HomeStudent or traineeUnited Kingdom
Routes to United Kingdom: student or trainee
Per sources (unverified): open with a licensed sponsor offer and proof of funds
You need a place from a licensed student sponsor, B2 English for degree courses (B1 below degree), and funds for fees plus GBP 1,529 a month in London or GBP 1,171 elsewhere for up to 9 months. Work is limited and self-employment is barred. The Graduate visa gives 2 years if applied by 31 December 2026, then 18 months from 1 January 2027.
Match an occupation and passport
Choose an occupation and a passport
0 study paths are named in United Kingdom's official demand list, ranked below.
What United Kingdom wants, in its own order
This order is the official shortage analysis, not our opinion. The source is linked under the list.
The routes
Each route below is a separate permit with its own listed requirements. A requirement you do not meet can stop an application for that route, however strong the rest of the case is. A requirement we cannot confirm is shown as unknown, not as a failure.
Student visa (Student visa)
Preview — under verificationOpen to applicants aged 16 or over with a place from a licensed student sponsor, but you must show course fees plus living costs for up to 9 months, and cannot be self-employed or claim public funds.
Who this is for
- Degree and below-degree students aged 16 or over
- Applicants with an offer from a licensed student sponsor
You must have every one of these
- Aged 16 or over (16 and 17 year olds need parental consent evidence, or may fall under the Child Student visa).
- Offer of a place on a course from a licensed student sponsor.
- Enough money for course fees (first academic year, up to 9 months) plus living costs, held 28 consecutive days ending within 31 days of application.
- English at CEFR B2 for degree-level and above, B1 for courses below degree level, unless exempt.
- Master's level or above in some subjects may need an ATAS certificate.
Source: GOV.UK: Student visa (checked 2026-11-07; Government or public body) · GOV.UK: Student visa, money you need (checked 2026-11-07; Government or public body) · GOV.UK: Student visa, knowledge of English (checked 2026-11-07; Government or public body) · GOV.UK: Student visa, your course (checked 2026-11-07; Government or public body) · GOV.UK: Student visa, work (checked 2026-11-07; Government or public body)
Graduate visa (Graduate visa)
Preview — under verificationPost-study work permission for those who finish an eligible UK course on a Student visa; you must apply from inside the UK, and the standard period falls from 2 years to 18 months for applications from 1 January 2027.
Who this is for
- Students who completed an eligible UK course while holding a Student visa
You must have every one of these
- In the UK and holding a Student (or Tier 4 student) visa when applying.
- Completed an eligible UK course, with the provider reporting completion to the Home Office.
- Apply before the Student visa expires.
Source: GOV.UK: Graduate visa (checked 2026-11-07; Government or public body)
What it costs
Costs are shown in GBP as the cited source states them, with the unit the source gives. We do not convert currencies. A line with no stated unit or date is marked as such and is not an exact official charge.
Per-route figure: alternatives on this track (other routes, durations, London versus elsewhere) are not additive; do not sum them into an all-in total.
Source: GOV.UK: Student visa (checked 2026-11-07; Government or public body)
GBP 558You payPer-route figure: alternatives on this track (other routes, durations, London versus elsewhere) are not additive; do not sum them into an all-in total.
Source: GOV.UK: Student visa, money you need (checked 2026-11-07; Government or public body)
GBP 1,529Your own money, not an expensePer-route figure: alternatives on this track (other routes, durations, London versus elsewhere) are not additive; do not sum them into an all-in total.
Source: GOV.UK: Student visa, money you need (checked 2026-11-07; Government or public body)
GBP 1,171Your own money, not an expensePer-route figure: alternatives on this track (other routes, durations, London versus elsewhere) are not additive; do not sum them into an all-in total.
Source: GOV.UK: Graduate visa (checked 2026-11-07; Government or public body)
GBP 937You payImmigration Health Surcharge, charged per year of visa; Health and Care Worker applicants and dependants do not pay it. Per-route figure: alternatives on this track (other routes, durations, London versus elsewhere) are not additive; do not sum them into an all-in total.
Source: GOV.UK: Graduate visa (checked 2026-11-07; Government or public body)
GBP 1,035You payHow long it takes
Timeline not published by the authority
UKVI says decisions usually take about 3 weeks from outside the UK; you can apply up to 6 months before the course starts. No overall timeline including offer and funds is published.
Published figures for this route
Published figures on how often this route is used, with their sources.
Documents, insurance, housing and money
These needs are the same whichever track you choose, so they are published once for United Kingdom, with sources and check dates.
Quick answers
Which routes to United Kingdom exist on the student or trainee track?
Per sources (unverified): open with a licensed sponsor offer and proof of funds
How long does it take?
Timeline not published by the authority. UKVI says decisions usually take about 3 weeks from outside the UK; you can apply up to 6 months before the course starts. No overall timeline including offer and funds is published.
How much does it cost?
The published costs on this page are in different currencies, so there is no single total. Items that are not in that total, such as proof of funds or later permit fees, are labelled on this page where our sources state them.