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Student visa application from outside the UK

You can apply for a Student visa to study at Birkbeck University of London if you are issued with a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) for a full-time programme of study.

You must meet all Student visa requirements and may be required to provide the relevant supporting documentation.  

  • WHERE TO APPLY

    • You must make your Student visa application from your country of residence with a valid immigration permission, or from the country of your nationality.
    • Your ‘country of residence’ refers to wherever you have permission to live with valid immigration permission, for example for work or study purposes. This may not be the same as your country of origin.
    • It is not possible to make a Student visa application from a third country where you are visiting, unless there is no Visa Application Centre (VAC) in the country where you live.

  • WHEN TO APPLY

    • Once you have been given a CAS, you can make your application up to six months before the start date of your course. You must apply and have obtained your Student visa before travelling to the UK. 
    • Please refer to the Home Office’s published standard visa processing time for how long it may take for a decision to be made. The visa processing time does not include the additional time required to endorse a physical visa on your passport page and for the return of your passport. Therefore, an early application is recommended. 
    • If you want to get a faster decision, you may be able to pay more at the time of your application. It is not possible to change the type of service after submitting your visa application. 

  • HOW TO APPLY

    • You need to complete an online application form via the Home Office website, and pay the visa application fee and Immigration Health Surcharge.  
    • The standard visa application fee is £524 as of 9 April 2025, paid as an equivalent in your local or alternative currency. Some Visa Application Centres (VACs) charge an additional 'user pays fee' of £75 and this is to allow smaller VACs to remain open.  If you do not wish to pay this additional fee, then you will need to attend a different VAC.
    • Most Student visa applicants need to pay a healthcare surcharge as part of their immigration application. You will then be able to use the National Health Service (NHS). You will still need to pay for certain types of services. 
    • The rate for a student and student dependent is £776 per person for each year of their visa. If the visa includes part of a year that is less than six months, the charge will be £388 for this period. 
    • For example, if you will be applying for a 12-month Master’s degree programme starting 30 September 2024 and the programme end date of 30 September 2025, your Student visa should be valid until 30 January 2026 (course end date + four months wrap-up period). Therefore, you will be expected to pay £1,164 (£776 x 1.5 years) as part of your visa application. 
    • As part of your online application, you will need to submit your passport and other supporting documents, such as your financial evidence, TB certificate and ATAS certificate if relevant. 
    • Your CAS will state the academic qualifications that are basis of your offer. However, you are not required to provide evidence of them, because Birkbeck is a Higher Education provider with a track record of compliance and your course is at degree level or above, in accordance with the Student visa policy. 
    • No need to provide evidence of English language either, even if this was a condition of your offer to study at Birkbeck. Your CAS will confirm that you are either a national of a majority English speaking country, or the College, as a Higher Education Provider, has assessed your English language ability and it is at the required level. 
    • You must give your biometric information biometrics (your facial photograph and fingerprints) at an appointment. You will be instructed to book an appointment as part of your online application. At this appointment, you need to submit your passport. If you opted to submit your passport after attending your appointment, please follow the instructions from the VAC. 
    • If you are an EEA or Swiss national and your passport has a biometric chip, you can use the UK Immigration ID check app to scan and upload your passport and a photo. If you cannot use the app, you will be required make a biometric appointment. 
    • After submitting your application, you may be invited to attend an interview, known as a credibility interview, before the UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) can make a decision. 

  • SUCCESSFUL VISA APPLICATION

    • If your application is successful, you will normally receive a decision notification email which includes the details of how to access your eVisa.
    • You should wait until you have received your visa before you book any non-refundable travel tickets.
    • Once you have received the decision on your Student visa application, carefully check the decision notification and eVisa vignette as soon as you receive them. You should contact ISA immediately if there is any error. Only a limited time is allowed to submit an error correction request.
    • You must enter the UK on or after your Student visa start date to activate your visa. If you entered the UK before your visa start date as a visitor, you must leave the Common Travel Area (the UK, Republic of Ireland, Channel Islands, the Isle of Man) and re-enter on or after your Student visa start date to validate your visa.

  • LENGTH OF STUDENT VISA GRANTED

  • INCORRECT DECISION OR UNSUCCESSFUL VISA APPLICATION

    • If your Student visa application is refused, a notice of immigration decision will be sent to you along with supporting documents that you submitted. Please email a scanned image of the notification to ISA for further assistance. 

  • ARRIVAL IN THE UK

    • If you travel before the start date of your visa, you may be refused entry to the UK. If you have a valid ETA (electronic travel authorisation), you may be permitted to enter as a visitor. If you enter the UK as a visitor, you must leave the Common Travel Area (the UK, Republic of Ireland, Channel Islands, the Isle of Man) and re-enter the UK on or after your Student visa start date to validate your Student visa. 
    • You need to arrive in the UK on or after your visa start date but before the latest arrival date stated on your CAS.
    • Before start attending your course, you must complete enrolment and Student visa registration by the latest arrival date stated on your CAS.