK without it.
It should take about three weeks to process your visa application, plus additional time for the return of your passport, if you have to hand it in to support your visa application. If you experience a delay, email our Visa Support team – they can advise you on the best steps to take.
You can only bring your partner or children to the UK on your Student visa if you’re studying a postgraduate research programme.
You can check whether or not your course is a research course from the qualification level listed on your CAS statement.
Yes, you can.
If you’d like to work while studying – to gain experience or extra money – you can work part-time for up to 20 hours per week.
However, you can’t:
At Newcastle, a great way to find part-time work is to register for our Jobs on Campus scheme. Roles include administration, customer service, library assistance, catering and event support.
Our Careers Service can also support you to search for other paid work opportunities, as well as part-time jobs in the city.