It is important to check if you are eligible to apply in the UK as there are several requirements that you will need to meet.

To be eligible to apply in the UK you must:

Not be on immigration bail or be in the UK:

> As a visitor
> As a short-term study student
> As a parent of a Child Student
> As a Seasonal Worker
> As a Domestic Worker in a private household
> Hold permission outside the Immigration Rules

28-day rule

Ensure the gap between the end of your current immigration permission and the start of your new course (as stated on your CAS) is not more than 28 days. If the gap is longer than 28 days you must apply for your visa from outside of the UK.

Academic Progression Requirement

Demonstrate that you meet the academic progression requirement or are exempt if you were last granted leave as a Tier 4/Student. To meet the academic progression requirement, you need to:

> have successfully completed the course for which you were last granted Student immigration permission; and
> be applying under the Student route to study a course that is normally above the level of the previous course.

Exemption from showing academic progression is normally only for those seeking an extension to complete a PhD, undertaking resits, or are applying to undertake a study abroad programme or work placement which is both integral to and assessed as part of the course, or to complete their course, having completed a study abroad programme or work placement.
 
When to apply

The earliest you can pay to submit a Student visa application from within the UK is 3 months before the course start date as per your Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS).

At the time you apply, you must meet the Student route requirements including, meeting the academic progression requirement or being exempt from the requirement.

How to apply

Find helpful information about the requirements for application process on the Home Office website.

• Completed Student online application form (see “How to make a Student application within the UK” below). 

• Current passport or travel document. 

• Current Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) if applicable.

• Assigned Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) number from the University of Reading. If you are starting a new course, your CAS will be issued by the Admissions Team. If you are a current student continuing on a course, you will need to request a CAS from the International Student Advisory Team. Continuing PhD students will need to contact the Doctoral Research Office.

UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) does not require the CAS in pdf format/email, because it is not a requirement of the Student route visa to submit it with your visa application.

A CAS is an electronic document that is created and held on a UKVI online database. Whilst processing your visa application, the caseworker will look at your live CAS on this database and not the CAS email.

The CAS statement/email we send to students is not required for your Student application, but it gives you all of the information about your course and Student sponsor, and some of the information about money, that you need to complete your Student application form.

You are only required to input the CAS number into the online visa application.

• Evidence you meet the Student Visa Maintenance Requirements.

• Any qualifications listed on your CAS in the 'Evidence used to obtain offer' field. Please note if you are studying a course at degree level or above you will not be required to provide evidence of your qualifications. 

If you do need to provide evidence this can be in the form of a transcript, certificate or print outs of your qualification or transcript results from the awarding body’s online checking service. Each document provided must include:

o your name 

o the title of the award 

o the name of the awarding institution or awarding body 

o the date of the award (if the qualification has already been awarded) 

o confirmation that the qualification will be awarded (if the document is a transcript of results or print out of a transcript of results) 

• Evidence of English language proficiency as stated in the ‘Evidence used to obtain offer’ field on your CAS. You do not need to submit your English language evidence if on your CAS the University confirms it made its own assessment of your English language.

• Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) certificate, if you are applying for postgraduate study or research in one of the subjects listed in Immigration Rules Appendix ATAS and you are not one of the nationals who are exempt from the ATAS requirement.

• Evidence of successfully completing the previous course studied in the UK in the form of a formal award or, for courses at degree level or above, formal written confirmation (this does not apply to those who are exempt from academic progression such as continuing PhD students or those who are resitting). 

• Letter from your financial sponsor confirming that they have no objection to your application to remain in the UK (if you were financially sponsored to study in the UK within the past 12 months). 

• For 16- and 17-year-olds only: a signed letter of parental consent confirming: 

o the relationship between you and your parent(s)/legal guardian(s) 

o that they consent to your living arrangements in the UK

o that they consent to your application as a Student 

o The signature of both parents/legal guardians, except if one parent or legal guardian has legal custody/whole responsibility. This must be confirmed in the letter. 

• Evidence of your relationship with your parent(s)/legal guardian(s) if you are under the age of 18 and/or submitting evidence of funds in your parent(s)/legal guardian(s) name(s) e.g., birth certificate. 

• If any documents are not in English, you must also provide fully certified translations.  

• More information about the policy on Student visas.

You will be required to pay the visa application fee, the details of which are available online. Priority and Super Priority services (where your application is processed more quickly) may be available but at an additional charge. 

The standard visa processing times for applications made inside of the UK is 8 weeks.

As part of the application process, you and any dependants will each be required to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) to cover the duration of your stay in the UK. You will then be able to use the National Health Service (NHS) in the UK and will not require private medical insurance. Please note that you will still need to pay for certain types of services (e.g. prescriptions, dental treatment and eye tests). That is a requirement for everybody, including British nationals.

