Study in UK

Are you planning to study in the UK? Understanding the UK visa fees and associated costs is crucial for international students. In this guide, we break down the estimated expenses for a UK student visa in 2025, including application fees, IHS fees, and additional services.

UK Visa Fees for International Students

1. Standard Visa Application Fees

• £490 (Valid until April 8, 2025)
• £524 (Effective from April 9, 2025)

The UK student visa application fee is subject to change, so it’s essential to stay updated with the latest fee structure before applying.

2. Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) Fees

International students must pay the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) to access healthcare services in the UK. The fees vary depending on the duration and type of study program:

For Master’s Students:

• £1164 (Up to 13 months)
• £1552 (Up to 19 months)
• £1940 (Up to 25 months)

For Bachelor’s Students:

• £2716 (For a 3-year program)
• £3492 (For a 4-year program)

3. Additional Services for Faster Processing

Students who wish to expedite their visa process can opt for additional services:

• Priority Visa: £500 (Faster processing)
• Super Priority Visa: £1000 (Fastest processing)

Payment Modes for UK Student Visa

Payments can be made using:

• Credit Cards / Debit Cards (Visa & Mastercard only) with international transaction support.

Why Choose the UK for Higher Education?

The UK is home to prestigious universities, offering world-class education and research opportunities. Studying in the UK enhances career prospects with globally recognized degrees and diverse job opportunities.

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The university was voted as the number one UK university by StudentCrowd and also finished first for Careers Service and Wifi & Internet

The StudentCrowd University Awards are the only independent awards based entirely on verified student reviews. For the awards, StudentCrowd analysed a total of 24,041 university reviews to select the top 20 across 11 different categories.

The winners are selected based on their average review score over the 24-month period from June 2021 to May 2023. The average review scores are across university, course and accommodation review categories.

In addition to being named the best overall UK university, Greenwich also finished first for Careers Service and Wifi & Internet as well as finishing on the top five for several more categories:

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• 2nd Campus and Facilities
• 2nd Students’ Union
• 4th Personal Tutor
• 5th Clubs and Societies

One student who rated their experience at Greenwich highly said:
“This university provides an exceptional academic experience with knowledgeable professors and a diverse student body. The campus facilities and resources are top-notch, creating a vibrant and supportive community for students.”

The University of Greenwich was also successful in StudentCrowd’s Best Universities in London award earlier this year, ranking #1 according to student reviews.

Source: FE News

Britain said on Tuesday it would remove the right of some international students to bring family members into the country, part of measures to bring down annual net migration which reached a record last year.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has pledged to bring down legal migration and said last week that he was considering a range of options to reduce the high levels of arrivals, part of his promises before an election expected next year.

The interior ministry said the new measures, which target post-graduate students except those on research programmes, will help cut migration “substantially” and stop people from using student visas as a backdoor route to find work in Britain.

“We have seen an unprecedented rise in the number of student dependents being brought into the country with visas,” interior minister Suella Braverman said in a statement.

“This is the fair thing to do to allow us to better protect our public services, while supporting the economy by allowing the students who contribute the most to keep coming here.”

Current rules allow postgraduate students studying courses lasting nine months or longer to bring partners and children to Britain, but the government said the number of dependants had jumped eightfold since 2019, to 136,000 people last year.

The measures, which will be effective from January, come before Thursday’s release of annual net migration estimates for 2022. For the year ending June 2022, net migration reached an all-time high of 504,000.

Numbers should fall to pre-pandemic levels in the medium term, Braverman added, without offering a firm target.

High levels of legal migration, and the additional pressures on struggling public services, has long dominated Britain’s political discourse and was one of the major drivers for the Brexit referendum in 2016.

Britain will also remove the ability for international students to switch out of the student route into work routes before their studies have been completed, the interior ministry said.

Student visas accounted for the largest proportion of migration to the UK with 486,000 issued last year, it added.

Source: Reuters

The United Kingdom last year issued most of their visas to Indian applicants, including a record number of student visas.

British High Commissioner to India Alex Ellis said that out of the 2,836,490 visas the UK issued last year, 25% were issued for Indians and New Delhi also recorded the highest number of student visas.

Ellis said that in 2021, student visas from India saw a 73% increase and work visas saw a a 130% hike.

“Last year UK issued 2,836,490 visas; 25% of those went to India, more than to any other country. Indian nationals received: highest student visas increased by 73% in 2021, most work visas increased by 130%, largest share of visit visas, 30% of the world,” the British High Commissioner tweeted.

