International students in the UK: visas, money, work and settling in
From your CAS and Student visa to proof of funds, NHS access, work limits, accommodation, making friends and the Graduate visa after your degree. Use this as the practical UK study guide, then verify immigration decisions with GOV.UK and your university's international student advisers.
What international students need to know for 2026/27
Some of the most important figures on older international-student guides are now out of date.
The Student visa fee is £558
From 8 April 2026, the main Student visa application fee is £558 whether you apply from outside the UK or extend or switch from inside the UK.
The maintenance requirement increased
For the visa financial requirement, eligible applicants now need £1,529 per month in London or £1,171 per month outside London, for up to nine months, unless an exemption applies.
The Graduate visa becomes shorter in 2027
Non-doctoral applicants who apply on or before 31 December 2026 can receive two years. Applications from 1 January 2027 receive 18 months. Doctoral graduates can still receive three years.
Official checks: Student visa overview, financial requirement and Graduate visa.
The Student visa journey, step by step
Your exact document list depends on nationality, course and circumstances. Treat your university's international office and GOV.UK as the final authority for your application.
If you are applying for a master's degree or above, check whether your subject requires an ATAS certificate. Some applicants also need a TB test.
Budget for the visa rules and the real student costs
The amount you must prove for a visa is a legal minimum, not a guarantee that it will cover your real rent, food, travel and course costs.
Working on a UK Student visa: check the permission, not the myth
Your permitted work depends on your sponsor, course level and visa conditions. The familiar 20-hour rule does not apply to every Student visa holder.
Up to 20 hours in term time
- Applies to qualifying full-time degree-level or above study with an eligible higher education sponsor
- Full-time employment can be permitted outside term time
- Hours across employers combine into the same weekly limit
- Work placements can have separate rules when they are an assessed part of the course
10 hours or no work can apply
- Qualifying full-time study below degree level can have a 10-hour term-time limit
- Some part-time postgraduate study has no work permission
- Never assume your friend's visa conditions match yours
- Use your eVisa/decision information and university adviser to confirm your conditions
Some work is prohibited
- Self-employment and business activity are generally prohibited on the Student route
- Professional sportsperson and entertainer work is not permitted
- Permanent full-time vacancies are restricted except in specified transition circumstances
- Voluntary work can count towards the term-time hours limit, while genuine volunteering is treated differently
Current work conditions are set out in Appendix Student. You can start work before receiving a National Insurance number if you can prove your right to work. GOV.UK explains when to apply for NI.
of our wider student sample worried about socialising before university
This is not an international-student-only statistic. It comes from Unifresher's 500-person UK student survey and shows that worries about belonging are common across the student transition.
Your first UK week: sort the boring things early
A little admin in the first few days makes the rest of the term much easier.
Complete university registration
Follow your sponsor's enrolment process, attend required checks and keep your address and contact information up to date.
Register with a GP
If you paid the IHS, you can access NHS care on broadly the same basis as someone ordinarily resident. Register locally before you actually need an appointment.
Set up UK payments
Compare current accounts and international-transfer costs. Check what identification and proof of address each provider requires rather than assuming one bank is easiest for everyone.
Understand your accommodation
Save the tenancy, inventory, emergency contact and deposit information. If you need a guarantor, confirm what overseas evidence the provider accepts.
Learn the city
Find the cheapest practical route to campus, supermarket options, student support and the areas you will actually use week to week.
Build repeat contact
Course groups, societies, halls and recurring activities are more reliable for making friends than trying to solve your whole social life in Freshers week.
Can international students bring dependants?
The rules are much narrower than they used to be, especially for taught postgraduate courses.
You may qualify if...
- You are government-sponsored on a qualifying full-time course lasting longer than six months
- Or you are on a qualifying postgraduate course lasting at least nine months
- For courses starting from 1 January 2024, the postgraduate route normally needs to be a PhD, doctorate or research-based higher degree
- Your partner or child must also meet the dependant eligibility requirements
Do not assume...
- A standard taught master's automatically allows dependants
- Rules from a previous intake still apply to your start date
- Graduate visa dependants can be completely new family members in the usual case
- Your university can override Home Office dependant rules
Check the current Student visa dependant rules on GOV.UK before making travel, childcare or housing commitments.
After your degree: the Graduate visa changed
The deadline you apply under now changes how long a non-doctoral Graduate visa lasts.
If you meet the other Graduate visa requirements and apply on or before 31 December 2026.
The post-study period reduces to 18 months for applications made from 1 January 2027.
The current Graduate visa duration remains three years for eligible doctoral graduates.
Current application cost
The Graduate visa application fee is £937. The healthcare surcharge is usually £1,035 for each year of the Graduate visa, with GOV.UK calculating the amount for the period granted.
Where and when to apply
You must be in the UK and apply before your Student visa expires, after your education provider has reported successful completion to the Home Office. You cannot extend the Graduate visa, but you may be able to switch to another route such as Skilled Worker.
Check current Graduate visa eligibility and current costs before applying.
International student FAQs
Immigration answers should always be checked against your individual permission before you act.
How much does a UK Student visa cost in 2026?
The Student visa application fee is £558 from 8 April 2026. You also normally pay the Immigration Health Surcharge, currently £776 per year for students, based on the length of the visa granted.
How much money do I need to show for a Student visa?
The current living-cost requirement is £1,529 per month for up to nine months if your course is in London or £1,171 per month for up to nine months outside London, in addition to the relevant course-fee requirement. Exemptions and evidence rules can apply, so check GOV.UK for your case.
Can international students work 20 hours every week?
Not all Student visa holders have the same permission. Qualifying full-time degree-level study can permit up to 20 hours per week in term time, but below-degree study can have a 10-hour limit and some routes permit no work. Check your own conditions.
Can I freelance or be self-employed on a Student visa?
Self-employment and business activity are generally prohibited under Student route work conditions, subject to narrow immigration-rule exceptions. Do not start freelance or business activity without checking your immigration permission with a qualified adviser or your university's international team.
Do I need a National Insurance number before I start work?
No. GOV.UK says you can start work before receiving your National Insurance number if you can prove your right to work in the UK. Apply for an NI number once you meet the eligibility conditions.
How long is the Graduate visa in 2027?
For eligible bachelor's and master's graduates, applications made from 1 January 2027 receive 18 months. Applications made on or before 31 December 2026 can receive two years. Eligible PhD and doctoral graduates can receive three years.
Can a taught master's student bring a partner or children?
Usually not under the rules for courses starting from 1 January 2024 unless another qualifying category applies. The postgraduate dependant route is normally restricted to PhD, doctoral or research-based higher degrees, alongside qualifying government-sponsored students.
The best international-student plan separates immigration rules from student-life decisions.
Use GOV.UK and your university for the visa conditions. Use Unifresher to understand the city, housing, money, work and student experience around the degree.