uk visa phd student

• Doctoral Extension Scheme

Doctorate Extension Scheme

If you have almost finished a UK PhD or other doctorate qualification this scheme allows an additional 12 months of Tier 4 immigration permission in which to gain experience in your specific field.

Please note from 9am on 1 July 2021, DES will merge into the new Graduate route under which a PhD graduate can apply for permission to stay in the UK to work for 3 years. You can find out more about this on the "Graduate Route" page on our website. If you have been granted a DES visa, you will not be eligible to apply under the Graduate route.

On this page you can find information about:

Eligibility

• Expected award dates
• University monitoring and reporting

Application

• Tier 4 responsibilities

To qualify for the Doctorate Extension Scheme, a student must:

• Hold a valid Tier 4 (General) or Student visa to study a programme that leads to a PhD qualification
• Be studying with an UK HEI that holds a Tier 4 sponsor licence
• Have not yet completed their programme
• Have a CAS which confirms that the sponsor expects them to successfully complete the programme and that they will provide sponsorship during the 12 months that you are on the scheme
• Apply for the visa from within the UK
• Apply for the Doctorate Extension Scheme visa no more than 60 days before the expected award date on the CAS

Expected award date

Your expected award date will be the 28th day of the month in which you submit your final thesis (after your viva and corrections). For example, should you plan to submit your final thesis in the first week of April, the expected award date on your CAS will be 28th April and you will be required to submit your visa application no more than 60 days before 28th April.

What if your current visa expires before your expected award date?

If, once you have had your viva, you have corrections to complete but your current Tier 4 visa is not long enough to allow you to complete them, you will need to apply for a Tier 4 visa extension.

University monitoring and reporting duties

As your sponsor, the University has certain duties and responsibilities which it is required to adhere to by the Home Office. The University will need to have at least 2 points of contact with you during the length of your DES visa to ensure that you are meeting the conditions of the visa. If the University finds that you have failed to meet the conditions of the visa or if you fail to make contact with your nominated Engagement Monitor, we will report this to the Home Office, withdraw sponsorship of your visa and you will be required to leave the UK.

Working on the Doctorate Extension Scheme

If your application is successful, you will be granted a Tier 4 Doctorate Extension Scheme visa for a period of 12 months from the expected end date on your CAS.  When you have been awarded your PhD, you can work almost without restriction. As long as your award has been confirmed, you can also start working without the usual Tier 4 restrictions while your application is still pending with the Home Office.  The only restrictions are that you cannot work as a doctor or dentist in training, or as a professional sportsperson or sports coach. 

You will need a new CAS number issued by UCL in support of your DES application. To obtain this, you will need to complete the 

DES CAS Request Form

Please allow five working days to receive an email confirming that your form has been received. You need to ensure you meet the following conditions before submitting the DES CAS request form:

you have reached the viva stage of your research programme and are ready to submit your final thesis

you have agreed an expected award date with your research supervisor

Once you have received your DES CAS, please make an appointment with the Student Immigration Advice Team by using the  contact form . They will be able to assist you with your visa application. 

Applicants must hold a valid Tier 4 student visa as well as  £2668 for 28 days at the time of making the application.   You will also need to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge of £470 to cover the 12-month period of the Doctorate Extension visa. The 12-month Tier 4 Doctorate Extension visa will begin on the PhD date of award. Applications submitted after the date of award will be refused. The online  application form is available  here.

Tier 4 Doctorate Extension Scheme student responsibilities

Once you have obtained your new Tier 4 Doctorate Extension Scheme visa, please take it to the Student Centre (in the Chadwick Building) so scans can be taken for our records. As your sponsor, we are required to hold copies of your DES visa.

By applying for sponsorship from UCL for the DES visa, you must read and understand the following:

You will ensure that you submit your Doctorate Extension Scheme visa application no more than 60 days before your expected award date. This must also be before your current Tier 4 visa expires

• Your DES visa will expire 12 months after your expected award date
• You will take your DES Biometric Residence Permit to the Student Centre to be scanned onto your student record
• You will keep UCL updated of any changes to your contact details while you hold a DES visa
• You will notify UCL if you permanently leave the UK – this will be reported to UKVI and your visa will be curtailed
• You will promptly respond to contact that is made by your DES Engagement Monitor – if you fail to do so, this will be reported to UKVI and your visa will be curtailed
• If, after you have applied for the DES visa, you fail to complete or fail your PhD we will report this to UKVI and your visa will be curtailed
• The work conditions of the DES visa will not apply until you have submitted an application to the Home Office and the award of your PhD has been confirmed. There are no restrictions on work for DES migrants (except for work as a doctor or dentist in training or as a professional sports person or coach)
• UCL may withdraw sponsorship of your DES visa should it be made aware that you are in breach of the conditions of the scheme

Skip to content. | Skip to navigation

Personal tools

• Log in/Register Register

https://www.vitae.ac.uk/doing-research/are-you-thinking-of-doing-a-phd/how-to-apply-for-a-doctorate-in-the-uk-and-get-funding/when-and-how-to-make-an-application-for-a-uk-doctorate-1/applying-for-a-visa-to-come-to-the-uk-for-doctoral-research

This page has been reproduced from the Vitae website (www.vitae.ac.uk). Vitae is dedicated to realising the potential of researchers through transforming their professional and career development.

• Vitae members' area

Applying for a visa to come to the UK for doctoral research

The rules about applying for UK visas can change, so you will need to check carefully before you apply. UKCISA – the UK Council for International Student Affairs and EURAXESS UK provide good information about visa issues.

You should only apply for a visa once you have received and accepted an offer from one recognised UK higher education institution, because a visa will only be issued if that institution has provided a ‘Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies’. The visa will be specific to that institution (your ‘Sponsor’) and programme of study. You will also need to provide evidence that you have sufficient funds to maintain yourself during the doctoral programme.

