Study in the United Kingdom

The United Kingdom is one of the world's most popular study destinations: in the year to June 2026 the Home Office granted 365,868 study visas to main applicants. UK degrees are often shorter than those elsewhere, which can make the total cost of a qualification noticeably lower.

Types of universities and colleges

• Universities award their own degrees.
• Colleges and private providers also run degree courses, often awarded by a partner university.
• Whichever you choose, you can only get a Student visa if you study with a licensed student sponsor, so check the government's register of student sponsors before you apply.

Degrees and how long they take

• Bachelor's degree: usually 3 years in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and 4 years in Scotland. Medicine and dentistry often take 5 years or more.
• Integrated master's: a bachelor's and master's combined in one course, lasting at least 4 years.
• Taught master's: usually 1 year full time.
• PhD (doctorate): usually 3 to 6 years.

How much it costs

Universities set their own fees for international students, and these vary by subject as well as by university. For 2027 entry, for example, the University of Chester charges £15,450 a year for most undergraduate courses, while the University of Cambridge charges from £30,798 for subjects such as law and economics up to £70,554 for medicine.

On top of your first year's fees, you must show that you have money for living costs, and you need to have held it for at least 28 days in a row. The amount depends on when you apply:

• Applications made up to 29 November 2026: £1,529 a month in London and £1,171 a month elsewhere in the UK, for up to 9 months.
• Applications made from 30 November 2026: £1,570 a month in London and £1,203 a month elsewhere (£14,130 for London or £10,827 outside London for 9 months).

Applying

• Most courses start in September or October, and some universities also take students in January.
• Undergraduates apply through UCAS, choosing up to five courses. For 2027 entry, the deadline for Oxford, Cambridge and most medicine, dentistry and veterinary courses was 15 October 2026; for most other courses it is 13 January 2027 at 18:00 UK time. Postgraduates usually apply directly to each university instead.
• You need English at level B2 for degree-level study. Only nationals of certain countries are exempt, so check the official list. You can prove your level with a Home Office-approved Secure English Language Test, or your university may assess your English itself.
• Once you accept an unconditional offer, your university will give you a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) reference number, which you need for your visa application.

Getting your Student visa

1. Get your CAS from your university.
2. Check whether you need a tuberculosis (TB) test. Applicants from some countries must take one at a Home Office-approved clinic.
3. Apply online up to 6 months before your course starts, paying the £558 visa fee and the Immigration Health Surcharge of £776 for each year of your visa.
4. Prove your identity. Some master's and doctoral courses also require an ATAS certificate.
5. Wait for a decision, which usually takes about 3 weeks. If you are approved, you will get an eVisa, a digital record of your immigration status.

If your course lasts longer than 6 months, you can arrive up to 1 month before it starts.

Working while you study

• Degree level and above: up to 20 hours a week during term time.
• Below degree level: up to 10 hours a week during term time.
• During official holidays you can work full time. You cannot, however, be self-employed or work as a professional sportsperson or sports coach.

Working after you graduate

Once you have successfully finished a bachelor's degree, a postgraduate degree or another eligible UK course, the Graduate visa lets you stay on to work in most jobs, look for work or be self-employed. You must apply from inside the UK before your Student visa runs out. The fee is £937, plus the Immigration Health Surcharge of £1,035 for each year. How long you can stay depends on when you apply:

• Applications made on or before 31 December 2026: 2 years (3 years for PhD graduates).
• Applications made on or after 1 January 2027: 18 months for bachelor's and master's graduates, while PhD graduates still get 3 years.

Recent rule changes

• Dependants (in force since January 2024): most students can no longer bring a partner or children. Only those on a PhD or research-based postgraduate course, or government-sponsored students, can bring family members.
• Shorter Graduate visa (confirmed, starts 1 January 2027): the standard length falls from 2 years to 18 months, though PhD graduates are not affected.
• International student levy (planned, not yet in force): from 1 August 2028, universities in England would pay £925 a year for each international student above an allowance of 220 students. The law still needs Parliament's approval. Students would not pay it directly, but universities may pass the cost on; the University of Chester, for instance, says its international fees will rise by £925 a year from 2028/29.