🇬🇧 UK Student Visa 2026 — Complete Guide
Requirements, maintenance funds, work rights, and the Graduate Visa pathway for international students in the UK. Updated for 2026 Home Office rules.
⚠️ 2026 Alert: Dependants Banned for Most Postgrad Students
Since January 2024, most taught postgraduate students (MSc, MA, MBA) cannot bring family members to the UK. Only PhD/research students and government-sponsored students are exempt.
UK Student Visa — Key Requirements 2026
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| CAS Number | Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies from your university |
| Maintenance Funds — Outside London | £1,171/month for up to 9 months = £10,539 total |
| Maintenance Funds — London | £1,529/month for up to 9 months = £13,761 total |
| English Language | IELTS Academic 5.5–7.5 depending on course (SELT accepted) |
| ATAS Certificate | Required for certain sensitive subjects (science, tech, engineering) |
| Tuberculosis Test | Required if applying from certain countries including India, Pakistan, Nigeria |
| IHS Surcharge | £776/year healthcare surcharge (must pay upfront for full visa duration) |
| Processing Time | 3 weeks inside UK, 3–8 weeks outside UK |
💼 Work Rights on UK Student Visa
| When | Hours Allowed |
|---|---|
| During term time (undergrad/postgrad) | 20 hours/week maximum |
| During official vacation periods | Full time (no limit) |
| Placement / work placement year | Full time if part of course |
| Dependant family members (PhD only) | Full time allowed |
🛤️ UK Study → PR Pathway
Step 1: Complete your UK degree (minimum bachelor's or master's)
Step 2: Apply for Graduate Visa — 2 years (undergraduate/master's) or 3 years (PhD)
Step 3: Find a job meeting the Skilled Worker salary threshold for your occupation (see current GOV.UK thresholds)
Step 4: Switch to Skilled Worker Visa
Step 5: Build continuous UK residence toward Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) — currently 5 years, though this is under active government reform (see warning below)
Step 6: After 1 year ILR → apply for British citizenship
Total timeline: 7–10 years from student visa to citizenship under current rules
⚠️ 2026 Update: The UK is proposing to extend the standard ILR qualifying period from 5 to 10 years under a new "Earned Settlement" model, with salary-based fast tracks for high earners. The consultation closed February 12, 2026, and as of a Westminster Hall debate shortly after, the Immigration Minister confirmed the government intends to proceed with the model rather than keep the status quo — the Home Secretary has reportedly targeted implementation in autumn 2026. Critically, the proposed changes would apply not only to future applicants but retrospectively to people already in the UK who haven't yet secured ILR, including anyone currently partway through a student-to-Skilled-Worker pathway like the one below. Transitional arrangements for people already partway to settlement remain genuinely undecided. Read the full breakdown of confirmed vs proposed changes →
By Source Country — Extra Requirements
| Country | Extra Needed | Watch Out For |
|---|---|---|
| 🇮🇳 India | TB test, bank statements 28 days before application | Funds must be held 28 consecutive days |
| 🇨🇳 China | ATAS certificate for STEM subjects, TB test | ATAS delays can take 20+ working days |
| 🇳🇬 Nigeria | TB test, detailed sponsor letter, home ties evidence | High refusal rates — strong financial proof essential |
| 🇵🇰 Pakistan | TB test, biometrics at VFS | Processing times longer than average |
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I bring my spouse or children on a UK student visa?
Only if you're on a PhD/research programme or a government-sponsored scholarship. Since January 2024, taught postgraduate students (MSc, MA, MBA) and undergraduates cannot bring dependants — this was a major policy tightening and remains in force for 2026.
Does the £776/year IHS surcharge match my course length exactly?
Not necessarily — you pay for the full duration of the visa granted, not just your course dates. UKVI typically adds roughly 1 month before your course starts and 2–4 months after it ends, so a 2-year course can result in IHS being charged for slightly more than 2 years, rounded up to the nearest 6-month period.
Do my maintenance funds need to be in my own bank account?
Not necessarily — funds can be held by you or by a parent/legal guardian acting as your financial sponsor, but either way they generally need to have been held for a consecutive 28-day period before you apply, and the account statement must clearly show the account holder's name.
What happens after the Graduate Visa expires if I haven't found a qualifying job?
You'd need to either switch to another eligible visa route, leave the UK, or in some cases apply for a further period of leave if you're pursuing further study — the Graduate Visa itself cannot be extended once its 2-year (or 3-year PhD) term ends.
Do I need to show funds for my whole 3-year or 4-year course, not just year one?
No — this is a common misunderstanding. UKVI only assesses your first year's tuition plus up to 9 months of maintenance funds at the initial visa application, regardless of how long your course runs. You should still plan realistically for how you'll fund later years, but the formal financial requirement for the visa itself doesn't multiply by your total course length.