Apply for a visa
To study at the University of Surrey, international students require a Student visa.
Applying for a Student visa outside the UK
The Student visa is part of the Points Based System for immigration (PBS), operated by the Home Office.
It costs £524 to apply for a Student visa from outside the UK. You will also pay £524 for each dependant applying with you (see below for advice on applying with dependants).
To apply for a Student visa you must:
- Have been offered a place on a course
- Have enough money to support yourself and pay for your course
- Be able to speak, read, write and understand English.
For more details and to apply, visit the government visas and immigration website
If you require a Student visa you must pass a points-based assessment and score 70 points when making a visa application:
- 50 points for a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) from the University of Surrey
- 10 points for meeting the financial requirements
- 10 points of meeting the English language requirements
Once you are confident that you meet these requirements you will need to submit an online application form
Depending on your nationality and current immigration status you'll be told whether you need to
a.) Book an appointment at a Visa Application Centre
or
b.) Download the 'UK Immigration: ID Check’ app
Appointment at a Visa Application Centre
If you were required to book an appointment at a Visa Application Centre (VAC), you'll need to
- Attend your appointment in person
- Submit your documents
- Give your fingerprints and photograph
- Select a location to collect your BRP - we recommend that you select Guildford Post Office on the High Street to collect your BRP. The University of Surrey does not have an Alternative Collection Location (ACL)
Using the ID Check app
If you're told that you can use the app, you'll be able to scan your documents as well as providing your picture on your mobile phone or smart device. You won't usually need to attend an appointment in person.
Application Times
Application times can vary according to where you live and the time of year, so make sure that you apply as early as possible to avoid any delays.
You can apply for your Student visa up to six months before the start of your course, assuming you meet all the requirements detailed in this guide.
These include:
- Submitting the correct application form
- Paying the application fee (paying the fees is the responsibility of the applicant, not the University)
- Paying the correct Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) fee - IHS is charged at £776 per academic year of study. You pay the full amount for your course as part of the application. EU/EEA and Swiss nationals may be eligible to have part or all of the IHS refunded. See here for further details
- A valid Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) from the University of Surrey
- Current passport or travel document – details of your current passport must be included on the CAS. If these details have changed in any way since your CAS was issued you will need to send a scanned copy of your new passport to cas@surrey.ac.uk
- Documents to show you meet the financial requirements (see below for further details)
- Original academic and English language documents as listed on your CAS.
You may also require:
- An Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) certificate
- Consent letter from your parents (or guardian) if you are under 18 at the point of your visa application
- Tuberculosis certificate.
Applications under the differential evidence requirements
If you’re from a country listed under the ‘differential evidence requirement’ and applying for your visa from that country, you do not have to provide certain documents with your application including financial and academic evidence. However, you will need to keep these documents to hand in case the UKVI request to see them at any time during the visa application process.
If you’re from a country listed under the differential evidence requirement but applying for your visa through an Embassy/High Commission in a country other than the one that has issued your passport, you will need to provide all the required documents at the point you make your application.
All students are expected to show that they have paid or have evidence of money to pay the first year’s tuition fees or next period of study for returning students.
Students also need to show that they have enough money to cover living costs (maintenance) whilst in the UK. As the University of Surrey is situated outside London, the monthly maintenance requirement is £1,023 and you would need to show maintenance for up to nine months, giving a total of £9,207. For any applications made on or after 2 January 2025, the monthly maintenance requirement will increase to £1,136 (you would need to show maintenance for up to 9 months, giving a total of £10,224).
If you require a visa for a period of less than nine months, please contact International Student Advice by emailing internationalsupport@surrey.ac.uk
For students coming to study a course at the University of 9 months or more, the below formula can used to calculate the amount of money you must hold
First year tuition fees - Tuition fees already paid + £9207 = total funds required for your visa application
Information on your tuition fees liability for the 1st year as well as fees already paid can be found on your CAS.
Students must sign a declaration on the visa application form that states that the money shown at the time of the visa application is available to them for living and studying in the UK and should not be used for anything else.