If you are applying via an agent or an educational adviser that works with the institution you are interested in, they will be able to advise you about this. Alternatively, the institutions’ International Office will also be able to help you.

The visa permits somebody undertaking a doctoral programme to bring their partner and dependants (children) with them into the UK for the period of the programme.

There are also arrangements available so that you can apply for the ‘Doctorate Extension Scheme’ to stay in the UK for 12 months after your programme has ended, i.e. if you need more time to write up. Once you have successfully completed your programme, you can potentially use the remainder of those 12 months to gain further work experience. Limits on part-time working

• Whether you can undertake part-time work may depend on your doctoral programme, as some funding programmes limit this
• Current regulations of the Tier 4 visa allow you to work for up to 20 hours per week during your programme, and also to undertake a work placement/internship if this is a formal part of your programme. If you do not need a visa, these restrictions do not apply.

Bookmark & Share

Study at Cambridge

About the university, research at cambridge.

• Undergraduate courses
• Events and open days
• Fees and finance
• Postgraduate courses
• How to apply
• Postgraduate events
• Fees and funding
• International students
• Continuing education
• Executive and professional education
• Courses in education
• How the University and Colleges work
• Term dates and calendars
• Visiting the University
• Annual reports
• Equality and diversity
• A global university
• Public engagement
• Give to Cambridge
• For Cambridge students
• For our researchers
• Business and enterprise
• Colleges & departments
• Email & phone search
• Museums & collections
• Immigration

Student visa

• International Students
• Applying overview
• Types of study
• Defining Cambridge
• A global community overview
• International student data
• Fees and financial support
• Accommodation and residence
• Bringing your family
• Living in Cambridge
• Immigration overview
• Student visa overview
• Student visa - entry clearance overview
• Delays with visa application decision
• Student visa - entry clearance (EEA and Swiss nationals)
• Student visa - permission to stay
• Costs associated with applying for a student visa
• Student visa responsibilities overview
• Prior to and on arrival
• Collecting your BRP overview
• BRP validity until 31 December 2024
• Police Registration
• Changes in circumstances overview
• Changing your research degree
• Working on a student visa overview
• PhD - Internships and visa considerations
• Finishing your studies
• Time limit on study and academic progression
• Dependant visas
• Lost documents
• Name and nationality changes
• Visas for pre-sessional courses
• Extending your visa as a current PhD student
• Visa Advice overview
• Conditions of Service
• Studying on other visas
• Studying part-time overview
• Short period of study
• Visiting students
• Undergraduate admissions interviews
• Graduate visa (post-study) overview
• Arriving overview
• Pre-arrival information
• Healthcare in the UK
• Costs associated with arrival
• Opening a bank account
• Prepare to study
• Support on arrival
• Studying overview
• Your student record
• Working and studying
• Other study opportunities
• More than just study
• Course completion
• Student visa - entry clearance
• Student visa responsibilities
• Visa Advice
• Studying part-time
• Graduate visa (post-study)

If you are a registered student currently sponsored under Tier 4/Student visa and need more time to complete the PhD examination process or have had an extension to your submission deadline  approved, you would normally be eligible to apply for a new student visa. We advise you to contact the International Student Office 3 - 4 months before your current visa expires if you believe you will need more time in the UK. You may also be eligible if you previously had a Tier 4/Student visa but are outside the UK or if your current visa is in another category.

The usual route is to extend your permission to stay in the UK on a student visa.

ATAS clearance

If you are undertaking a course that is subject to ATAS clearance, you will require a new ATAS certificate before a CAS can be issued - this is required for any new visa application. The FCO advises that the process takes about 20 - 30 working days. Your Faculty/Department or Supervisor must provide a new ATAS research statement using an ATAS form. On receipt of this form, you should complete your online application with the FCO. Your CAS will be issued after you have obtained a new ATAS certificate. Nationals from the EEA and Switzerland and the following countries are exempt from an ATAS requirement: Australia, Canada, New Zealand, USA, Singapore, Japan, South Korea.

Applying for a student visa extension inside the UK

If at the time of applying you have a valid Tier 4/Student visa, you will be able to extend your permission to stay from inside the UK. You will need to take the following into consideration:

• The earliest you can apply is 3 months prior to your current visa expiring.
• You will require a new CAS from the International Student Office .
• After making your application, you will not be able to travel overseas outside the Common Travel Area (UK, Ireland, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands) until you have received your new BRP.
• The advertised decision timeframe for a student visa application in the UK using the standard service is 8 weeks. Priority and Super Priority services are available at additional cost. Once a decision has been made, your BRP can take up to 10 days to be delivered.
• You will need to provide the International Student Office with proof of application if your new visa is not granted before your current permission expires.

You are advised to read our detailed guidance on applying for  Permission to Stay  which outlines the procedures, requirements and application costs.

Applying for a student visa from overseas

You will need to manage your absence from Cambridge appropriately and discuss your travel plans with the International Student Office as your return travel dates and the dates in your CAS will determine the period of validity of your temporary entry vignette, issued to enable you to return to the UK on a student visa. When you return to Cambridge you will need to collect your BRP .

You are advised to read our detailed guidance on applying for Entry Clearance , which outlines the procedures, requirements and application costs. You will note the specific requirements for evidence of funds.

Switching into student visa

If you were granted permission to start your studies on an alternative visa but need to switch to a student visa to complete your studies, please contact the International Student Office for further guidance and advice.

Switching to a different visa

If you switch from Tier 4/Student visa into a different immigration category while you are a registered student, you must inform the International Student Office and also present these documents to your College for scanning straight away. See ' Changes in circumstances ' for more details about this and other changes that might require action on your part.

Need more time but completing overseas?

