EDUCATION and Study Visa Requirements for England.

 

🎓 1. Higher Financial Requirements (from 11 Nov 2025)

If you apply for a UK Student Visa on or after 11 November 2025, you must show more funds for living costs:
📌 London: £1,529 per month (up to 9 months)
📌 Outside London: £1,171 per month (up to 9 months)
💡 The maximum accommodation offset (pre-paid rent) also increases to £1,529.
This is to prove you can cover your living expenses while studying. UKCISA+1

💡 Tip: Funds must be held for at least 28 consecutive days before your visa application. bath.ac.uk

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🧠 2. Phasing Out Physical Stickers – eVisa (Rolling Change)

From 15 July 2025, the UK started replacing physical visa stickers (vignettes) with digital eVisa status for most student visas.
That means instead of sticking a visa into your passport, you’ll use an online UKVI account to prove immigration permission. GOV.UK

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💼 3. Post-Study Work (Graduate Route) Changes

The Graduate Route (Post-Study Work Visa) is changing for future applicants:
✔️ Before 1 Jan 2027: You still get 2 years post-study stay after an undergraduate or master’s degree.
➡️ From 1 Jan 2027: Length will be reduced to 18 months for UK bachelor’s and master’s graduates.
📌 PhD and other doctoral grads will still get 3 years. UKCISA+1

💡 So if you plan to graduate in 2026 and apply early, you can benefit from the longer 2-year post-study stay. UKCISA

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📑 4. English-Language & Compliance (Trend)

There’s ongoing tightening of English-language checks and compliance across visa routes, including student routes:

• More emphasis on genuine study intent

• Tighter compliance and checks on education providers

• English test expectations may be reinforced (especially for some categories)
  These reflect broader immigration policy changes but aren’t a specific new rule just for students yet. UKCISA

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👨‍👩‍👧 5. Dependants & Switching Routes

✔️ Only certain students (like postgraduate research students) can bring dependants.
✔️ NEW (Nov 25 2025): International students can switch to an Innovator Founder visa from within the UK to start a business—no need to leave the UK first. Business Insider Africa

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🔍 6. What Hasn’t Changed (Important to Know)

❌ There’s no immediate rule letting all students bring family (only postgraduate research courses in specific cases). GOV.UK
❌ The basic eligibility (offer from licensed sponsor + funds + English ability) stays the same.

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📈 7. Visa Demand Trends

Despite stricter rules, UK student visa applications increased in 2025 compared with 2024. Business Standard

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🧠 Quick Checklist Before You Apply

✔️ Offer from a UK university (CAS letter)
✔️ Updated maintenance funds (higher amounts from Nov 2025)
✔️ TB test (if applicable), passport & documents
✔️ eVisa account set up (no sticker needed)
✔️ Plan if you want Graduate Route (apply before 2027 for 2 years)