Documents required
You must provide at least one of the accepted types of financial document as stated in the Points Based System: Student Route Guidance
If you use bank statements from an account in your name, you must provide a statement which covers a period of at least 28 consecutive days. The full amount of money required must have been in the account for at least 28 days and the bank statement you use must have been printed within the last 31 days.
The account can be a joint account as long as your name appears as one of the account holders on the statement.
If you show money in your parents’ bank account then the amount of money they need to have held and length of time they need to have held it for will be the same but you will also need to provide:
- A bank statement in their name(s)
- An original signed and dated letter from your parents confirming that they will support you during your studies
- Your original full birth certificate (or notarised copy) naming yourself and your parents or a certificate of adoption or legal document confirming a legal guardian.
You cannot show money in the account of other relatives, including your spouse, or friends nor can you use funds held in a business account.
If you are not sure which type of document to use or whether it meets the requirements please email internationalsupport@surrey.ac.uk
You will need to make sure that you or your parents’ bank is a financial institution which meets the Home Office financial requirement regulations.
Currencies other than GBP (£)
If the currency shown on the bank statements are not in Pounds Sterling (GBP £), you will need to use the following currency conversion website. Check the amount on the day you submit your visa application as this will be the amount used by the Home Office when deciding your application.
Please remember that exchange rates can rise and fall dramatically, so try to ensure that you have a higher amount than required when first depositing the funds into the account.
Sponsored students
If you are fully funded by an official financial sponsor (British Government, government in your home country or international scholarship agency) you will require an original letter from your official financial sponsor confirming the duration of your sponsorship, that they will cover your full tuition fees and how much they will be paying to cover your living costs.
If the official sponsor is covering all your tuition fees and maintenance, you do not need to submit any further documents. If the sponsorship does not cover all your or your dependant’s financial requirements, you will need submit further documents e.g. bank statements (see above) to cover any shortfall.
Please note that if you are receiving official financial sponsorship from the University of Surrey then we will usually include this information on your CAS and you will therefore not require a letter from the University. If the information is not on your CAS please contact cas@surrey.ac.uk
Translations
Bank statements must be provided in English. Check with your bank whether they can provide bank statements in English if you are using statements from your home country. If your bank does not provide translated statements then you will need to have them translated by an official translator. The translation must include details of the translator’s credentials, contact details, date and signature.
Translations must also to be provided for any other document not in English e.g. academic transcripts, degree certificates, etc.
Low-risk or differential evidence requirements
If you’re from a country listed under the ‘differential evidence requirement’ you do not need to prove you have enough money to support yourself at the point you make your visa application. However, you might be asked to provide this evidence before you get a decision on your application and therefore we recommend that you prepare it in advance. If you do need to provide it, you’ll be contacted by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) after you’ve submitted your application.
The Home Office interviews most Student Visa applicants before granting them immigration permission to come to the UK. Therefore you might be sent an email asking you to attend an interview as part of the application process. You should check your email (including the 'junk' folder) regularly as your application is likely to be refused if you are asked to attend an interview and you do not do so without providing a reasonable explanation.
During your interview, a member of Home Office staff will ask you about your course, where you want to study and your reasons for studying in the UK. The report of the interview will be sent to the caseworker who makes the decision on your visa application. They must be satisfied that you are a genuine student, and that your English language ability is at the correct level, otherwise you might be called for a further interview and/or your application may be refused.
For further information on what to expect if you are called for a credibility interview please read our guidance on MySurrey.
When you receive your visa decision, you will receive instructions on how to register your UKVI account to access your eVisa and use it to prove your immigration status. In the meantime, further information on eVisas can be found here:
Get access to your online immigration status (eVisa)
If you visited a Visa Application Centre to submit your application
When your visa is granted, you will be issued an Entry Clearance vignette in your passport. This will be valid for 30 days* from the date you said you will be arriving in the UK, even if you later change your travel plans. If, for some reason, you are unable to travel within the 30-day period, you should contact internationalsupport@surrey.ac.uk.