It is not necessary to extend your student visa if you will be completing the requirements of your PhD overseas - for instance, corrections - but you need to obtain formal permission from the University of Cambridge to be away, normally by applying for Leave to Work Away or sometimes by being removed from the register . Not only is this a University requirement, it also ensures your record accurately reflects the reason why you did not hold a valid study visa for a given time.

If you need to return to the UK before graduation, you must contact us for advice on the correct immigration route.

Need more time but not a PhD student?

If you are on another programme, it may be possible for the University to be able to support you in obtaining a new visa to complete your course - for instance, following a period of intermission - but it is unlikely that you would be able to apply for such a visa from inside the UK. You should contact the International Student Office as soon as you become aware that you might need more time.

© 2024 University of Cambridge

• Contact the University
• Accessibility
• Freedom of information
• Privacy policy and cookies
• Statement on Modern Slavery
• Terms and conditions
• University A-Z
• Undergraduate
• Postgraduate
• Research news
• About research at Cambridge
• Spotlight on...

Visa requirements for academic visitors (doctoral students and faculty) to Oxford University

• OxPo - People
• Academic exchanges
• Collaborative projects
• Publications

From 1 January 2021 all EU, EEA and Swiss nationals visiting a department/ faculty or college, that have not been resident in the UK before 31 December 2020, will need to enter the UK under the appropriate visitor route:

• Academic visitors who are non-visa nationals ( Check UK visa  and  visa national list ),  visiting for less than 6 months  (e.g. professors, postdocs, doctoral students) must show the Academic Visitor letter to a Border Control officer on arrival to get a visitor stamp in their passport. Please email your host department in the UK to request the letter.
• Academic visitors who are visa nationals or non-visa nationals ( Check UK visa  and  visa national list ),  visiting for more than 6 months  (e.g. professors, postdocs, doctoral students) can apply for the  academic visitor visa  (sub-category of the standard visitor visa) for  up to 12 months . Please see  Academic Visitor Visa  section: ( Types of Standard Visitor visas | Staff Immigration (ox.ac.uk) ). Such visitors will also need the Academic Visitor letter before travelling to the UK. Please email your host department in the UK to request the letter.

Students will not be supported for visits of over 6 months. 

• Student visitors who are non-visa nationals ( Check UK visa  and  Visa national list ), must show the Student Visitor letter to a Border Control officer on arrival to get a visitor stamp in their passport. Please email your host department in the UK to request the letter.
• Student visitors who are visa nationals ( Check UK visa  and  Visa national list ) will need a visa and the Student Visitor letter before travelling to the UK. Such students can apply for the Visitor Visa(for visits up to 6 months). The visa cannot be extended over 6 months or be changed into the student route. A letter can be provided by the Department to assist with the application.  More information about these student visas can be found here: ( Before you arrive | University of Oxford )

Note, all visitors will need to obtain additional medical insurance for all costs not covered by the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). Please consult the UK government website for details:  Healthcare for visitors to the UK from the EU - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

QS WORLD RANKINGS FOR POLITICS & INT’L STUDIES: 2

BEST UK UNIVERSITIES FOR POLITICS – THE GUARDIAN: 1

COMPLETE UNI GUIDE (UK): 1

• Schools & departments

Visiting research students

This is additional information relating to visitors who are carrying out research.

It is very important that your visitor comes to the UK under the correct visa category.

This information is for visiting research students

This refers to visitors who are studying (normally a PhD) outside of the UK who wish to undergo a short period of research towards, or related to, their degree studies.

If your visitor is not a registered student at a non-UK institution, please see the information on our Staff Visas page, which will help you identify the type of visa your visitor requires.

Staff Visas

Visiting research students must register at the University under the Visiting and Non-Graduating Student Policy and Procedure.

Visiting and Non-Graduating Student Policy and Procedure

Visiting research students (less than 6 months)

If the student is coming to carry out research for less than 6 months, they will normally apply for a Standard visitor visa.  This allows them to:

• Enrol at the University for up to 6 months
• Undertake research or research training towards or related to their main course of study
• Receive financial sponsorship from the University of Edinburgh or other financial sponsor

The Standard visitor visa prohibits :

• Work (paid or unpaid)
• Extending the stay in the UK 

More information about the standard visitor visa can be found at the link below.

S tandard visitor visas

Visiting research students (more than 6 months)

If the student is coming for longer than 6 months, they will be able to apply for a Student visa providing :

• The research they will carry out will directly contribute to their main degree-level studies 
• The will be enrolled on a full-time basis

The Student visa permits:

• Full-time study
• Work (up to 20 hours per week)

More information about the Student visa can be found on our student visa pages.

Student visa

Additional resources

Template visa invitation letters (secured)

• Side Hustles
• Power Players
• Young Success
• Save and Invest
• Become Debt-Free
• Land the Job
• Closing the Gap
• Science of Success
• Pop Culture and Media
• Psychology and Relationships
• Health and Wellness
• Real Estate
• Most Popular

Related Stories

• Closing The Gap Many of world’s happiest countries are also   the best for women, research shows
• Earn Tax pro shares how to do your taxes and   why they don't teach you in school
• Food, Travel and Tech Japan is launching a digital nomad   visa—here's everything you need to know
• Earn The 16 worst-paying college majors,   five years after graduation
• Earn The best- and worst-paying college   majors, 5 years after graduation

UK launches new visa for world's top graduates — is your college on the list?

Graduates from the world's top colleges, who are still early on in their careers, will now be able to apply for a short-term visa to stay and work in the U.K.

From Monday, the U.K. government has said people who have graduated, in the last five years, from one of the eligible leading universities listed on its website , will be able to apply for the U.K.'s "high potential individual" visa.

Successful applicants will be granted a two-year visa, while those with a PhD will be offered a three-year visa. Graduates granted a HPI visa will also be able to switch to other long-term employment visas, if they meet the eligibility requirements.

Graduates' partners and children can also apply to join, or stay with them, in the U.K.

