You may be able to extend your Student visa to stay longer and continue your course or study a new course. This includes if you currently have a Tier 4 (General) student visa.

To extend your visa you must:

• be in the UK on a Student visa or a Tier 4 (General) student visa
• have an unconditional offer of a place on a course with a licensed student sponsor – shown by your Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS)
• show that your studies are at a higher academic level than your current course (called the ‘academic progress requirement’) – there are some exceptions

If you’ve been in the UK with a valid visa for less than 12 months, you’ll need to prove you have enough money to support yourself in the UK.

Your partner or children will need to apply separately to extend their visa. They can either apply at the same time as you, or at any time before their current visa expires.

You can also switch to a Graduate visa to stay in the UK for at least 2 years after successfully completing your course.

Showing academic progress

If you’re currently studying in the UK, you’ll usually need to show your studies will be at a higher academic level than your current course.

Your new course must be one of the following:

• at a higher academic level than your current course
• at the same level and related to your previous course or career aspirations – it must be degree level or above at a Higher Education Provider (HEP)
• intercalated to a medicine, dentistry or medical science course you started studying under your Student visa (including a Tier 4 (General) student visa)

You do not need to show your studies are at a higher level if you’re doing one of the following:

• resitting exams or repeating modules
• applying for the first time to a new institution to complete a course you started at an institution that lost its student sponsorship licence
• applying after working as a student union sabbatical officer to complete a qualification you started studying under your last Student visa (including a Tier 4 (General) student visa)
• completing a PhD or other doctorate that you started studying under your last Student visa (including a Tier 4 (General) student visa)
• continuing your medical, dentistry or medical science degree after completing an intercalated course
• applying to extend your stay to complete your studies because you’ve done (or want to do) a work placement or study abroad programme

If you’re applying to work in the UK

You can get a CAS if you’re applying to work as a student union sabbatical officer.

When to apply for student visa extension UK?

The earliest you can apply is 3 months before your course starts. You must apply before your current visa expires. Your new course must begin within 28 days of your current visa expiring.

For example, if your visa expires on 1 December, you must apply for a new visa before 1 December. Your new course must begin by 29 December.

You must also apply within 6 months of getting a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS).

You can stay in the UK until you get your decision. If you applied for an administrative review because your application was refused, you can stay in the UK until you get your review decision.

Fees

You will be asked to pay:

• the visa application fee of £475 for a standard application – this fee will be higher (an additional £500) if you have selected the faster priority service, if it’s available at the time of your application
• £19.20 for biometric enrolment
• the Immigration Health Surcharge, at a cost of £470 per year for the visa duration – the Visa and Immigration team can help you calculate how much you will pay

The same fees apply for any family members applying for a visa as your dependants. You’ll need to have your biometric information (fingerprints and a photo) taken – there’s no fee for this.

HOW TO APPLY FOR STUDENT VISA EXTENSION UK

You must apply online. As part of your application you’ll need to prove your identity. How you do this depends on where you’re from and the type of passport or resident permit you have.

You’ll either:

• use the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ app to scan your identity document – you’ll also create or sign in to your UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account
• give your fingerprints and a photograph (biometric information) at a UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS) service point – this is to get a biometric residence permit

You’ll be told what you need to do when you apply.

APPLY HERE