Wesbridge Associates · /student-visas

UK Student Visas

Compare UK study routes — Student, Short-term Study, PhD and Graduate — with CAS rules, maintenance thresholds and the 2024 dependant restriction explained.

Wesbridge Associates is an IAA-regulated UK immigration law firm. Our advisers support individuals, families and UK sponsors with skilled worker visas, sponsor licences, family routes, settlement (ILR), British citizenship, appeals and compliance — combining experienced legal advice with AI-powered self-service tools.

Wesbridge Associates advises international students, sponsors and parents on every UK student visa route — the main Student route for degree and pre-degree study, the Short-term Study route for English language courses of six to eleven months, the Child Student route for pupils aged four to seventeen at independent schools, and the post-study Graduate route. We handle new applications, dependant applications, refusals, credibility interviews and switching into work routes at the end of a course.

UK student visa routes

The Student route covers courses at licensed Student sponsors (universities, colleges and independent schools) at RQF level 3 and above, including foundation programmes, undergraduate degrees, master's, PhDs, and pre-sessional English tied to a degree offer. The Short-term Study route covers standalone English language courses of six to eleven months at accredited providers with no work rights. The Child Student route is for children aged 4-17 at independent schools. The Graduate route lets bachelor's and master's graduates stay two years (three for PhDs) with unrestricted work rights.

Core requirements

You need a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) from a licensed Student sponsor, English language ability at CEFR B2 for degree courses (B1 below degree level) evidenced by a Secure English Language Test or degree taught in English, and financial evidence covering course fees for one year plus £1,483 per month in London or £1,136 per month outside London (up to nine months). Applicants under 18 need parental consent. Some nationalities are exempt from the financial and English evidence requirements (Appendix ST).

Working, dependants and switching

Student route holders on degree-level courses can work up to 20 hours a week in term and full time in vacations. Dependants are only allowed for postgraduate research (PhD or equivalent) courses of nine months or longer, and for government-sponsored students on courses of six months or more. At the end of your course you can switch into the Graduate route from inside the UK, or into Skilled Worker if you have a sponsored graduate job.

How Wesbridge helps

We review your CAS and offer letter for compliance issues, prepare the financial evidence in the correct 28-day-held format, brief you for any credibility interview, submit the application, and handle refusals or administrative reviews. For parents of Child Student applicants we prepare guardianship, care and welfare declarations. For sponsors we run mock BCA (Basic Compliance Assessment) audits so you stay above the 90% enrolment, 90% attendance and 10% refusal thresholds.

Frequently asked questions

How long does a Student visa take?

Standard processing is three weeks from outside the UK and eight weeks inside; priority (five working days) and super-priority (next working day) services are available for most nationalities at extra cost.

Can I work full time as a student?

During official vacation periods and after your course end date (until your visa expires), yes. During term you are limited to 20 hours a week if studying at degree level or above, and 10 hours below degree level. Self-employment and professional sportsperson roles are not permitted.

Do I need to show maintenance funds if I have been in the UK a while?

If you have been in the UK with valid permission for at least 12 months on the date of application, you are usually exempt from the financial requirement. Otherwise you must show the required amount held for 28 consecutive days ending within 31 days of the application date.

What happens if my course is shortened or I fail?

Your sponsor must report changes to the Home Office. A curtailed CAS or withdrawal can lead to your visa being cut short (usually to 60 days) so you can find a new sponsor or leave. Take advice quickly — options include finding a new CAS, switching route, or lodging an administrative review if the withdrawal is disputed.

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