If you used the 'UK Visas ID check' app to submit your application
You will not receive a physical document after your application is successful (you will receive an email)
Instead your visa will be entirely digital.
If you need to prove your immigration status at any time, for example when you complete course registration, then you can do so by providing a 'share code' via the Gov.uk website to whoever it is you want to show your visa to.
Applying for a Student visa inside the UK
Applications must be made online, using the Student visa application form available on the GOV.uk site. There are two types of applications:
Once you have completed the online application form, paid the application fee of £524 per person and the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) of £776 per year of study (all fees payable by the applicant not the University) then and registered your details on the UKVCAS site (available at the end of the application form) then it is likely that you will be invited to submit your supporting documents and biometrics via the IDV app.
If for any reason you are unable to use the app then you will need to book an appointment with UKVCAS to submit your biometrics and upload any supporting documents.
You will need to prepare the following documents:
- Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) number from the University of Surrey
- Current passport or travel document (and any expired passports you have used to travel to the UK with)
- Documents to show you have the correct finances (if applicable - please see evidence of finances heading below)
- Academic documents as stated on the CAS (if you are unsure please contact International Student Advice)
You may also require:
- A progress report if you are a PhD student
- An Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) certificate.
If you’re from a country listed under the ‘differential evidence requirement’ you do not have to provide certain documents with your application (e.g. bank statements or academic certificates). You will need to keep these documents to hand in case the UKVI request to see them at any time during the visa application process.
The International Student Advice team can assist you in preparing the necessary documents and completing the application form. It’s recommended that you approach International Student Advice at least 3 months before needing to submit an application to extend or switch your visa. internationalsupport@surrey.ac.uk
You must mention to the International Student Advice team if you have ever:
- Had a UK visa application refused (please provide as much detail as possible - refusal date, reason, and reference number; these can be found on your refusal notice)
- Have overstayed on a UK visa
- Have any other circumstance that you believe may affect the outcome of your visa application (for example, criminal record/offences).
The International Student Advice team strongly recommends that all applications are checked by one of its advisors before being submitted to the Home Office.
Please note, the standard processing time for applications is 8 weeks and on some occasions this process can take longer. While your application is being processed, you will be able to retain your passport and other documentation. However, you must not leave the UK until you receive your new BRP card. If you leave the UK before you have received your BRP card your application will automatically be cancelled and you will not be able to return to the UK to continue your studies. If you have any travel plans close to your time that you need to make a visa application we suggest that you contact International Student Advice.
Whether you need to evidence your finances and how much money you need to show will depend on your individual circumstances.
You do not need to prove the financial requirement if you’ve had a UK visa for 12 months prior to the date of your Student visa application, you are currently in the UK and you are planning on applying for your new visa from within the UK
All other students are expected to show that they have paid or have evidence of money to pay the first year’s tuition fees or next period of study (for extending students).
Students also need to show that they have enough money (maintenance) to cover living costs whilst in the UK. As the University of Surrey is situated outside London, the monthly maintenance requirement is £1,023 (you would need to show maintenance for up to 9 months, giving a total of £9,207). For any applications made on or after 2 January 2025, the monthly maintenance requirement will increase to £1,136 (you would need to show maintenance for up to 9 months, giving a total of £10,224).
If you require a visa extension for a period of less than 9 months, please contact International Student Advice by emailing internationalsupport@surrey.ac.uk.
Students must sign a declaration on the visa application form that states that the money shown at the time of the visa application is available to them for living and studying in the UK and should not be used for anything else.
Documents required
You must provide one of the accepted types of financial document as stated in the Points-based system: Student route.
If you use bank statements from an account in your name, you must provide a statement which covers a period of at least 28 consecutive days. The full amount of money required must have been in the bank for at least 28 days and the bank statement you use must be no older than 31days.
The account can be a joint account as long as your name appears as one of the account holders on the statement.
