This page offers information for new and continuing University of Strathclyde students applying for a Student visa from inside the UK.
The information and guidance provided on this page are for prospective and current University of Strathclyde international students only. The Home Office and UKVI may also frequently update their visa application processes at short notice. Please visit GOV.UK to ensure you are up to date with the latest information in applying for your Student visa.
The following applicants may be able to apply for a Student visa in the UK.
| Applicant | Details |
| Strathclyde undergraduate and postgraduate taught students |
Please note, you can only apply for an extension in the UK if the University's Visa Compliance Team assess that you are eligible for a new CAS to apply in the UK |
| Strathclyde PhD students |
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Applicant |
Details |
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University of Strathclyde students commencing a new course of study at the University |
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New applicants to the University of Strathclyde coming from another Higher Education Provider |
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New applicants to the University of Strathclyde with an eligible and valid UK visa |
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In addition, in order for you to be eligible to apply in the UK, there must be less than 28 days between when your current Student visa or Tier 4 visa expires and your course start date on your CAS. This is confirmed in Appendix Student paragraph ST 4.3.
If you feel that you have serious and compelling reasons why you cannot return home to make a new visa application, please contact the International Student Support Team who can give you information about accessing an immigration lawyer in the UK.
Students who have previously been granted a Student visa or Tier 4 visa must also meet the academic progression requirement. Students completing a PhD do not need to meet the requirement for academic progression. More information is in the Student route caseworker guidance.
Some applicants can switch to the Student visa in the UK if you have a visa not listed below.
If you are in the UK and have a visa in the following categories, you cannot apply to switch to the Student visa in the UK:
If you are an EEA National and already have been granted Pre-Settled or Settled Status through the EU Settlement Scheme, you do not need to apply for a Student visa as this status permits you to study in the UK. You will need to check that your status will cover the duration of your studies.
Please contact our team with:
in your email. Advice is provided in line with our Code of Practice and Privacy Notice.
The cost is:
The above application fee is the same for Dependants. Each applicant must pay the visa fee.
Depending on how you apply, whether you use the UK Immigration: ID Check app or have to attend an appointment at a UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS) centre, you can pay an additional fee to get a faster decision on your application.
The costs are:
The above fee would be paid in addition to the application fee.
Find out more about when you can receive a decision if you pay for a faster decision. You cannot get a decision by the end of the next working day if you use the UK Immigration: ID Check app.
You will also have to pay a healthcare surcharge. The healthcare surcharge is calculated based on how long your visa will be granted and not on your course dates. It cannot be paid in instalments.
Find out how much you have to pay from the immigration health surcharge calculator. You will require your CAS for this.
Before applying for your Student visa, you will first need a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS). A CAS is an electronic document with a number known as the CAS number which you require when completing your Student visa application.
Students starting a new course at the University of Strathclyde will receive a CAS from Admissions by email.
Students who need to extend their Student visa must first apply for a CAS through the CAS Request Form:
When completing your CAS Request Form, check the form carefully and make sure that any necessary documents are included.
Check that the details and information in your CAS are correct before you make your Student visa application.
If you need guidance on completing your Student visa application form, please see our page on the Student visa application form guidance for applying in the UK.
Depending on how you apply, some of the questions may be worded differently.
If there is a question on the application where you are not sure, you can:
When emailing questions about your Student visa application, please use your University of Strathclyde email address.
After you submit your Student visa application, you will have to wait for a decision on your application. This can be up to 8 weeks, unless you paid to get a faster decision.
It is important that you check your emails in case you receive communication from UKVI. Please be sure to check your spam/junk folders also.
If you made your application before your visa expiry date, you can remain in the UK until a decision has been made on your application. However if you must travel, please be aware that if you travel outside the UK, your Student visa application will be withdrawn.
When a decision has been made on your application, you will receive an email from UKVI.
The email will also tell you:
When you receive your new visa, it is important to check the details and information are correct. Check details such as your name, visa conditions and that the end date on your visa provides you enough time to complete your studies.
