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🇬🇧 UK · Student visa

UK Student visa approval odds

The UK Student route needs a CAS from a licensed student sponsor plus proof of funds for tuition and living costs: £1,334 per month for courses in London or about £1,023 per month elsewhere, for up to 9 months, held for 28 consecutive days (2025/26). With a genuine CAS and correct funds, approval is generally high.

Last reviewed August 2026 per our editorial standards. Source: GOV.UK — UK Home Office .

How likely is a student visa to the United Kingdom? Officers focus on whether you are a genuine student who can fund and complete the course. A typical applicant sees roughly 90%, and the biggest single lever is admission and funding.

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The essentials. Pre-filled if you came from a specific page.

Key requirements

  • A Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) from a licensed sponsor
  • Maintenance funds: £1,334/month (London) or ~£1,023/month (outside), up to 9 months
  • Funds held in your account for 28 consecutive days
  • Meet the English language requirement
  • TB test certificate where required for your country

Visa fee (cost)

£558 visa fee (April 2026 rate) plus the Immigration Health Surcharge (£776 per year of study).

Money & funds

Course fees (or first-year fees) plus £1,529/month for courses in London or £1,171/month outside London, for up to 9 months — held for 28 straight days ending within 31 days of applying.

Typical timeline

Apply after receiving your CAS; decisions typically take about 3 weeks when applying from outside the UK.

Common refusal reasons

  • Funds not held for the full 28-day period
  • Missing or incorrect financial evidence
  • An invalid, withdrawn, or mismatched CAS
  • Failing the credibility / genuine-student assessment
  • English language requirement not met

UK student visa refusal rates by nationality (year to March 2026)

Home Office decisions on entry clearance applications, by the applicant's nationality and visa type, for the year to March 2026. Withdrawn and lapsed applications are excluded. None of these predicts an individual decision — they show how strictly the bar has been applied.

UK student visa outcomes in year to March 2026, best to worst, for the nationalities we publish pages for.
NationalityRefusedIssuedDecided
Indonesia0.8%99.2%2,893
Kuwait1%99%5,441
Vietnam2%98%2,664
Saudi Arabia2.8%97.2%6,881
Turkey3.1%96.9%6,481
Egypt4.1%95.9%1,619
India4.2%95.8%96,103
Tanzania4.5%95.5%332
the Philippines4.8%95.2%479
Nepal4.8%95.2%20,649
Morocco5.5%94.5%947
Algeria5.9%94.1%760
Uganda9.4%90.6%619
Nigeria10.4%89.6%39,265
Sri Lanka12.2%87.8%4,613
Kenya12.3%87.7%3,069
Ghana16.8%83.2%5,537
Bangladesh19.8%80.2%13,832
Pakistan21.8%78.2%34,691
Cameroon26.7%73.3%670

Source: UK Home Office — outcomes of entry clearance visa applications by nationality and visa type (Vis_D02) . Every nationality above links to its own page with the year-on-year movement and a comparison across destinations.

What actually moves the needle

Admission to an accredited institution

This is the heart of student decisions for UK. Make it concrete and documented rather than assumed.

Clearly documented funding for tuition and living costs

Officers weigh this alongside everything else — gather clear evidence before you apply.

A credible study plan that fits your background

Officers weigh this alongside everything else — gather clear evidence before you apply.

Avoid the common pitfall

The most frequent reason this route fails is unclear funding or a course that does not fit your profile. Address it directly and you remove the biggest doubt.

Frequently asked questions

How much money do I need for a UK Student visa in 2026?

Tuition plus £1,334 per month for study in London or about £1,023 per month outside London, for up to 9 months — held in your account for 28 consecutive days.

What is a CAS and why do I need one?

A Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies is a reference number from your licensed sponsor (university/college). You cannot apply for the Student route without a valid CAS.

Are UK student visa approval rates high?

Yes — because a licensed sponsor issues the CAS after vetting you, and the financial rules are clear. Meeting the funds and CAS rules correctly makes approval likely.

Do I need an English test for a UK Student visa?

You must meet the English requirement, usually via an approved test (or an exemption, e.g. for nationals of majority-English-speaking countries or certain degree-level courses assessed by the university).

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Helpful guides

UK ETA 2026: who needs it, cost (£20) and how to apply → How long does a visa take? US, UK, Canada & Schengen (2026) → How to prove funding for a student visa → How to read visa approval and refusal rates → How to prove strong ties to your home country → How to document your finances for a visa →