If you show money in your parents’ bank account then you will also need to show:
- A bank statement in their name(s)
- An original signed and dated letter from your parents confirming that they will support you during your studies
- Your original full birth certificate (or notarised copy) naming yourself and your parents (or certificate of adoption or legal document confirming a legal guardian).
You cannot show money in the account of other relatives, including your spouse, or friends.
If you are not sure which type of document to use or whether it meets the requirements please email internationalsupport@surrey.ac.uk
You will need to make sure that you or your parents’ bank is a financial institution which meets Home Office financial requirement regulations.
Currencies other than GBP (£)
If the currency shown on the bank statements are not in Pounds Sterling (GBP £), you will need to use the following currency conversion website. Check the amount on the day you submit your visa application as this will be the amount used by the Home Office when deciding your application. Please remember that exchange rates can rise and fall dramatically, so try to ensure that you have a slightly higher amount than required
Sponsored students
If you are fully funded by an official financial sponsor (British Government, government in your home country or international scholarship agency) you will require an original letter from your official financial sponsor confirming the duration of your sponsorship, that they will cover your full tuition fees and how much they will be paying to cover your living costs.
If the official sponsor is covering all your tuition fees and maintenance, you do not need to submit your own bank statements. If the sponsorship does not cover all your or your dependant’s financial requirements, you will need submit bank statements to cover any shortfall.
Translations
Bank statements must be provided in English. Check with your bank whether they can provide bank statements in English if you are using statements from your home country. If your bank does not provide translated statements then you will need to have them translated by an official translator. The translation must include details of the translator’s credentials, contact details, date and signature.
This applies also to academic transcripts and degree certificates
Low-risk or differential evidence requirements
If you’re from a country listed under the ‘differential evidence requirement’ you do not need to prove you have enough money to support yourself at the point you make your visa application. However, you might be asked to provide this evidence before you get a decision on your application and therefore we recommend that you prepare it in advance. If you do need to provide it, you’ll be contacted by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) after you’ve submitted your application.
You may be asked to attend a credibility interview as part of the application process. Interviews are normally carried out by a secure telecommunications system (similar to Skype), although some are face-to-face interviews at Home Office centres across the UK. The invitation letter will explain where your interview is, and will offer an opportunity to change to a different centre if it is closer to your home.
During a credibility interview a Home Office member of staff will assess whether you meet the English language requirements, and also if you are a 'genuine student.' If you are asked to attend such an interview you must do so (unless you have a good reason as to why you cannot), otherwise your application is likely to be refused.
For further information on what to expect if you are called for a credibility interview please read our guidance on MySurrey.
Progression from Pre-sessional English (PSE) to a main degree programme
If you use a Student visa to study one of our Pre-sessional English (PSE) programmes, please check the important information below about progressing onto your main course of study depending on the type of CAS you received for your PSE.
If you received a CAS that included both your Pre-sessional English and main degree programme, then as long as you successfully pass PSE, you do not need to make a new visa application. Your existing visa will cover your main degree programme as well.
If you received a CAS for the Pre-sessional English programme only, then after you have successfully passed PSE and received the CAS for your main degree programme, you will need to make an application for a new Student visa. This application can be made from inside the UK. Please check refer to the ‘Applying for a Student visa in the UK’ section above and make an appointment with International Student Advice if you have any questions.
If you use a Student visa to study a Pre-sessional English programme and unfortunately fail to pass, you will not be able to progress onto your main degree course unless a new English language qualification (such as IELTS) can be obtained before the start of the degree programme. This will be the case even if your offer for your main degree programme was previously unconditional.
Additionally, after obtaining a suitable English language qualification, a Student visa application for your degree programme will need to be made from outside the UK. This applies even if you were originally issued a visa that covered both your PSE and main degree programme. Unfortunately, if a student fails to complete PSE, we are required to withdraw sponsorship of any combined Student visa they were previously issued.
