UK Student Visa Basics: CAS, Funds and IHS

student visaCASfundsIHSimmigrationUpdated 9 July 2026 The UK Student visa process for international students in 2026/2027 runs on three essential components: a valid Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) from a licensed UK university, financial evidence showing you hold enough money to cover your first-year tuition fees and living costs for a specified period, and payment of the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) to access the National Health Service during your stay. You apply online, pay the visa application fee (£490 from outside the UK as of July 2026), submit biometric information at a visa application centre, and receive a decision — typically within three weeks for standard processing from most countries. The CAS is a unique reference number, not a physical document, issued by your university after you have accepted your offer, paid any required deposit, and met all academic and English language conditions. The financial evidence must show you have held the required funds for at least 28 consecutive days ending no more than 31 days before your application date. The IHS costs £776 per year of leave granted and must be paid upfront as part of the application. Understanding each of these components before you start the process prevents the most common causes of visa delay and refusal.

The CAS: Your Gateway to the Visa Application

The Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies is the document that connects your university place to your visa application. Without a valid CAS, UK Visas and Immigration will not process your Student visa application.

Your university creates the CAS in the UKVI Sponsor Management System after you have completed the pre-CAS steps: formally accepting your offer, paying the required tuition deposit, and meeting all the conditions listed on your offer letter. The university then sends you a CAS statement — a document summarising the information it has recorded about you and your course in the UKVI database. This statement includes your CAS reference number and all the details UKVI will check when assessing your application.

The CAS contains your personal details, passport information, course title and level, course start and end dates, tuition fees for the first year and any fees already paid, whether you have met your English language requirement and how, and whether your qualification checks are complete. When you receive the CAS statement, you must check every entry against your own records. Even a single character error in your name, passport number, or course dates can cause visa processing delays or, in the worst case, a refusal. Contact your university immediately to correct any discrepancies before you submit your application. Corrections are usually processed quickly but add days to your timeline.

Your CAS is valid for six months from the date of issue. You must submit your Student visa application within this window. If your visa application is refused, the CAS becomes invalid and you must obtain a new one from the university before reapplying.

Financial Evidence: The 28-Day Rule

The financial evidence requirement is the component of the visa process that international students most often get wrong. The rules are specific, and UKVI applies them strictly.

You must demonstrate that you hold enough money to cover your first-year tuition fees as stated on your CAS, plus living costs (maintenance) for your course. For the 2026/2027 cycle, the maintenance figure is £1,334 per month for courses in London and £1,023 per month for courses outside London. UKVI calculates living costs for up to a maximum of nine months. If your course lasts 12 months, you must show living costs for nine months. If it lasts less than nine months, you must show living costs for the full course duration.

Any tuition fees you have already paid to the university at the time of your application can be deducted from the amount you need to show. For example, if your first-year tuition fee is £16,000 and you have paid a £4,000 deposit, the tuition component of your financial evidence reduces from £16,000 to £12,000. The deposit payment must be recorded on your CAS for UKVI to accept the deduction.

The funds must be held in a bank or building society current or savings account in your name or a parent’s name (with a supporting letter confirming the relationship and that funds are available for your study). Investment accounts, shares, pensions, and overdraft facilities are not accepted.

The 28-day rule requires that the full required amount has been held in the account for at least 28 consecutive days. The closing balance on each day of this period must not drop below the required amount, even for a single day. The final day of the 28-day period must end no more than 31 days before the date you submit your visa application. If your financial evidence is dated more than 31 days before your application, UKVI will reject it and you will need to provide a new statement covering a new 28-day period.

Currency fluctuations are a practical issue. The financial evidence must show the required amount in pound sterling or the equivalent using the OANDA exchange rate on the date of application. Hold a buffer of five to ten per cent above the minimum to guard against currency movements.

The Immigration Health Surcharge

The Immigration Health Surcharge is a mandatory fee that international students pay as part of the visa application. It grants access to the UK National Health Service on the same basis as a UK resident for the duration of your visa.

For the 2026/2027 cycle, the IHS rate for students is £776 per year of leave granted. UKVI calculates the total IHS based on the full period of leave you are applying for, rounded to the nearest six months. If your course is 12 months, you will likely be granted an additional period of leave beyond the course end date — usually two to four months for a master’s programme — bringing the total leave to roughly 14 to 16 months. The IHS is calculated on the full leave period, not just the course duration. For a 12-month master’s programme, expect to pay between £1,164 and £1,552 depending on the exact leave calculation.

The IHS must be paid in full at the time of your visa application. It is not refundable if your visa is refused (unless the refusal was due to a UKVI error) or if you decide not to travel after obtaining the visa. This makes the IHS a non-recoverable cost to factor into your budget.