How to report an error will depend if you have an online digital status or BRP. Please contact us with your details and we can help advise how to report errors.
If your BRP has an expiry date of 31 December 2024, but your visa has been granted beyond this date, UKVI advise that you will be given an online digital status for the remaining period of your visa.
You will not need a BRP from 1 January 2025. You will be able to prove your immigration status online, without a BRP.
UKVI will update information on how to prove your immigration status in early 2024. You do not need to do anything and your immigration status will not be affected.
From your University email address, please send a clear copy of your BRP or your share code to our team at infoandadvice@strath.ac.uk Your student record will then be updated with your new visa information.
If your term-time address changed when you submitted your Student visa application and/or during your study in the UK at Strathclyde, be sure to update your address with UKVI and on Pegasus.
Dependants of a Student visa applicant who wish to apply in the UK must meet eligibility and financial requirements in Appendix Student.
A Dependant can be one of the following:
If your partner will be applying as a Dependant, they will also have to meet requirements in Appendix Relationship with Partner.
In order to have Dependants on a Student visa:
Additional evidence will have to be provided of your relationship to your dependants when they apply. Please see our Supporting documents guidance for details.
*UK Visas and Immigration define "postgraduate level study" as a course that is level 11 or above of the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) or level 7 or above of the Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF). Please check with our Admissions team for your course level.
In most cases, Dependants must make a visa application before their current UK visa expires.
However, Dependants cannot apply to switch in the UK if they have one of the following visas:
In the UK, Dependants can either apply together with the main Student visa applicant or at a different time (separately from the Student visa applicant) as long as the visa application is made before their current visa expires.
If Dependants are applying together with the main Student visa applicant, Dependants can be added to the main Student visa application after the main Student visa applicant has entered their details.
If Dependants are applying after a main Student visa holder's visa has been granted, see the GOV.UK - Student visa - Your partner and children page for the appropriate Dependant visa application form links.
Students who are applying together with family members in the UK including children under 18 years old may have to make an appointment to visit a UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS) Centre to enrol biometrics as part of the visa application process.
Supporting documents can be uploaded to the UKVCAS website before your appointment. If documents are not uploaded, a fee will be charged to upload documents at your appointment.
For details on the supporting documents needed and financial requirements for Dependants, please see our Supporting documents guidance.
This will depend on the processing service you selected when you made your visa application.
UKVI advise on their Student visa page that it normally takes 3 weeks to receive a decision.
For each applicant (Student visa and Dependant) you will need to pay:
The above fees are for in-country Student and Dependant visa extension applications in the UK with standard service.
Sometimes priority or super priority services may be available, which may offer opportunity for your visa application to be processed more quickly. Please check what services may be available to you at the time you pay for your visa application.
While you can keep your passport while your Student visa application is being processed, if you leave the UK and travel using the passport you used for your visa application, your visa application will automatically be withdrawn by UKVI.
You will then need to make a new Student visa application from outside the UK.
Please contact our team for advice if you may need to travel outside the UK before you receive a decision on your application.
It is expected that you make plenty of time before your Tier 4 or Student visa expires to apply for your ATAS. If you have to apply to extend your Student visa, you will require ATAS for your new visa extension period. It is your responsibility to make your ATAS application in good time and have it ready and available before applying for your Student visa.
ATAS applications are taking at least 30 working days (6 full weeks) and up to 8 weeks.
If you are attending a biometric appointment, you must have your ATAS available and uploaded and before you attend your biometric appointment with UKVCAS. Please ensure you have received and uploaded your ATAS certificate to the UKVCAS online system before going to your appointment. If you are unable to provide your ATAS certificate before your biometric appointment date, there is a high risk your Student visa application will be refused.
If you are unable to provide your ATAS certificate through the IDV app when requested to upload your supporting documents, there is a risk your Student visa application will be refused.
If you do not have your ATAS certificate by your expected decision date, please contact the International Student Support Team with your ATAS reference number, application date and the expected decision date. You can also contact us if your ATAS application is refused.