Many students have always aspired to study abroad and receive better education to prepare for their future careers. The UK has always been a dream destination for many Hong Kong students. In addition to comparing UK schools, students should also understand the cost and required documents for a UK student visa as early as possible. Have students missed the application deadline for a UK student visa? To help students complete the visa procedures, below is a summary of the required documents and costs for a UK student visa, so that students do not miss this opportunity.
What documents are required to apply for a UK student visa?
Most students planning to attend a university in the UK have likely already applied through UCAS (Universities & College Admission Service). If a student is successfully admitted to a university, they must apply for a student visa six months before the start of their program in order to enroll smoothly. According to information on the UK government website, the following documents are required for a UK student visa:
- A valid passport or travel document
- The original and a copy of the Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) from the university
In addition to the above two documents, applicants must also prepare the following documents:
- Bank statements to prove that the student has enough funds to pay for tuition and living expenses (such as parents' or guardians' bank accounts)
- Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) certificate (only applicable to certain master's and doctoral programs)
- Valid consent form from parents or guardians if the applicant is under 18 years old
- Relevant documents to prove the relationship between the applicant and the guardian if the applicant is under 18 years old, such as a birth certificate and the guardian's ID card
- Tuberculosis (TB) Test Certificate
- Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) test results
- Proof of Overseas Education Allowance (OEA), if applicable."
During the application process, biometric data such as fingerprints and personal photos will be collected by the visa application center in real-time for the purpose of applying for Biometric Residence Permits (BRPs). Therefore, applicants must go to the visa application center in person. If an applicant cannot attend the appointment as scheduled, they must reschedule their appointment for a UK student visa.
How long does a UK student visa take?
According to information on the UK government website (GOV.UK), overseas applicants for a UK student visa can apply as early as six months before the start of their course, and the application is expected to be completed within three weeks or up to 90 working days (about four months) at the longest. Applicants will be notified of the application result once the process is completed.
If a student plans to start their course in 2023, they should have completed their UCAS application by January 25, 2023, or earlier. If a student is successfully admitted to a university, they should apply for a UK student visa as soon as possible. Although the UK government can complete the process within three weeks, the time required may be longer than originally expected if the applicant waits until the second round of applications. In the past, some applicants have delayed their enrollment due to not obtaining a student visa before the start of their course.
Of course, if a student has an urgent need to complete a UK student visa in a short period of time, the UK government offers standard and premium service. If applying for a standard service, applicants can receive a notification within five working days or check the application result through the UK Immigration ID Check app. The premium service can provide a notification as soon as the next day after the application date, or within two working days if the next day is a weekend or UK public holiday.
The UK student visa involves costs
The general cost of a standard UK student visa mainly involves the following three items:
- Application fee
- National Health Insurance (NHS) surcharge
- Tuberculosis (TB) test fee
The application fee for a UK student visa is £363 (approximately HKD 3,600). If the applicant applies for a fast-track service, an additional fee of £500 (approximately HKD 5,000) is required, while a premium service fee is £800 (approximately HKD 8,000). Since 2015, the UK government has required students to pay the NHS surcharge, which is £470 (approximately HKD 4,700) per year. In addition, the UK government also requires applicants to submit a tuberculosis test certificate, which costs around HKD 1,200. Additionally, applicants must submit passport photos and pay for other miscellaneous fees, which typically range from HKD 200 to HKD 300. If the applicant applies for the most basic student visa, the total cost is estimated to be HKD 10,000 to HKD 11,000, while those who choose the premium service will need to pay around HKD 20,000.
If a student is missing some documents, they can follow the guidance of the visa center staff to submit relevant documents later. If the applicant misses the UK student visa application deadline, they will have to reapply and pay more for the UK student visa. Therefore, students should double-check everything before applying to avoid delaying the application process.
