UK Student Route FAQ
Clear answers about CAS, financial evidence, the 28-day rule, the Graduate Route, ATAS clearance, switching visas, and working while studying. This FAQ aggregates the most common questions from our Student Route and Graduate Route articles.
This FAQ is for international students applying for a UK Student Route visa, renewing their permission, planning to transition to the Graduate Route, or considering switching to a Skilled Worker visa mid-course. The questions reflect the most common situations we see from student applicants in UKVI forums and from our own document review clients. Each answer is grounded in the Immigration Rules (Appendix Student, Appendix Graduate, Appendix Skilled Worker), Home Office caseworker guidance, and current UKVI policy as of mid-2026.
The Student Route has undergone several recent changes, including the restriction on dependants for most taught postgraduate courses from September 2023, adjustments to working-hour limits, and the upcoming reduction of the non-doctoral Graduate Route from 2 years to 18 months from 1 January 2027. The financial evidence requirements and the 28-day rule remain common refusal triggers. The answers below reflect the current rules in effect as of July 2026.
The question list below covers the most frequently asked Student Route topics. For a deeper dive into any subject, the articles linked at the bottom of this page provide step-by-step guidance, document checklists, and the specific Home Office policy references that apply to each stage.
How to use this FAQ
- Start with CAS + funds evidence (28-day rule) before dependants or Graduate Route timing questions.
- Confirm maintenance levels and CAS validity on GOV.UK / your sponsor's CAS letter the week you file.
- Dual-graph: campus journey on uk universities; form-level Student Route procedure on this library (editorial-only).
Reviewer programs for UK matters are under development; until those programs launch, UK content is editorial-only.
How much money do I need to show for a UK Student Route visa?
You must show enough money to cover your first year of course fees plus living costs. The living cost amount is £1,529 per month if studying in London, or £1,171 per month outside London, for up to 9 months. If your course is 9 months or longer, you show 9 months of living costs. If your course is shorter, you show the full course length. The funds must have been in the account for the required evidence period ending no more than 31 days before you apply. If you are using a student loan, the loan letter must confirm the amount, that it is available to you, and the disbursement schedule. Verify the exact figures on GOV.UK before applying, as they are updated periodically.
What is the 28-day rule for Student Route financial evidence?
The 28-day rule means the closing balance in your account must not dip below the required amount on any day during a continuous 28-day period. The 28th day must end no more than 31 days before your application date. A common refusal reason is showing a statement where the balance dropped below the threshold on day 15, even if it was back above the threshold by day 28. Another common error is using a statement that ends more than 31 days before the application date. If you are using a parent's account, you must also provide a birth certificate and a financial consent letter that meets UKVI's format requirements.
Can I work while studying on the Student Route?
Yes, but with restrictions that depend on your course level and sponsor type. Most degree-level students can work up to 20 hours per week during term time and full time during official vacation periods. Students at below-degree level (for example, studying at a further education college) are generally limited to 10 hours per week during term time. You cannot fill a permanent full-time vacancy, be self-employed, or work as a professional sportsperson or entertainer. Your employer and the university are both responsible for checking these conditions. Working more than your permitted hours is a breach of immigration conditions and can affect future applications, including the Graduate Route.
What is a CAS and why does it matter?
A Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) is a unique reference number issued by your licensed student sponsor. It confirms that the university has made you an unconditional offer, checked that you can meet the course requirements, and assessed that you are genuine about studying. The CAS is the single most important document in your Student Route application because every other piece of evidence — funds, English test, ATAS certificate — must align with the details on the CAS. If your CAS says your course starts on 15 September but your bank statements are dated July, the officer may question whether the funds will still be available. If the CAS fee figure does not match your offer letter, the application can be refused for inconsistency.
How long does the Graduate Route let me stay in the UK?
If you complete an eligible degree-level course at a licensed Higher Education Provider, the Graduate Route grants permission to stay for 2 years (or 3 years for PhD graduates). You must apply from inside the UK before your Student permission expires. You cannot travel outside the Common Travel Area while your Graduate Route application is pending. The route does not require a job offer, but it is not renewable — you can only hold Graduate Route permission once. From 1 January 2027, the non-doctoral Graduate Route is expected to reduce to 18 months for most applicants, so check the current rules before making long-term plans.
