UK Student Visa for Indians: 2026 Requirements and Funds

The requirements and fees below are as published on the official sources, checked on 2026-10-15. UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) publishes fees in GBP only; there are no official rupee equivalents, so budget with a margin for the exchange rate on the day you pay.

What does a UK Student visa require?

The Student visa is for applicants aged 16 or over with an unconditional offer from a licensed student sponsor. From India, the core requirements are:

• A Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) reference number from your licensed student sponsor
• Money for your course fees for one academic year (up to 9 months), as shown on the CAS
• Money for living costs (see the table below)
• Proof of your knowledge of English, which GOV.UK says is usually required
• A passport valid for your whole stay
• A tuberculosis (TB) test certificate if you will be in the UK for more than 6 months
• Certified translations of any document not in English or Welsh

You apply and pay online on GOV.UK, receive a GWF reference number, and then give fingerprints and a photograph at a VFS Global Visa Application Centre.

How much money must you show?

To work out your figure, multiply the monthly amount by the number of months of your course, stopping at 9, then add the first-year course fees on your CAS. A one-year master's in Manchester and one in London therefore need noticeably different bank balances, even with identical tuition.

What is the 28-day rule, and how do students trip over it?

GOV.UK says the funds must be held for at least 28 days in a row, ending within 31 days of your visa application. Two separate clocks are running:

• The 28-day run: the full amount must sit in the account on every one of 28 consecutive days. A dip below the figure on any single day breaks the run.
• The 31-day window: the last day of that run must fall within 31 days of the date you apply. A run that ended two months ago is too old.

Practical consequences for Indian families: avoid moving money between accounts during the 28 days, do not pay a big tuition deposit out of the same account mid-run unless the balance stays above the required figure, and apply soon after the run ends. Book the VFS appointment with the 31-day limit in mind.

What does the visa cost on top of tuition?

Self-uploading your documents is free. VFS sells optional extras in rupees, such as Document Upload Assistance at INR 2,400 at New Delhi, and states that optional services do not affect the visa decision.

How long does it take, and when can you apply?

GOV.UK gives 3 weeks for Student and Child Student decisions from outside the UK. You can apply up to 6 months before your course starts. There is no state-based jurisdiction: you can choose any Visa Application Centre in India, from Chandigarh, Jalandhar and New Delhi to Cochin, Chennai or Kolkata, and appointments are mandatory. Your passport is returned at the biometric appointment. Successful applicants get an eVisa, viewed in a UKVI account, which you must create and link to your passport before travelling.

VFS does not give status updates while UKVI is deciding. GOV.UK's online service tells you when to expect a decision.

Can you stay on to work after the course?

Through the Graduate visa, applied for from inside the UK after you successfully complete an eligible course, before your Student visa expires. It lasts 2 years if you apply on or before 31 December 2026, and 18 months if you apply on or after 1 January 2027 (3 years for a PhD). The fee is £937 plus the healthcare surcharge, usually £1,035 per year, and decisions usually take 8 weeks. It cannot be applied for from India.

How many Indian student applications are granted?

Home Office statistics for the year ending June 2026 (provisional) show a 96% grant rate for sponsored study visas for Indian nationals: 83,958 granted and 3,846 refused out of 87,804 decisions. The figure covers all Indian nationals applying from outside the UK, not only those applying in India, and it describes past decisions, not your chances. India is also not on the UK's March 2026 visa brake list.

For visitor, work and family visas, see our UK visa guide for Indians, and check the GOV.UK Student visa guide before you pay.

For a pre-departure UK visit or a family member's visitor visa, Yatra For Fun's India office in Gurugram prepares flight reservations, hotel bookings, itineraries and cover letters, with packages from INR 1,000 (flight reservation) to INR 3,000 (reservation, hotel, itinerary and cover letter). WhatsApp +91 95230 91018 or use our contact page.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need IELTS for a UK Student visa?

GOV.UK says Student visa applicants usually need to prove their knowledge of English. Ask your licensed student sponsor which proof applies to your course before you apply.

Can I pay the UK Student visa fee in rupees?

UKVI publishes its fees in GBP only, with no official INR equivalents. The Student visa fee is £558 and the healthcare surcharge £776 per year; only VFS optional services are priced in INR.

Do Indian students need a TB test for a UK visa?

GOV.UK's document list includes a tuberculosis (TB) test certificate for anyone coming to the UK for more than 6 months. Most degree courses run longer than that, so plan the test before your application.

Is there a UK study visa for children under 16?

Yes, the Child Student visa covers ages 4 to 17 with an unconditional offer from a licensed Child Student sponsor, usually an independent school. The fee is £558 and decisions usually take 3 weeks from outside the UK.