International students who wish to study in the UK need to obtain a Tier 4 Visa. Read through the article to get complete information about UK Tier 4 visa, along with eligibility criteria, application process, documents checklist, and more.
The UK tier 4 visa is one of the most important admission requirements for students planning to study in the UK. To work and live in the UK, you need to apply using the points-based system which became effective from January 1, 2021. Under this system, individuals must obtain 65 – 70 points to be able to study or work in the UK.
Table of Contents
- UK Visa Tiers
- Eligibility Requirements for UK Tier 4 Visa
- UK Tier 4 Visa: Application Process
- How to Apply?
- UK Tier 4 Visa: Processing Time & Priority Service
- Validity and Extension for UK Tier 4 Visa
- UK Tier 4 Visa: Rejection Reasons & How to Avoid Them
UK Visa Tiers
The Tier Visa system in the United Kingdom is a point-based visa category system. To be able to qualify for a visa, applicants must score a certain number of points on an assessment test. The test takes into account factors including age, English language fluency, and other factors relevant to the Tier under which you apply. Traveling to the UK under a Tier category often validates you for UK settlement or even UK citizenship. Below are the five types of UK visa tiers:
- Tier 1: High-Value Migrants
- Tier 2: Skilled Workers
- Tier 3: Unskilled Workers
- Tier 4: Adult Students
- Tier 5: Temporary Workers
Eligibility Requirements for UK Tier 4 Visa
Tier 4 Student visa is issued to students who are at least 16 years old and want to pursue higher education in the UK. While the eligibility is calculated on the point-based system, you must fulfill the following requirements:
Course Selection & CAS
Before applying for a UK student visa, it is mandatory for candidates to apply for an eligible course. As a Tier 4 (General) visa applicant, you can pursue one of the following courses:
- A full-time program leading to a qualification equal to or higher than NQF level 6 (graduate diploma or graduate certificate, bachelor's degree or equivalent)
- A part-time program leading to a qualification equal to or higher than NQF level 7 (postgraduate certificate or PG diploma, Master's degree or equivalent)
- A full-time, minimum 15 hrs per week day-time study program leading to a qualification equal to or higher than NQF level 3 (higher education diploma, IB diploma, or equivalent)
- A recognized Foundation program, for postgraduate doctors or dentists.
- An English language program at Level B2, that is, Independent user, leveling up to a proficient user.
- Once you have been admitted to a university approved by UK Visa and Immigration (UKVI), you will receive a reference number called a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS).
Note: You must apply for the UK student visa within 6 months of receiving the CAS.
Knowledge of English
As a part of their academic assessment, your chosen Tier 4 Sponsor, i.e, a UK university will assess your level of English language competence as an integral part of their academic evaluation for the applied course. However, for the Tier 4 student visa, you must prove your knowledge of the English language by passing a SELT (Secure English Language Test) with CEFR Level B1 and B2.
Availability of Funds
As a Tier 4 UK Student visa applicant, you are required to provide evidence of funding to pay for your tuition fees course, and monthly accommodation expenses, for up to at least a year. At the time of visa application, you must show that you have:
- At least 12006 GBP (11,97,617 INR) to cover your Year-1 course fees (calculated with an approximation of 1,334 GBP(1,33,068 INR) per month)
- Received official financial sponsorship, and
- Enough funding to cover the remaining course fees and living costs
The overall amount of funding you are required to demonstrate depends upon the category you are applying under, the duration of your course, your university, and your living arrangements in the UK. As evidence of available funds, you must use one of the following:
- Cash funds in saving or current bank.
- A loan letter
- Official financial sponsorship letter
- Other accounts such as bonds, shares, overdrafts, etc cannot be used as evidence of funding.
Immigration Health Service Charge
All UK student visa applicants have to pay a health surcharge of 300 GBP per year to gain access to the UK’s National Health Service. The students have to pay it at the time of submitting their visa application online.
UK Tier 4 Visa: Application Process
International students seeking Tier 4 student visa are required to apply at least three months before the commencement of the program. The overall UK student visa process is mentioned below.
Documents Required
Students must provide the following documents to apply for UK Tier 4 visa:
- Details of passport
- Tuberculosis test results
- Criminal record certificate
- Proof of financial sufficiency that you have enough funds for your entire period of stay in the UK.
- Parents’ or legal guardian letters if you are under 18.
- Recent passport size photograph
How to Apply?
Below is the step-by-step procedure to apply for UK Tier 4 visa:
- Step I: Enroll for Biometrics at a visa application center to obtain a Biometric Residence Permit.
- Step II: Complete an Online Application Form
- Step III: Submit Tuberculosis Certificate with a “negative” result.
- Step IV: Pay the visa processing fee of 348 GBP.
- Step IV: Undertake an interview
Generally, the UK student visa outcomes are notified within the 3 weeks of application.
UK Tier 4 Visa: Processing Time & Priority Service
Your application starts processing once you submit the biometrics and ends after the collection of your passport. As mentioned, the entire process takes about 3 weeks, wherein, 1 week is 5 working days. However, if you want to get the Tier 4 student visa decision on priority, you can contact the visa application center for the same. There are two priority visa collection services available:
- Collection within 24 hours: 800 GBP + 348 GBP
- Collection within 5 days: 500 GBP + 348 GBP
Note: Currently, these priority services for UK visa are available in limited countries. Fortunately, India is one of them.
Validity and Extension for UK Tier 4 Visa
Your Tier 4 student visa is generally valid for the duration of the program with an additional four months to wind up your studies. The UKVI also offers students a provision to extend their Tier 4 visa, in case they need extra time to complete their course or start a new one. To be eligible for an extension of a UK student visa, students must:
- Be present in the UK at the time of application
- Fulfill the eligibility requirements for Tier 4 visa
- Have a sponsor to fund full or partial studies. It can be a Tier 4 Sponsor UK University, an overseas provider, or an independent school
To apply for an extension, students need to complete an online application before their current visa expires, but a minimum before 3 months of course commencement on CAS. Furthermore, you need to pay additional charges for a UK study visa extension, which will include
- 475 GBP for extension
- Immigration health surcharge of 300 GBP per year
- 19.20 GBP for Biometric verification
UK Tier 4 Visa: Rejection Reasons & How to Avoid Them
A successful visa application for the UK is not luck, but a result of good preparation. You must be well prepared in advance and do your best so that the application does not get rejected. Some of the major reasons why your Tier 4 student visa may get rejected are:
- Missing Documents
- Failure to Meet Financial Requirements
- Incorrect Document Format
- Genuine Student Interview
Missing Documents
The students must go through the visa policy guidance and must be prepared with all the documents in advance. Every document provided has to be original. In case you are unable to provide any original document, then you must provide an explanation letter along.
Failure to Meet Financial Requirements
Every student has to show up to 1,334 GBP per month to stay in the UK to cover their study and living expenses. The students have to show this amount for their entire course duration.
Incorrect Document Format
The students must provide the documents in the given format. Every translated document shall contain the date, name, signature, and contact details of the translator.
Genuine Student Interview
In the interview, the applicants are asked a number of questions about their choice of course and future plans. The students are required to be very clear about their thoughts and must be able to convince the interviewers about their choice of studying in the UK.