Despite reports of curbing immigration, the UK government has taken steps to invite more migrants to the country.

The India-UK Young Professionals Scheme is now open to graduates aged between 18 and 30 and keen to live, study, travel and work for up to two years in either country.

The reciprocal system, green-lit at the end of last year, is pegged as a chance for young people from both countries to “benefit from cultural experiences and inject expertise into both economies”.

A further ballot is to be held later in the year.

“This is an excellent opportunity for India’s brightest young people between the ages of 18-30 to experience the best of the UK,” said the British High Commission in New Delhi as it released the detailed eligibility criteria for the new scheme.

Applicants must also have the relevant educational qualifications – bachelor’s degree level or above – and possess Pound 2,530 (approximately Rs 2.6 lakhs) in savings. They must also not have not have any dependent minor children.

Source: Economic Times

The United Kingdom is planning to restrict international students from bringing immediate family members like spouses and children unless they study “high-value” degrees.

As per a news report published in The Times, only international students studying science, mathematics, and engineering will be able to bring their dependents to the UK.

Foreign students would also be banned from bringing families unless they are studying at a higher level, such as a master’s degree or PhD, the report added.

Britain has registered a near-eightfold rise in the number of family members joining foreign students. As per the immigration figures, nearly 5 lakh students were given visas last year. They were accompanied by 135,788 dependants — spouses and children — up from 16,047 in 2019.

Of these, India became the largest source of students with 161,000 students, including 33,240 dependents, coming to the UK last year.

Asylum backlog hit a record high, with more than 160,000 migrants waiting for decisions on their applications, the report said.

However, the report said that the government is yet to take a final decision on this contentious matter.

Home Secretary Suella Braverman has drawn up proposals to reduce the number, which includes shortening the duration foreign students can stay in Britain post their course.

However, according to the Department of Education, the restrictions will bankrupt UK universities, which depend on foreign students for money.

According to estimates, international students add 35 billion pounds a year to the economy.

According to UK-based New Way Consultancy, foreign students and their dependents contributed to the UK economy not just through fees of 10,000 pounds to 26,000 pounds but also via an NHS surcharge of 400 pounds a year for the student and 600 pounds for a dependent.

It warned that curbs on graduate work visas will force Indian students to shift to countries like Australia and Canada, ultimately leading to the end of the student market in the UK.

Source: Economic Times

Within its latest immigration update, the UK government has confirmed that the dependants of postgraduate Tier 4 international students who get a post-study work visa from 2021 will “have near full access to the UK labour market and can work at any skill level”.

In a statement that provides further details on the government’s plans for a new UK points-based immigration system, the Home Office unveiled more details around the graduate route due to launch next year.

“The graduate route will be launched in summer 2021 to provide international students the opportunity to stay in the UK to work or look for work after they graduate,” the statement explained.

“Undergraduate and master’s degree students will be able to stay for two years under the route, whilst PhD students will be able to stay for three years.”

It also explained that graduates “will be able to switch into other routes in line with the wider approach to switching when applying for leave inside the UK”, including the ability to switch into work routes if they are able to meet the requirements.

“The graduate route will also increase the attractiveness of the UK’s offer to international students, ensuring we remain internationally competitive and assist in our ambition to increase the number of international students in higher education as set out in the International Education Strategy,” the Home Office statement continued.

Regarding dependants, the Home Office statement explained that students will be able to bring dependants “if studying at postgraduate level for at least nine months at a Higher Education Provider with a track record of compliance, or if government-sponsored to study a course longer than six months”.

“Skilled workers and postgraduate students will continue to have the right to bring dependants,” it read, highlighting that a dependant’s application must be linked to that of the main applicant.

“In general dependants have near full access to the UK labour market and can work at any skill level.”

The statement also revealed that it will be extending the period of time in which a student can apply for permission to come to the UK before the start of their course, from three to six months.

“We will also be removing the study time limit for students studying at a postgraduate level, although students will still be expected to be progressing academically in their studies when making a further application in the UK,” it noted.

Source: https://thepienews.com/news/gov-uk-work-rights-for-dependants-of-psw-postgrads/

UK Visa Application Centres in India :

From 6 July UK Visas and Immigration is beginning a phased resumption of services and the following Visa Application Centres in India will be open from the same date.