Applying for a Student dependant visa
You can bring your family (partner and children) to the UK whilst you study if:
- You are in receipt of a government funded scholarship (covering all fees and living costs), your course is full time, and your course is six months or more in duration, or
- Your course start date is on or after 1 January 2024 and you are studying a PhD or other doctoral qualification (NQF8), or a research-based higher degree which is nine months or more in duration, or
- Your course start date was before 1 January 2024 and you are studying a course at Postgraduate level (NQF7) or higher which is nine months or more in duration.
In addition, you must be over 18, must have sufficient money to support them, and the members of your family must be classified as your dependants under UK immigration rules.
The application fee for a dependant visa is the same as a Student visa. Please see relevant prices above.
The following people can come into the UK as your dependants:
- Your husband or wife (age 18 or over)
- Your civil partner, same-sex partner, or unmarried partner (age 18 or over).
- Your children aged under 18 or a child of 18 years old or more, but already in the UK with immigration permission as a dependant child.
If you have any concerns or doubts regarding your eligibility to bring dependants, please contact the International Student Advice team at internationalsupport@surrey.ac.uk for further guidance.
You can either:
- Apply for your dependants’ visas at the same time as making your Student visa application
or
- Apply for your dependants to join you in the UK once your Student visa has been granted.
Your dependants must always make their applications in their home countries (unless it is an extension of an existing visa).
You must intend to live together as a family and your children must not be leading an independant life (for example married themselves or living away from home and working full-time) and your dependants must not intend to stay in the UK longer than the period of your student visa.
In most circumstances, a child dependant visa will only be granted when both living parents are planning on travelling to the UK.
Fees
- Out of country application: £524 (Standard Service)
- Application made in the UK: £524 (Standard Service).
Whether your dependants need to evidence their finances and how much money they need to show will depend on their individual circumstances.
They do not need to prove the financial requirement if they’’ve had a UK visa for 12 months prior to the date of their dependant visa application, they are currently in the UK and they are planning on applying for their new visa from within the UK.
All other dependants must show that they have the required maintenance in their account (or lead applicant's account) for 28 days consecutively. A dependant must demonstrate £680 for each month of immigration permission they have been/will be granted (up to a maximum of 9 months). Please see information contained under the evidence of finances sections noted above for the type of documents that can be used to prove this
If your dependants are from a country listed under the ‘differential evidence requirement’ they do not need to prove they have enough money to support themselves at the point they make the visa application. However, they might be asked to provide this evidence before they get a decision on their application and therefore we recommend that they prepare it in advance. If they do need to provide it, they’ll be contacted by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) after they’ve submitted the application.
As well as financial documents, dependants must provide:
- A valid passport
- Proof of relationship with the lead applicant, for example, a marriage certificate or birth certificate
- A valid BRP (if applying to extend in the UK).
Permission to work
Your spouse will usually be granted permission to work in the UK without limits. Check the visa carefully to ensure there is no prohibition to work.
Citizenship for dependants
Being born in the UK does not automatically make a baby a British citizen. The baby needs to have a parent with British citizenship or settled status in the UK in order to be born British.
It is legal for a baby born in the UK to remain without making an immigration application. However the baby will need immigration permission to re-enter the UK after any travel abroad. We suggest you contact internationalsupport@surrey.ac.uk if you have any questions relating to this issue.
Visa compliance
As a Student Visa Sponsor, the University of Surrey is responsible for monitoring students during their studies. We will check your passport and valid leave to remain/enter to ensure that you have a visa linked to the University. If you are a holder of a Tier 4 or Student visa currently linked to another University, you will not be able to register. You will need to make an application for a new visa linked to the University of Surrey before registration can take place.
The University has a duty to report to UK Visas & Immigration if you fail to arrive for the start of the course, withdraw from a course, defer or suspend your studies, complete your course before the expected end date or fail to attend without authorisation from your Faculty. This may lead to your visa being curtailed. You must therefore keep in touch with your Faculty, the Visa Compliance team and the International Student Office at all times, particularly if you encounter any problems before or during your studies.