To apply, graduates will need a valid passport or other travel document that shows their identity and nationality. It will be available to those eligible regardless of their nationality or where they were born. Applicants will also have to prove they have at least a "B1" level of English, where they can communicate with native speakers without effort.  

The application fee for the visa is £715 ($904), along with £210 to verify that their qualification is valid, or £252 if they're applying from the U.K.

In addition, applicants will have to pay a health care surcharge, so that they can use the U.K.'s National Health Service, which is usually £624 for every year they'll be in the U.K. Applicants will also have to prove that they can support themselves by showing they have at least £1,270 in their bank account, though this is subject to exemptions.

Applicants will usually find out whether they've been successful within 3 weeks if they're applying from outside the U.K. and 8 weeks if they're already in the U.K., and are switching from another visa.

The list of eligible colleges is based on university rankings from around the world. Here's the 2021/22 rundown of eligible universities.

'High potential individual' visa 2021 college list

• California Institute of Technology (Caltech) — U.S.
• Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) — Hong Kong
• Columbia University — U.S.
• Cornell University — U.S.
• Duke University — U.S.
• Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL Switzerland) — Switzerland
• ETH Zurich (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology) — Switzerland
• Harvard University — U.S.
• Johns Hopkins University — U.S.
• Karolinska Institute — Sweden
• Kyoto University — Japan
• Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) — U.S.
• McGill University — Canada
• Nanyang Technological University (NTU) — Singapore
• National University of Singapore — Singapore
• New York University (NYU) — U.S.
• Northwestern University — USA
• Paris Sciences et Lettres – PSL Research University — France
• Peking University — China
• Princeton University —  U.S.
• Stanford University — U.S.
• Tsinghua University — China
• University of British Columbia — Canada
• University of California, Berkeley — U.S.
• University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) — U.S.
• University of California, San Diego — U.S.
• University of Chicago US — U.S.
• University of Hong Kong — Hong Kong
• University of Melbourne — Australia
• University of Michigan-Ann Arbor — U.S.
• University of Munich (LMU Munich) — Germany
• University of Pennsylvania — U.S.
• University of Texas at Austin —  U.S.
• University of Tokyo — Japan
• University of Toronto — Canada
• University of Washington — U.S.
• Yale University — U.S.

Check out: 3 books all recent college graduates should read, according to a career expert

Student visas

Most international students need a student visa to study in the UK. Finding out whether you need a visa to study is easy, simply check the UK government website .

Your visa will allow you to live and study in the UK for the duration of your course.

Applying for your student visa

If you are 16 or over and want to study a course at higher education level in the UK lasting longer than six months, you will most likely need to apply for a student visa through the Student Route .

This costs £490 per applicant. If you want a priority or super-priority service, it will cost more.

Follow this step-by-step guide to applying for your student visa:

Step 1 : apply to your chosen university and receive an unconditional offer

Apply to your chosen university (or universities) and receive an unconditional offer.

Step 2 : get your Certificate of Acceptance of Studies (CAS)

Once you have received your unconditional offer, and you have accepted it, your university will give you a document called a Certificate of Acceptance of Studies (or CAS). This will cost £25.

Step 3 : begin the application process

Once you have your CAS, you can begin the visa application process. You can apply for your student visa up to six months before your course starts. You must pay an application fee (£490 for students) and have a current passport.

European students : If you’re from an EU country, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland, you can use the UK Immigration: ID Check app on a smartphone to complete the identity stage of your application.

Step 4 : calculate your fee and pay the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS)

As part of your application, if you will stay in the UK and study for more than six months, you will need to pay a fee called an Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS).

The surcharge for a student visa will be a fee of £776 per year for each full year you are in the UK . Where your stay in the UK includes part of a year, you would be charged £388 for periods of 1-6 months and £776 for periods of 6-12 months.

The amount you have to pay depends on how much leave you’re granted. You can find out how much you will be expected to pay by using the fee calculator on the UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) website.

European students: if you have a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), you may be able to apply for a refund for the cost of the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS). Check the GOV.UK website to find out if you are eligible to do so. Please also note that deciding to do paid part-time work in the UK during your studies could impact your eligibility for a refund, so consider this before requesting the refund.

Step 5 : prove your knowledge of the English language (if required)

As part of your student visa application, you may need to prove your knowledge of the English language. Different universities have different requirements, so check what form of English language evidence you will need with your university.

Step 6 : complete your application and have it accepted before you arrive in the UK

You must complete your application and have it accepted before you arrive in the UK.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

Many international students in the UK take a part-time job, work placement or internship alongside their studies. For most courses, you will be allowed to work for up to 20 hours per week during term time. Before you consider looking for work, check your visa and biometric residence permit and check your university’s rules to see if there are any restrictions to the type of work or number of hours you can do.

European students : If you do decide to do part-time work in the UK, this could impact your eligibility for a refund on your Immigration Health Surcharge payment, so make sure you consider all of this when thinking about if you plan to work alongside your studies in the UK.

Find out more about the hours and types of work you can do on the UKCISA website .

UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) published an update in October 2023, detailing that the following students are allowed to have dependants with them in the UK:

• students who have financial sponsorship from a government to study a course lasting 6 months or longer
• students studying above degree level at a higher education provider with a track record of compliance on a course lasting 9 months or longer and, if the course start date is on or after 1 January 2024, the provider has confirmed the course is a PhD or other doctoral qualification, or a research-based higher degree
• students who have permission, or had permission within the last 3 months to study on a full-time course of 6 months or longer, and who are now applying for permission to study a full-time course of 6 months or longer where either: the partner or child applying has been the student’s dependant in that period or the child applying was born since the last grant of permission to the student, and they are applying at the same time as the student or the dependant partner

Note: students whose child was born in a timeframe set out at Appendix Student ST 31.2 are allowed to have that child as a dependant with them in the UK.