• Ahmedabad
• Bengaluru (Global Tech Park)
• Chandigarh
• Chennai (see note below)
• Cochin
• Hyderabad
• Jalandhar
• Kolkata
• Mumbai (South)
• New Delhi
• Pune

Customers who were unable to attend an earlier appointment, will be able to log into their account to book a new appointment. Customers who have completed their application on GOV.UK, but didn’t previously book an appointment at the Visa Application Centre, can do so from today.

Customers who wish to visit Chennai Visa Application Centre should return to this page once the local lockdown is lifted, for information on when they will be able to book an appointment.

The remaining Visa Application Centres and Enrolment locations in India will not be open for some time. We will be contacting customers who had previously booked appointments at these centres to arrange for you to complete your application at a different location.

Your safety is our priority, so customers visiting our Visa Application Centres may be asked to observe physical distancing, undergo temperature checks or be required to wear facemasks, subject to local authority guidelines. Please note; customers must have an appointment to visit the Visa Application Centre.

Customers exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms, including fever (higher than 37.3 degrees Celsius), cough or difficulty breathing will be helped to reschedule their application submission for another day and will be advised to seek medical attention at the nearest healthcare facility of their choice.

Please also be aware, that due to restrictions still in place globally, we are not currently able to offer the following services: Super Priority Visa, Priority Visa Service (visit), Priority Visa for settlement or migration Service and Walk-in services.

We strongly advise all customers to purchase Courier Return of their documents, so they do not have to visit the Visa Application Centre again, after a decision is made.

If a decision has been made on your application, and you need to collect your passport from the Visa Application Centre, we will be contacting you to arrange this.

Overseas British Passport Applications
If you’re a British national and you wish to renew or apply for a British passport from India; please visit gov.uk/overseas-passports for details on how to do this.

We will continue to monitor the situation and post updates on this page.

There are new rules in place for entering the UK because of coronavirus (COVID-19). Please check the latest information before you travel at gov.uk/uk-border-control.

Thank you for your understanding.

Source: https://www.vfsglobal.co.uk/in/en/news/re-opening-of-selected-uk-visa-application-centres-in-india

As the Education and Universities Ministers of the four countries of the United Kingdom (UK), England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, we are proud that so many international students choose to study here each year. We are also aware that as thousands of students like you from around the world would usually be considering their next steps, a global pandemic has caused huge disruption to our daily lives.

We want new international students to benefit, as current students do, from a worldclass education from our globally renowned universities and enjoy an unforgettable UK student experience. For this reason, we have worked closely with our universities and are pleased to inform you that they have made, and will continue to make, every effort to enable you to study in the UK next academic year and beyond.

The UK has a highly tolerant, multicultural society, with a rich diversity of cultures, languages, and faiths. International students contribute significantly to this enriching environment – which makes the UK such a brilliant place to study. Our universities consistently do their utmost to ensure international students feel welcome on campuses and beyond; they are clear that everyone with the talent and potential to succeed in higher education has the opportunity to do so, regardless of nationality, ethnic or national origins.

Recruitment for 2020/21 is happening now and our universities are very much looking forward to welcoming you.

UK higher education has a well-established reputation for high quality – our universities are among the best in the world. There are 4 UK providers amongst the top 10 in the world, and 18 providers in the top 100. Our universities also have a outstanding reputation for world-class research, which has been showcased during this global pandemic as many are at the forefront of global efforts to understand the
coronavirus, provide specialist equipment and combat COVID-19.

Our graduates are proven to be among the most desirable in the world. Over 50 serving world leaders have benefited from a British education, and 83% of international graduates surveyed by Universities UK International (UUKi) said their UK degree helped them get their job. A UK education opens doors, wherever you go in the world.

The new Graduate route represents a significant improvement in our offer to international students that will enable you to work, or look for work in the UK, at any skill level for two years after graduation.

The Graduate route will be available to international students who successfully complete their degree at undergraduate level or above at a UK Higher Education Provider with a track record of compliance by summer 2021, or after. International students present in the UK before 6 April 2021 will still be eligible for the two year Graduate route, if you meet the other requirements of the route, even if you begin your course online before travelling to the UK in person. This is a fantastic opportunity for international students that will help you with your first steps into employment after graduation. More information about the Graduate route is available online: https://homeofficemedia.blog.gov.uk/2019/10/14/fact-sheet-graduateimmigration-route/

We are working to ensure that existing processes are as flexible as possible, so that international students who are planning to study in the UK can do so.