Please see our institutional policy on students subject to immigration control.
Study as a Visitor
If you are applying to come to the University for a period of study of six months or less, for example as part of an exchange programme, a summer school, a modular or distance learning programme or if you are a student returning to the University to complete exams or attend a viva then you may be eligible to apply under the Visitor route.
Please note that for students on courses longer than six months the Visitor route should not be used instead of the Student Visa route and it cannot be used for extended periods through frequent or successive use.
Find more details on the GOV website.
Whether you need to apply for a Visit Visa before you travel to the UK or whether you will be granted the immigration permission when you arrive at the UK border will depend on your nationality.
To check whether you need to apply before you travel or whether you will be granted immigration permission when you arrive at the border follow these step on the government website.
- Select your nationality
- Select 'study'
- Select '6 months or less'.
I’ve been told I’ll need a visa to study in the UK
You’ll need to apply for the visa and wait for a decision before you travel to the UK
It costs £115 to apply for a Visit visa.
- Submit your online application form
- Book an appointment at a Visa Application Centre
- Attend your appointment
- Submit your documents
- Give your fingerprints and photograph.
Application times can vary according to where you live and the time of year, so make sure that you apply as early as possible to avoid any delays. You can apply for a Short-Term Study visa up to three months before you need to come to the UK, but no earlier.
I’ve been told I do not need a visa to come to the UK
If you are from an EEA country, Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea or the United States of America then you can use the UK/EEA immigration lanes and the automatic ‘e-gates’.
If you are not a national of one of these countries then you must go to a border control officer when you arrive in the UK to get a stamp in your passport.
You will need to bring supporting documents with you (see below) and you should carry these in your hand luggage to present to the border control officer.
Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA)
In addition to the above instructions, certain non-visa nationals will also need to obtain an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) if coming to the UK as a Standard Visitor for up to 6 months. The ETA costs £10 and can be applied for here: Apply for an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) - GOV.UK
Currently, only six nationalities require an ETA to travel to the UK – these are Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates.
However, for travel on or after 8 January 2025, this will open up to more nationalities – please check the full list here: Check if you can get an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) - GOV.UK
If your nationality is listed on the above link, please follow the instructions to apply for an ETA.
Whether you can get the Visit visa at the border or whether you need to apply before you travel, all students should prepare the following documents:
- A valid passport with at least 6 months remaining and at least one blank page
- A letter from the University confirming your reasons for coming to the UK and details of your course
- Evidence of where you will be staying while in the UK
- Evidence that you can support yourself financially while in the UK – please note that there is no explicit criteria for how much money an applicant needs to show but we advise that you show you have income or savings of £1,136 per month for every month you plan to stay in the UK
- If you are undertaking study or research on certain subjects you will require an ATAS certificate. You can check whether your course requires an ATAS certificate here
- If you are under the age of 18 you will require a letter from your parents or guardians giving you consent to travel for the purposes of study.
If you need to apply for your visa before travelling you should also provide the following documents where possible (students who can get the visa at the border do not need to bring these documents). You may submit your application without these documents but they will help to show the Home Officer caseworker who will decide your application that you have ties with your home country and a genuine plan to leave the UK before the end of your visa:
- Evidence of your home address in the country you are normally resident in
- Evidence of any family members who still live in the country you are normally resident in
- Evidence of any assets (houses, property, etc.) that you or your family members own in the country you are normally resident in
- Evidence of return flight tickets – The University does not advise that you book flights before receiving a decision on your visa application.
Please note that the Visit visa has the following conditions:
- You will not be eligible to work while in the UK, this includes paid or unpaid positions and any placement that is a part of your course
- You will not be eligible for free medical treatment under the NHS and therefore you should consider taking out health insurance
- The Visit visa cannot be extended nor can you switch to another visa type from within the UK.
If you feel that any of the above conditions may affect your plans while at the University of Surrey then we would recommend you contact internationalsupport@surrey.ac.uk before arriving in the UK on a Visit Visa to discuss your options.