In order to be eligible to bring dependants on a scholarship, the scholarship must be:

• a government-funded scholarship
• from a central government department
• covering all fees and living costs for the student

For further information, please visit the UK Home Office Student and Child guidance document, page 95 and 96.

Updates regarding immigration and visa rules were announced on 4 December by the Home Secretary. And, on 21 December 2023, further details were published about changes that might affect individuals already in the UK. Until immigration rules are officially updated, current thresholds and policies above remain in place.

Visit the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) website for details on which students are eligible to bring dependants.

You will also find a summary of changes announced by the Home Office to immigration rules and how these will affect students and their family members on the UKCISA website ' Student update: changes to the Immigration Rules, December 2023 '.

The date your student visa ends depends on the length of your course. Make sure you know when your visa is due to expire so you can plan your next steps accordingly.

You may be able to extend your student visa if you’re eligible, for example, to continue your studies in the UK. You may also be able to switch to another type of visa if you want to stay and work in the UK.

Visit our after your studies pages to learn more about your options after you graduate.

Other types of visa

Visitor route.

If you’re studying in the UK at an accredited institution for less than six months, you can do this as a visitor. Many students (including those from the European Union and other eligible countries) won’t need a visa for courses lasting less than six months.

Students from some countries must apply for a standard visitor visa to do a short course in the UK. Check if you need a visa to study in the UK . A standard six-month visitor visa will cost £115.

If someone you know is coming to visit you on holiday to the UK, they may need to apply for a visitor visa. Find out more about a visitor visa .

Short-term Student Route

Short-term student visas are available to students who want to study English language courses that are between six and 11 months long. Find out more about the short-term study visa .

Child Student Route

If you're aged between four and 17 years old, you can apply for a child student visa to study at a school in the UK. Find out more about child study visas .

Need support with your student visa or anything related?

Contact your university's international office. Your university will advise you about your visa application, so if you have any questions, feel free to contact your university's international office for support. Some universities have dedicated immigration advisors that are on hand to support international students with their visa applications.

Stay in the UK after you graduate

The Graduate Route welcomes international students to apply to stay in the UK and work, or look for work, upon graduation. Find out more about this exciting opportunity and other visas, on our page.

A student guide to finding support at university in the UK

Join us as we take you through the support available, from the student union to the library, the careers service to wellbeing services, academic support and more.

'Since graduating I've been applying all of the knowledge I gained during my master's in the real world'

Yashodhra shares how the Graduate Route allowed her to find work in the UK after her studies without needing an employer to sponsor her visa.

EU students: you are still welcome in the UK

A UK education offers top-quality, prestige and global job prospects. Find out more than 120,000 EU students still choose to study in the UK each year.

Sign up to our newsletter

Get the latest updates and advice on applications, scholarships, visas and events.

Studentships and doctoral training

Get a studentship to fund your doctorate.

UKRI studentships offer funding for doctoral research. They also offer you access to training, networking and development opportunities to help you build a research and innovation career.

Our expectations for research organisations, supervisors and students are set out in the statement of expectations for doctoral training .

You could get:

• a minimum stipend of £19,237 per year for your living costs, which is paid to you in regular instalments
• support for your tuition fees (minimum £4,786 per year)

The stipend is usually non-taxable and does not need to be paid back. Some research organisations may offer more if you study in London, or they or one of their collaborators might decide to top up the payment. This will be outlined in the studentship advert from the research organisation.

We normally pay the support for tuition fees directly to your research organisation.

The levels given here are for the academic year 2024 to 2025. UKRI’s approach to doctoral stipend and fee levels will be reviewed through the  new deal for postgraduate research .

Additional support for your doctoral studies

As a UKRI-funded doctoral student, you may be able to access additional funding to cover the cost of other related training and development opportunities.

This could include:

• conference attendance
• language training
• overseas research visits
• internships or placements with a non-academic partner

The availability of support will depend on the research organisation and the training grants they have on offer. You should contact the research organisation you are interested in applying to, to find out what you could get.

Extra support if you have a disability

If you have a disability, you may be entitled to a Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA) on top of your studentship.

You should speak to your research organisation’s disability advisor to assess your needs. They can help put the right support in place, including a DSA application if necessary. You cannot claim DSA directly from UKRI.

DSA helps to cover the cost of any additional support that a person studying for a doctorate might need as a result of a disability, mental health problem or specific learning difficulty.

The allowance covers:

• non-medical personal assistance
• specialist equipment
• extra travel costs
• general expenses

Find out more about DSA in our framework .

If you are a research organisation you can download claim forms and guidance for DSA .

Who can apply

Any prospective doctoral student wishing to study at a UK research organisation, including prospective international students, can apply for a UKRI studentship.

All UKRI-funded doctoral students will be eligible for the full award, both the stipend to support living costs, and home-level fees at the UK research organisation rate.

How to find opportunities

Many UK research organisations offer some form of studentship funding from UKRI. These opportunities will depend on the subject you want to study and will normally be advertised by the research organisations.

Research organisations may have additional opportunities that do not involve UKRI. UKRI supports around 20% of all UK-based postgraduate researchers. You should speak to the research organisation you are interested in to find out what studentships are available.

You could also consider using a specialist website like   FindaPhD  to look for opportunities.

When to apply

Research organisations set their own deadlines for applications.

Many open for applications early in the academic year and close in January or February. This is not a hard and fast rule. It is important that you check the deadlines for the research organisation where you want to study.

How to apply

You cannot apply to UKRI for a studentship. You must contact the research organisation you are interested in studying with and use their application process.

For doctoral students who are already studying with a studentship, there are opportunities to get additional funding to support placements that are separate from your doctorate.  Find training and development opportunities .

Last updated: 14 February 2024

This is the website for UKRI: our seven research councils, Research England and Innovate UK. Let us know if you have feedback or would like to help improve our online products and services .