Some students are exempt from paying the IHS, including those applying for a visa for less than six months, but the vast majority of international degree students pay the full IHS amount.

The Application Process: Step by Step

The Student visa application is submitted online through the GOV.UK website. The sequence is: complete the online form, pay the IHS, pay the visa application fee, book a biometric appointment, and attend the appointment to submit your documents and provide fingerprints and a photograph.

The online form asks for your CAS reference number, personal details, travel history, and immigration history. Answer every question accurately; inconsistencies between your application and CAS information can lead to delays or refusal. After completing the form, pay the IHS and the application fee (£490 from outside the UK), then book a biometric appointment at a visa application centre. You will need your valid passport, CAS statement, financial evidence, ATAS certificate if applicable, TB test certificate if required, and any qualifications listed on your CAS. Standard processing takes approximately three weeks; priority and super-priority services are available in many locations for an additional fee.

Dependants

Under rules effective for the 2026/2027 cycle, only students on postgraduate research programmes (PhD or doctoral-level courses) and government-sponsored students on courses lasting more than six months can bring dependants (partner or children) to the UK. Taught master’s and undergraduate students generally cannot. If eligible, each dependant requires additional maintenance funds — £845 per month in London or £680 outside London, for up to nine months — plus IHS and visa fees at the full rate.

What This Means for Your Shortlist

The visa process imposes practical requirements on your shortlist. CAS timelines vary between universities — some issue within days of conditions being met, others take weeks during the summer peak. When choosing between offers, consider CAS processing speed if your timeline is tight. The financial evidence requirement sets a hard lower bound: your funding must cover tuition, maintenance, IHS, and the visa fee. If bringing dependants matters to you, your shortlist may need to be limited to PhD programmes or government-sponsored courses under current rules.

Before You Submit the Course-Options Form

• Confirm that your passport is valid for the full duration of your intended stay. If it expires during your course, plan to renew it before the visa process begins.

• Calculate the total financial evidence you need: first-year tuition minus any deposit paid, plus maintenance funds for your study location, plus a five to ten per cent buffer for currency fluctuation.

• Identify a bank account that meets UKVI requirements and plan when you will deposit the required funds to satisfy the 28-day holding period before your intended visa application date.

• Check whether your programme requires ATAS clearance. If it does, build the ATAS application timeline (typically four to six weeks) into your schedule before the CAS can be issued.

• Verify the current IHS rate and visa application fee on GOV.UK, as these are subject to change at any time.

FAQ

Q1: How early can I apply for my Student visa?

You can apply for a Student visa up to six months before your course starts if you are applying from outside the UK. Your CAS must have been issued, and you must have held the required funds for the full 28-day period. Applying early reduces pressure and gives you time to address any issues that arise during processing.

Q2: What happens if my visa application is refused?

You will receive a refusal notice explaining the reasons. You can address the issues and reapply, or request an administrative review if you believe the refusal was based on a caseworker error. A new CAS is required for any new application. The application fee is not refunded on refusal, but the IHS is refunded in most cases.

Q3: Do I need to translate documents that are not in English?

Yes. Any document not in English or Welsh must be accompanied by a certified translation from a member of a recognised professional body, including confirmation of accuracy, the date of translation, and the translator’s contact details.

Q4: Can I travel to the UK before my course start date?

Student visa holders can enter the UK up to one month before the course start date for courses lasting six months or longer, and up to one week before for courses lasting less than six months. Plan your travel within these windows; arriving earlier requires a different type of visa.

Q5: Is the Tuberculosis test required for all international students?

No. The TB test requirement applies to applicants from countries listed by UKVI as having a high incidence of tuberculosis. The list is updated periodically and is published on GOV.UK. If your country is on the list and you are coming to the UK for more than six months, you must provide a TB test certificate from an approved clinic as part of your visa application.

Note: Visa application fees, IHS rates, maintenance fund thresholds, and dependant rules referenced in this article are based on the UKVI Student route guidance for the 2026/2027 cycle as published on GOV.UK. Immigration rules and fees are subject to change. Always verify current requirements, fees, and processing times on GOV.UK before preparing your visa application. University CAS procedures and deposit requirements vary; confirm directly with your university’s international office.

Check Course Options

The Student visa process starts with a confirmed university place. If you are still building your shortlist, a structured brief helps match you with UK course options that fit your academic profile, budget, and timeline.

Check course options

Check course options

Share your background, target intake, subject direction, and constraints. We’ll help frame possible UK university and course options based on the information you provide. Check course options Open the course-options form to start building your shortlist.