If you pay the surcharge twice for the same period of 6 months or more, you may be entitled to a refund of the surcharge for this overlapping period.

The cost of this charge will be £776 for each applicant and dependent per year of the actual visa to be granted, including any final extra period. Periods less than six months are charged at £388. Periods between 6 and 12 months are charged at the full year rate.

As part of your application, you must prove your identity. Most applicants can do this online using the UK Immigration: ID Check app. You will be told which identity verification method you need to use when you submit your application. 

You will either:

• Use the UK Immigration: ID Check app to verify your identity and access your UKVI account; or
• Attend a UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS) appointment to provide your biometric information (photograph and fingerprints).

Using the UK Immigration: ID Check App

If you are eligible to use the app, you will need to:

1. Start your application and create or sign in to your UKVI account.
2. Download the UK Immigration: ID Check app.
3. Verify your identity using your eligible identity document.
4. Complete any required facial image checks.
5. Upload supporting documents where requested.
6. Complete and submit your application online. 

Further guidance is available on GOV.UK.

If You Need to Attend a UKVCAS Appointment

If you cannot verify your identity using the app, you may be required to book an appointment at a UKVCAS service point to provide your biometric information. You can normally upload your supporting documents online before your appointment. Document scanning services may be available at an additional cost. 

Further information about UKVCAS appointments, services, and supporting documents is available on GOV.UK.

This guidance is based on the current digital identity verification process used by UK Visas and Immigration. 

The closest Service Point to the University is Reading Library, Civic Centre, Bridge Street, Reading, RG1 2LU.

To apply for a UK student visa, start your application online via the official student visa portal.

If you would like immigration to have a look over your application before submitting, please send a copy to immigration@reading.ac.uk.

You cannot switch to a student visa from within the UK if you hold a standard visitor visa, seasonal worker visa or domestic worker visa.

You should provide the University with evidence that you have made an application to ensure that your student record is updated. This is important, because as your Student sponsor the University needs to have up-to-date records of your immigration status. 

The UKVI will contact you via email to confirm the outcome of your Student Visa application. In the event of a successful application, you will be contacted via email and granted  a digital 'eVisa', which allows you to demonstrate your immigration status through a 'sharecode'. Please carefully review your immigration details and check the information and dates reflected in your new visa are correct. It is your responsibility to ensure that this information is kept up to date.

Once you have checked the information in your eVisa, please generate a sharecode through the gov.uk website and provide a copy to us at immigration@reading.ac.uk

Further information regarding eVisas.

If your visa application is refused, make sure you contact the International Student Advisory Team and supply a copy of the visa refusal notice.

It is important that you fully understand the conditions your Student immigration permission is subject to, because the Home Office takes breaches of conditions seriously. Breaches can have serious consequences to your current permission and any future immigration applications that you make. 

Work conditions:

Students studying full-time at degree level (RQF level 6) or above will be permitted to work 20 hours per week term-time and full-time in the vacation periods/before and after the course dates. 

Students studying full-time below degree will be permitted to work 10 hours per week term-time and full-time in the vacation periods/before and after the course dates. 

Students on a part-time student visa to study part-time do not have work rights of any kind, and therefore, must not undertake any work.

Students who are allowed to work must not:

• be self-employed or engage in business activity, except where they are awaiting a decision on an application for permission to stay as a Start-up migrant which is supported by an endorsement from a qualifying HEP with a track record of compliance

• take employment as an entertainer or as a professional sportsperson, including a sports coach

• fill a full-time permanent vacancy other than a recognised foundation programme and all other requirements are met or where they are filling a post as a Student Union Sabbatical Officer
For further information visit our working right and limits during studies webpage. 

‘No recourse to public funds’:

You will be prohibited from accessing/claiming specific welfare benefits known as ‘public funds’. 

For further information visit the gov.uk website. 

Study:

You must intend to study the course at the institution for which your CAS was assigned. If you do not enrol, decide not to continue with your course, or wish to change course please contact the International Student Advisory Team to discuss the implications this may have in regard to your visa.

Supplementary study is permitted, providing it does not hinder your progress on your main course of study. Qualifications obtained because of supplementary study cannot be used to meet the academic progression requirement and you cannot get a visa extension to complete supplementary study.

Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS):

If you were required to obtain an Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) clearance certificate to support your Student application you must apply for a new ATAS certificate within 28 days, if one of the following happens:

• Your course content or research proposal changes; and/or

• Your course completion date (as stated on your CAS) is postponed by more than three calendar months.

For further information see Immigration Rules Appendix ATAS.

If clarification is needed on any aspect of the Rules or you have questions about your application, please email the International Student Advisory Team at immigration@reading.ac.uk where we will respond to you as soon as possible, alternatively telephone +44(0)118 378 8038.