# UK Student visa from India, explained

> To study in the UK for over six months you need a Student visa and a CAS from your university. Here is the route in plain English, with a checklist.

- Category: Visas & permits
- Country: United Kingdom
- Verified on: 2026-10-20
- Source: [GOV.UK — Student visa](https://www.gov.uk/student-visa)
- Page: https://travelsorted.grihaam.online/resources/uk-student-visa-from-india

## The short answer

To study in the UK on a course that lasts longer than six months, you apply for a **Student visa** with UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI), part of the Home Office. You need a place on a course at a **licensed student sponsor**, a **Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS)** from that university, enough money to pay your fees and support yourself, and evidence of your English language ability.

## Who decides what

- **UKVI** decides the visa rules and your application. Its pages on GOV.UK are the source of truth.
- **Your university** decides your offer, issues your CAS and tells you which English test or evidence it accepts.
- **StudentFlow** is neither. We turn the official steps into a to-do list with deadlines and point you back to the official page each time.

## The route, step by step

1. **Get an offer.** Undergraduates usually apply through UCAS. Postgraduates usually apply directly to each university.
2. **Accept the offer and meet its conditions.** Conditions can include English test results, final transcripts or a deposit.
3. **Receive your CAS.** The university gives you a CAS reference number. Check your name, passport number, course and dates against your passport before you use it.
4. **Prepare your evidence.** Passport, CAS, proof of funds, English language evidence and, if the rules apply to you, a tuberculosis (TB) test certificate.
5. **Apply online.** Pay the visa application fee and the Immigration Health Surcharge as part of the application.
6. **Give your biometrics.** Book an appointment at a visa application centre for your fingerprints and photo, and submit your documents as instructed.
7. **Wait for the decision.** Follow the instructions in your decision about travelling and about how you will prove your immigration status in the UK.

## Documents checklist

- [ ] Valid passport (check the expiry date against your course length)
- [ ] CAS reference number from your university
- [ ] Proof of funds, in the format GOV.UK asks for
- [ ] English language evidence your university accepts
- [ ] TB test certificate, if the rules apply to you
- [ ] Academic and financial documents named in the official guidance
- [ ] A way to pay the visa fee and the Immigration Health Surcharge

## Common mistakes

- **Using an old blog's money figures.** Amounts and rules change. Always open the official "money you need" page for the current position.
- **Typos.** A mismatch between your passport and your CAS or application causes delays.
- **Booking non-refundable flights before the decision.** Wait for the visa outcome.
- **Leaving the TB test or biometrics appointment too late.** Both depend on appointment availability.
- **Paying an agent who "guarantees" a visa.** Nobody can guarantee a visa. Only UKVI decides.

## Things that change

Rules about bringing family members, working during your studies and staying on after your degree have changed in recent years and may change again. Check the relevant GOV.UK page before you plan around any of them.

## Verify before you act

This guide explains the route in general terms. The official page is the only place with the current rules: [Student visa on GOV.UK](https://www.gov.uk/student-visa).

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General information, not legal or immigration advice. Confirm current rules, fees and thresholds on the official source above.