We recognise that embarking on a course of study at a UK higher education institution is a significant commitment, which is why we want to reassure international students who are considering study in the UK that they will be able to apply for, and will receive, their Tier 4 visas in good time before commencing their programme of study in the UK.

Despite some COVID-19 disruptions to visa processes and exam timetables, you can still get started with the process. For example, you can familiarise yourself with UK visa requirements and talk to your chosen universities about evidence you may need to supply for a visa application.

We continue to monitor worldwide border, travel and public health restrictions and are resuming normal services as soon as we are able. Some Visa Application Centres have reopened, with more to follow over the coming weeks. We recognise the importance of international students, and as local restrictions lift, and application centres begin to reopen we will look to process applications as quickly as possible.

UK degrees are of a globally high standard and are internationally valuable whatever form they take – whether they are delivered in person or have elements online.

Although admissions processes and modes of teaching might look slightly different this year, the UK’s world-class universities are continuing to recruit international students and you are encouraged to apply even if you are unable to travel to the UK to meet usual timelines. Universities will be flexible in accommodating your circumstances where possible, including if you are unable to travel to the UK in time for the start of the academic year. We have seen some fantastic and innovative examples of high-quality online learning being delivered by institutions across the UK, and the sector is already working hard to prepare learning materials for the summer and autumn terms. If you have any questions about course delivery in 2020/21, we encourage you to contact your chosen or prospective universities – who
are best placed to provide you with institution specific information.

The UK Government, which is responsible for higher education in England, has worked closely with the Office for Students, the independent higher education regulator in England, to ensure students are able to continue their studies, receive good quality provision and work towards a degree that they and future employers value. The Office for Students has, released advice which confirms that it will continue to regulate all registered providers in England, regardless of whether their current provision is online or not. In Scotland, the Scottish Funding Council is working closely with the Quality Assurance Agency and Education Scotland to monitor the quality of the student experience. The Higher Education Funding Council for Wales, as the regulator for higher education in Wales, has similarly published a circular which reaffirms its expectations that providers will continue to meet their obligations for quality and standards. This should provide you with the assurance that the quality of a UK qualification will continue to be internationally valuable whether delivered face-to-face or online or in blended form. A recent survey of UK Universities found that 97% of universities surveyed are planning to provide some form of in-person teaching (in small groups) at the start of term, with 87% stating they will offer in-person social opportunities.

The UK cares immensely about the health and wellbeing of international students, and ensuring they are safe is our number one priority.

We would like to reassure you that all governments across the UK are adhering closely to the most up to date scientific advice and guidance, which is available publicly online. As this changes, our advice has, and will continue to change to match the level of the threat of the virus.

To keep number of transmissions in the UK as low as possible, and to protect UK residents and international students in the UK, all international arrivals are now required to supply their contact and accommodation information and self-isolate in their accommodation for fourteen days on arrival into the UK. We have been clear that universities are responsible for, and must support their students on arrival to the UK. We are proud that UK universities are already demonstrating how seriously they are taking this responsibility, in ensuring that their students are safe and well cared for both upon arrival and for the duration of their stay.

These measures will be reviewed regularly, to ensure they are in line with the latest scientific evidence and remain effective and necessary. International students should not worry – we are working with universities to ensure that you know what to expect before you travel to the UK and are welcomed and supported on arrival by your chosen university.

It is now also a legal requirement to wear a face covering on public transport in England and from 22 June will also be mandatory in Scotland, and across the UK you are encouraged to wear a face covering in other enclosed public spaces where social distancing is not possible and where you will come into contact with people you do not normally meet. The UK government has published the essential health and safety requirements that apply to Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) used in the UK, and clear guidance on appropriate PPE, which is consistent with World Health Organization guidance for protecting from COVID-19. Further information on this, and staying safe outside your home can be found online: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/staying-safe-outside-your-home/staying-safe-outside-your-home

The UK is immensely proud of its amazing National Health Service (NHS). From the very start of the pandemic we have been clear that our priority is to safeguard the health, safety and wellbeing of all students – including international students – in the UK. In addition to support from their universities, NHS services are available to both domestic and international students. International students will always be able to access treatment that clinicians consider is immediately necessary or urgent at no upfront cost. No charges apply to testing for coronavirus, and as an international student in the UK, you will also be able to access specific COVID-19 advice through a new COVID-19 online service www.111.nhs.uk/covid-19.