UK Student Visa Requirements

Document Checklist

The documents listed below are generally required for a UK Student Visa application. Individual requirements may vary depending on your nationality, the type of course, and your personal circumstances. Vortex Ease will provide you with a personalised document checklist during your consultation.

Identity & Travel Documents

• Valid passport - your passport should have at least 6 months of validity beyond your intended travel date to the UK
• Passport-size photograph meeting UKVI's specified dimensions and quality requirements

Academic Documents

• University or college offer letter confirming your accepted place on a course
• CAS reference number issued by your UKVI-licensed institution
• Transcripts and certificates from previous academic qualifications (as required by your institution or UKVI)

Financial Evidence

• Bank statements showing you hold the required amount of funds for the stipulated holding period (typically 28 consecutive days)
• Official financial sponsor letter (if your fees and living costs are being funded by a third-party sponsor such as a government body or employer)

English Language

• Approved English language test certificate (such as IELTS Academic, TOEFL iBT, or PTE Academic) showing scores that meet UKVI's minimum requirements, unless an exemption applies

Financial Requirements

To meet the financial requirement, you must demonstrate that you can cover both your tuition fees and your living costs for the duration of your course (up to a maximum of 9 months of living costs). The funds must generally be held in your account - or an official sponsors account - for a consecutive 28-day period ending no more than 31 days before your application date. The exact amounts required are set by UKVI and are subject to change. For courses in London, a higher living cost figure applies compared to outside London. Vortex Ease will always advise you on the current figures relevant to your application.

Acceptable forms of financial evidence include bank statements from a regulated financial institution, official financial sponsor letters, and government or international scholarship award letters. Offshore funds, money held in fixed-term bonds, or overdraft facilities are generally not acceptable. Our team will review your financial evidence before submission to avoid common pitfalls.

English Language Requirements

For most UK Student Visa applications, you must provide a Secure English Language Test (SELT) result. This is because UKVI requires evidence from specific approved testing centres. The minimum scores required depend on your course level and institution requirements. Your university curriculum may set higher requirements than UKVI's minimum, so always check both.

• IELTS Academic (from an approved SELT provider): typically a minimum of 5.5 overall with no component below 5.5 for degree-level study, though university requirements often specify higher scores
• TOEFL iBT and PTE Academic (Pearson) are also accepted from approved SELT providers - scores must meet both UKVI minimums and your institution's stated entry requirements
• Nationals of majority-English-speaking countries (as listed by UKVI, including Australia, Canada, New Zealand, USA, and others) are generally exempt from the English language requirement. Applicants who have completed a degree taught in English at a UKVI-listed institution may also be exempt.