Can I bring dependants on the Student Route?
From September 2023, most new international students on taught postgraduate courses (master's level and below) cannot bring dependants to the UK. PhD students and those on government-sponsored scholarships may still be able to bring dependants. If you are already in the UK with dependants and you switch to a course that no longer permits dependants, your dependants may need to leave or switch to their own visa category. The rules are complex and depend on your specific course level, start date, and funding source. Check the current GOV.UK guidance before making housing or travel arrangements for family members.
Should I use the regional UK university pages or this legal library for CAS rules?
Use uk.yousafeconsultancy.com university journey pages for campus logistics (CAS timelines at a school, housing, arrival). Use this legal library for Immigration Rules procedure: maintenance funds, 28-day banking evidence, Graduate Route eligibility, and dependant restrictions. Both hosts are indexable and cross-linked as complementary — legal owns the procedure, the regional site owns the campus journey. Always re-check GOV.UK Student visa money guidance before you file.
What is ATAS and do I need one?
The Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) is a security clearance certificate required for certain postgraduate courses and research in sensitive subjects — primarily in science, engineering, medicine, and technology fields where the knowledge gained could be used in advanced conventional military technology or weapons of mass destruction. Your CAS will state whether ATAS is required for your course. You must apply for ATAS through the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) before you submit your Student Route application, and the certificate is valid for 6 months. The ATAS application requires details of your course, research proposal (if applicable), and your full academic and employment history. Processing typically takes 20-30 working days but can take longer during peak periods. If your ATAS is refused, your Student Route application cannot succeed because the CAS condition requiring ATAS clearance is not met.
Can I switch from the Student Route to a Skilled Worker visa before finishing my course?
Yes, you can switch from the Student Route to a Skilled Worker visa before completing your course, provided you have a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) from a licensed employer and meet the Skilled Worker requirements — the job must be at the appropriate skill level (RQF Level 3 or above), the salary must meet the general threshold and the going rate for the occupation code, and you must meet the English language requirement. However, switching before completing your course has significant implications: your CAS will be withdrawn, you will not complete the qualification you were studying for, and you lose eligibility for the Graduate Route (which requires completion of the course). Switching mid-course is typically only advisable if you have a confirmed employer sponsor offering a role that aligns with your long-term career plans and the Graduate Route would not add value.
Worked example: CAS, financial evidence, and the 28-day rule alignment
Priya, an Indian national, received an unconditional offer for a Master of Public Health at the University of Birmingham starting 22 September 2026. Her CAS was issued on 10 August 2026. The CAS stated course fees of £23,000 — she had already paid a £5,000 deposit, leaving £18,000 outstanding. Birmingham is outside London, so the living cost requirement was £1,171 × 9 months = £10,539. Her total required funds: £18,000 (outstanding fees) + £10,539 (living costs) = £28,539.
Priya held funds in a fixed deposit account in her own name at an Indian bank. She obtained a bank statement showing the full £28,539 had been held for 32 consecutive days (more than the required 28). The statement was dated 20 August 2026 — 33 days before her planned application date, within the 31-day window. She submitted: the bank statement on official letterhead, a letter from the bank confirming the funds were immediately accessible, her CAS statement, and the receipt for her £5,000 deposit. Her application was approved without a request for further evidence. Three months earlier, a friend with the same course and bank balance was refused because the statement showed the balance dipped below the threshold on day 12 of the 28-day period — the friend had temporarily transferred money to a sibling and transferred it back, not realising every day within the period is checked.
Official sources
Verify fees, forms, and eligibility on first-party government sites. FAQ answers are educational and not a substitute for a DSO, solicitor, or licensed adviser.
Procedural deep-dives
For statutes, checklists, and filing strategy, use these legal owners.
- UK Student Route eligibility 2026
Who qualifies and what UKVI checks first.
- Graduate route visa
Post-study work rules after a UK degree.
Where to go next
The full articles below cover each FAQ topic in depth, with Home Office policy references, document checklists, and step-by-step guidance for the Student Route.
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