Working in the UK with a Student visa

If you have a Student visa for the University of Westminster, your right to work will appear either on your visa vignette (the sticker in your passport), your Biometric Residence Permit card (BRP), or your electronic visa (in the email you received when your visa was granted). You can also check your right to work online at the  Government website .

If you are studying a full-time undergraduate or postgraduate degree course, including Study Abroad students with a Student visa, your documents should confirm that you can work up to 20 hours per week in term time. If you are studying for a qualification below degree level (e.g. a pre-sessional course), you will be given the right to work up to 10 hours per week. In either case, you can work above the set limit during the academic vacation periods as well as before your course starts and after it ends – see the below section on working full time, which explains when you are permitted to take on more hours.

You must not work if your passport sticker, email/letter, or BRP card says “No work” or “Work prohibited”, as this would be a breach of your immigration conditions and a criminal offence. Please contact Student Advice if your visa was granted without the right to work, as this may be an error that needs correcting.

Types of work you can and cannot do

You can do most kinds of work, but you  must not :

•  be self-employed 
•  engage in a business activity
•  take a permanent full-time job
•  be employed as a professional sportsperson or sports coach 
•  be employed as an entertainer 
•  be a doctor or dentist in training

Although the above list may seem straightforward, there are grey areas. 

What if you want to sell things online, do gig economy jobs, or volunteer? 

Please have a look at a very helpful article form the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) which goes into more detail on these matters:  Blog: Working Definition .

Weekly limits on work: 10 and 20 hours

Your visa documents and the decision email you received when your visa was granted will confirm your weekly work limit. This should be a maximum of 20 hours per week for students studying an undergraduate or a postgraduate degree course and a maximum of 10 hours per week for students studying below the degree level.

A 'week' is defined in the Immigration Rules as ‘a period of 7 days beginning with a Monday’. You must make sure that your working hours and work pattern fits this definition. We advise that you keep detailed records of how many hours you work each day so that you can be sure you are not in danger of breaching your work conditions. The University has an obligation to report any breaches in your working conditions to UK Visas and Immigration.

Both paid and unpaid work count towards the weekly limit. If your employer is outside the UK, the hours of work undertaken whilst you are physically in the UK also count towards the limit.

Working full-time

Students who have a restricted right to work (such as, 20 hours per week in term time) can work additional hours outside of term time. There is no upper limit on the number of hours you can work outside of term time. However, it is important to understand when exactly you are allowed to work more hours.

Before your course starts

Please check your CAS to see the course start date attached to your visa. If you arrive in the UK before that date and wish to work, you are allowed to work above the usual weekly limit during this short period. However, you will be bound by the weekly limit from the start date of your course as stated on your CAS.

During the academic vacation periods 

Students can also work more hours during the academic vacation periods. These are specifically marked as ‘vacation’ on your  term calendars  – it is important that you check the correct dates for your course.

Undergraduate students normally have three vacation breaks in a year, and these are the Christmas break, the spring break, and the summer break.

Master’s degree students have only two vacation breaks and these are the Christmas break and the spring break. Master’s degree students are not allowed to work full-time during summer.

PhD students are usually restricted to working 20 hours per week during the whole academic year and should speak to their School to discuss if they have any vacation periods.

After your course ends 

Most students on a degree course that lasts at least 12 months will have a Student visa which expires four months after their course end date. If your visa extends beyond the end of your studies, you can work full-time during that extra period if:

• You have completed all your studies (coursework, exams, and dissertation)
• The official end date of your course as shown on your CAS has passed (this is the date the UK Visas and Immigration Office will have recorded as the last date of your course)
• You have a valid Student visa

If you submitted your coursework and dissertation but the course end date on your CAS has not yet passed, you must not work above your weekly limit.

If the end date on your CAS has passed but you are still studying, for example, due to referrals or deferrals, you must also not work above your weekly limit.

Proving your right to work to an employer

You will need to provide your employer with a valid share code to prove your right to work in the UK. You will be able to generate the share code after logging in on the  Government website .

If you want to work above your weekly limit, the employer will also need to see evidence that you are not in term time when they give you additional hours. You can generate a University letter with the details of your term dates and vacation periods via your Student Record, as explained on  our website .

The University will not issue a letter confirming that you can work full-time. Your share code will confirm your general right to work, and a university letter will confirm your term and vacation dates. Together, this will provide your employer with information on when you can work full time.

If you are unable to generate a share code, for example, because you have a pending visa application and your last visa has expired, your employer will be able to check your right to work  online  or by calling the Employer Enquiry helpline on 0300 790 6268.

Work placements and internships

Some students take a work placement as a part of their degree course. 

If your work placement is an assessed and integral part of your course, and the University informs the UK Visas and Immigration that you are taking a work placement, you will be permitted to work full time on your placement plus additional 20 hours per week in other employment. 

However, before taking on any additional work, it is very important that you check with the University that your work placement indeed meets the relevant criteria. For instance, a year-long work placement which has been authorised by the University and which forms an integral and assessed part of your course and extends your course by a year will likely meet the criteria. By contrast, a work placement which you organised yourself to help with the collection of data for your dissertation research, or for any other reason where the placement isn’t an integral and assessed part of the course, will likely not meet the criteria (and, therefore, would need to fall within the 20-hour limit). If the placement or internship you take is not an assessed and integral part of your course which has been approved by the University and reported to the UK Visas and Immigration, you will not be permitted to work above the usual weekly limit.

Please note that including a work placement to your course may impact your Student visa. Please contact Student Advice to discuss this further.

Working after your studies

If you finish your studies and still have time left on your Student visa, you may be able to work full time during this period. Please see the above tab on working full time for details on when exactly you can take on additional hours.

If you want to extend your stay in the UK beyond the current validity of your visa, you will need to check if there is another visa type you are eligible to apply for.

Many students are interested in applying for the Graduate Route visa which allows them to stay in the UK for a further period of two or three years to work. You can find more information about this visa and the eligibility criteria on our Graduate Route visa page .

There are also other visas options, such as the Skilled Worker visa, which you may be interested to learn about. We recommend to check the UKCISA website which provides a comprehensive guide on options for working in the UK after your studies.

If anything is unclear or you have further questions about your right to work in the UK, please contact Student Advice .

Related Pages

Where are you from.

Entry requirements, visits and the representatives available for your country.

Contact the University of Westminster about international study.

Find out what to do before you arrive at the University.

We use cookies to ensure the best experience on our website.

By accepting you agree to cookies being stored on your device.

Some of these cookies are essential to the running of the site, while others help us to improve your experience.

Functional cookies enable core functionality such as security, network management, and accessibility.

Analytics cookies help us improve our website based on user needs by collecting information, which does not directly identify anyone.

Marketing cookies send information on your visit to third parties so that they can make their advertising more relevant to you when you visit other websites.

Indian students organisation in UK launches campaign to defend post study work visa

W ith the UK government having commissioned the migration advisory committee (MAC) to undertake a study of the graduate route of post study work visas for international students; National Indian Students and Alumni Union UK, the oldest and largest body representing students and youth of Indian origin in the UK, has launched a campaign to defend this visa route.

The campaign called ‘fair visa fair chance’ has been kicked off even as the MAC report is due to be published in May 2024. The review includes a consideration of whether the graduate route is being abused, whether it is fit for purpose, who is using it and how; and whether it is undermining the integrity and quality of the UK higher education system.

Sanam Arora, the chair of Nisau, who is also a commissioner of the UK’s international higher education commission said when launching the campaign: “It is very sad that a mere few years on from the re-introduction of post study working in the UK, we are having to once again make the case to defend it. The graduate visa is a key requirement of Indian students, and a critical offer of the UK’s international higher education system. We campaigned for seven years to bring it back last time and will fight to protect this essential pathway again. Without the graduate route, university finances may collapse. The impact of this not just on international students but also on UK’s home students will be bad, given domestic students and the world-class research that happens in UK universities is heavily cross subsidised by international students. We have a duty to protect outcomes for all students and for the whole international higher education sector.”

The post-study work visa was relaunched in 2019 as a result of lobbying and advocacy from the higher education sector with Nisau having run a seven-year campaign. British Indian entrepreneur, Lord Karan Bilimoria who is co-chair of UK’s all party parliamentary group on international students and Chancellor of University of Birmingham, was the first to propose a post-study work visa for international students in 2007 when he tabled it in UK’s House of Lords.

The graduate route allows international students to stay in the UK for a period of two years after graduating. It is unsponsored, meaning graduates do not need a job offer to be able to stay on. Graduates can find employment or start their own business through this route.

“As a former international student from India myself, one of my proudest achievements in the 18 years I have been a member of the House was to have spearheaded the introduction of the two-year post graduate work visa for international students. The two-year graduate route was taken away by the government in 2012 and thankfully re-introduced a few years after. The ability to work for two years after graduation helps international students to earn money to help pay for their degrees and enable some to get valuable work experience as well as to continue to build the strong links with the United Kingdom. We are in a global race and have to offer post-graduation work opportunities that are attractive in competing with countries such as the United States of America, Canada, and Australia,” Lord Bilimoria said.

He added that the fear of the removal of the two-year post-graduation work visa is sending out unnecessary and damaging negative messages around the world, and universities are already seeing a huge decline in international students applications. “As a result we are unnecessarily shooting ourselves in the foot as a country, when international students contribute £42 billion to the UK economy and are one of our strongest elements of soft power with a quarter of world leaders today having been educated at UK universities. We must retain the two-year post-graduation work visa; any reduction would be hugely damaging to our universities, which are the best in the world along with the United States of America's, a jewel in the crown of the United Kingdom,” Lord Bilimoria said.

As part of the campaign, Nisau will be presenting evidence to the MAC using its own research and experiences of 12 years of representing Indian students and alumni in the UK. The organisation has hosted a series of sessions on the topic of ‘making the UK the best destination for international students’. A significant portfolio of inputs were also gathered including from the ‘India UK Education Conference’ held in February 2024.

For more news like this visit TOI . Get all the Latest News , City News , India News , Business News , and Sports News . For Entertainment News , TV News , and Lifestyle Tips visit Etimes

Cookies on GOV.UK

We use some essential cookies to make this website work.

We’d like to set additional cookies to understand how you use GOV.UK, remember your settings and improve government services.

We also use cookies set by other sites to help us deliver content from their services.

You have accepted additional cookies. You can change your cookie settings at any time.

You have rejected additional cookies. You can change your cookie settings at any time.

Student visa

Your partner and children.

Your partner and children (‘dependants’) may be able to apply to come to the UK or stay longer in the UK.

You must be one of the following:

• a government-sponsored student starting a course that lasts longer than 6 months
• a full-time student on a postgraduate level course (RQF level 7 or above) that lasts 9 months or longer

If your postgraduate level course starts on or after 1 January 2024, it must be either:

• a PhD or other doctorate (RQF level 8)
• a research-based higher degree

Your dependants

A dependant partner or child is one of the following:

• your husband, wife or civil partner
• your unmarried partner
• your child under 18 years old - including if they were born in the UK during your stay

You’ll need to provide evidence of your relationship when you apply, for example:

• a marriage or civil partnership certificate for your partner
• a birth certificate for your child

Find out what other documents you can use to prove your relationship .

You’ll need to prove that your child is both:

• not married or in a civil partnership
• living with you, unless they’re living away from home in full-time education - for example, at boarding school or university

You’ll need to provide 2 of the following documents confirming their address:

• a bank statement
• credit card bills
• driving licence
• NHS registration document
• an official letter from their university or college

If your child pays you rent or upkeep, you’ll need to give details.

Money they need to support themselves

Your partner and child must each have a certain amount of money available to them. This is in addition to the money you must have to support yourself.

How much money they need depends on where you will be studying. They must have either:

• £845 a month (for up to 9 months) for courses in London
• £680 a month (for up to 9 months) for courses outside London

If you’re applying at the same time as your partner or child (you’re applying together as a family), you’ll need to prove you have both money to pay for your course and to support yourself and additional money for each of them.

If your partner or child is applying at a different time to you (they’re applying separately) they only need to prove they have money to support themselves.

You (or your partner or child) must have this money for at least 28 consecutive days. The end date of the 28 day period must be within 31 days of the date they apply for their visa.

If you have a student loan or financial sponsorship, you’ll need to provide evidence of this from your loan or sponsorship company. If your loan does not cover your partner or child, you’ll need to prove you have money to support them instead.

When they do not need to prove they have money to support themselves

Your partner or child does not need to prove they have this money if they’ve been in the UK with a valid visa for at least 12 months.

If you and your partner or child are from a country listed under the ‘differential evidence requirement’ and you’re applying at the same time, they do not need to prove they have money to support themselves.

However, they might be asked to provide this evidence before they get a decision on their application.

If they do need to provide it, they’ll be contacted by UK Visas and Immigration ( UKVI ) after they’ve submitted their application.

Apply outside the UK

Your partner and children must either:

apply online as your partner outside the UK

apply online as your child outside the UK

They’ll need your application number - you get it when you apply. This number is called a Global Web Form ( GWF ) or a Unique Application Number ( UAN ). You’ll find it on emails and letters from the Home Office about your application.

As part of their application, they’ll need to have their fingerprints and photograph taken at a visa application centre (to get a biometric residence permit).

They’ll have to collect their biometric residence permit within 10 days of when they said they’d arrive in the UK.

They may be able to pay to get their visa faster or use other services depending on which country they’re in - check with the visa application centre.

How long they can stay

If their application is successful, their visa will end on the same date as yours.

Apply inside the UK to extend or switch

Your partner or child can apply to extend or switch their visa either:

• at the same time as you apply to extend or switch your own visa
• at any time before their current visa expires

This includes children who have turned 18 during your stay.

Your partner or child cannot apply to switch in the UK if they have one of the following visas:

• a visit visa
• a short-term student visa
• a Parent of a Child Student visa
• a seasonal worker visa
• a domestic worker in a private household visa

Each person will need to pay:

• £490 for the visa
• the healthcare surcharge - check how much they’ll have to pay

They’ll need to have their biometric information (fingerprints and a photo) taken - there’s no fee for this.

How to apply

Your partner and child must apply online. They must either:

apply online as your partner inside the UK

apply online as your child inside the UK

As part of their application, they’ll be asked to make an appointment at a UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services ( UKVCAS ) service point to provide their biometric information (fingerprints and a photo).

They’ll also need to submit their supporting documents. They can:

• upload them into the online service
• have them scanned at their UKVCAS appointment

They must not travel outside of the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man until they get a decision. Their application will be withdrawn if they do.

Getting a faster decision

They may be able to pay to get a faster decision - they’ll be told if they can when they apply.

Children born in the UK

If you have a child while you’re in the UK, they do not automatically become a British citizen .

You must apply for your child’s dependant visa if you want to travel in and out of the UK with them.

The form you fill in depends on whether your child is inside or outside the UK. Your child must either:

You’ll need to provide a full UK birth certificate for each child, showing the names of both parents.

You must apply for their dependant visa before they turn 18 if they want to stay in the UK.

Part of Study in the UK on a Student visa

Step 1 : check if this visa is right for you.

You can apply for a Student visa if you’re 16 or over and want to study on a further or higher education course in the UK.

• Check what you can and cannot do on this visa
• Check what courses you can study on this visa
• You are currently viewing: Check if you can bring your partner or children ('dependants') with you

If you're under 18 and you want to study at an independent school in the UK, you may be eligible for a Child Student visa instead.

• Check which visas you're eligible for

Step 2 : Prepare the evidence you need

• Check what documents you can use as evidence
• Prove your knowledge of the English language
• Check if you need a tuberculosis (TB) test

If you're doing a masters degree or above, you may need to apply for the Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) certificate.

• Check if you need to apply for ATAS

Step 3 : Apply from outside the UK

• Apply from outside the UK £490

You'll need to prove your identity as part of your application.

You'll usually get a decision within 3 weeks.

• Find out if you can pay more to get a faster decision

or Apply from inside the UK

• Apply to extend if you're already in the UK on Student visa (or a Tier 4 (General) visa) £490
• Apply to switch to this visa if you're already in the UK £490

You'll usually get a decision within 8 weeks.

• You may be able to pay more to get a faster decision you’ll be told if you can when you apply

Step 4 : Check what you can bring into the UK with you

• Check what you can bring in your hand luggage
• Check what to do if you're bringing cash with you
• Check what goods you can bring with you
• Check what food, animals or plants you can bring into the UK

Step 5 : Check what you need to show at the UK border

• Check what you need to show at the UK border

Step 6 : After you arrive in the UK

• Find out how to get your Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) if you were told you’d get one when you applied

You might be able to extend your visa to stay longer in the UK.

• Check if you can extend your visa

If you break the conditions of your visa you may not be able to come to the UK again.

Is this page useful?

• Yes this page is useful
• No this page is not useful

Help us improve GOV.UK

Don’t include personal or financial information like your National Insurance number or credit card details.

To help us improve GOV.UK, we’d like to know more about your visit today. We’ll send you a link to a feedback form. It will take only 2 minutes to fill in. Don’t worry we won’t send you spam or share your email address with anyone.