Student Route Visa · Verified 2026-05-14
The UK Student Route is decided by one number: your 28-day bank balance.
Drop below the required threshold for even one day during those 28 days, and your file gets refused — even if it's right on the other 27. There's no flexibility on this rule. We re-check the maths three times before submission, which is why our UK files clear at high rates.
- Visa Type
- Student Route (formerly Tier 4)
- Processing
- 3 weeks from biometrics
- Application Fee
- £558 + IHS surcharge (~£776/yr)
schedule Last reviewed:
The one thing that decides it
The 28-day rule, and why so many fail it
Your bank statement must show the required amount (tuition for Year 1 + £1,334/month London or £1,023/month outside London, up to 9 months of living costs) held continuously for 28 consecutive days. Any dip — by any amount, on any day — triggers refusal. This is the single most common reason UK Student Route applications fail.
- check_circle Don't move money between accounts during the 28 days. Even a same-day transfer in/out can break the chain.
- check_circle Sponsor accounts must show 28 days too — the rule applies to your parent's account if they're the sponsor.
- check_circle The statement must be dated within 31 days of your visa application submission.
- check_circle A salary credit is fine; a debit even on the same day risks the refusal.
Who can apply for the Student Route
Eligibility is the easy part — most denied applications fail on documentation or interview prep, not eligibility. Make sure all of these are cleared before you book anything.
Confirmed CAS
A Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies issued by a UK university that holds a sponsor licence. Issued only after you accept your offer and pay any required deposit.
English language ability
IELTS UKVI 5.5+ for degree-level study (6.0 typical for postgraduate). Some universities run an internal English test that satisfies UKVI rules.
Financial evidence
Tuition for Year 1 + £1,334/month living (London) or £1,023/month (outside London) for up to 9 months, held in your account for 28 consecutive days.
Genuine student intent
You must demonstrate genuine intent to study and a credible plan after the visa — this is assessed at the credibility interview (when one is required).
What you'll submit
The core document stack. Your counsellor gives you a complete country-specific checklist after the free consultation — including formatting, translations and apostille rules.
CAS Statement
Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies from your university.
Financial Evidence
Proof of funds held for 28 consecutive days in an approved bank.
Tuberculosis (TB) Test
Medical certificate from an IOM-approved clinic in Colombo.
IHS Surcharge
Payment for access to the UK National Health Service (NHS).
The 6-step application, in order
Doing these in the wrong order is the second-most-common reason files slip a semester. Numbers matter.
- 1
Receive your CAS
Once you accept your offer and meet conditions, your university issues your CAS reference (valid for 6 months).
- 2
Prepare financial evidence
Hold the required amount in an approved bank account for 28 consecutive days. Bank statement must be dated within 31 days of application.
- 3
Complete the TB test
Book at an IOM-approved clinic in Colombo. Certificate is valid for 6 months from issue.
- 4
Apply online + pay IHS
Fill the online application, pay the £524 application fee plus the IHS surcharge upfront. Book biometrics at VFS Colombo.
- 5
Attend biometrics in Colombo
Submit fingerprints and a photo at the VFS centre in Bambalapitiya. Upload supporting documents the same day.
- 6
Decision
Standard processing is 15 working days. Priority and super-priority services available for an extra fee.
Visa fees & costs
These are visa-specific costs only. Tuition and living costs are covered in our full cost guide for UK .
Visa Fee Summary
Why UK student visas get refused
Most refusals come down to these four problems. Knowing them before you submit is the single biggest difference between approval and refusal.
Financial evidence gap
Your account balance dipped below the required amount during the 28-day window. Even one day below the threshold can trigger refusal.
CAS / course mismatch
The course on your CAS doesn't match what you listed in the visa form, or progression from your previous studies isn't clear.
Credibility interview
Vague answers about course content, university choice or post-study plans in the credibility interview. Practice helps.
Document format
Bank statements without the bank logo, undated translations, or scans missing required pages.
How we keep UK applications watertight
Four things we do for every Sri Lankan UK file before it goes near the embassy or immigration portal.
Pre-submission file review
Every document checked against the current UKVI Student Route document list. Bank statements re-checked daily during the 28-day window so nothing dips by accident.
Sponsor account structuring
If a parent or relative is sponsoring you, we structure the funds correctly — 28-day hold, source-of-funds letter, sponsor declaration, proof of relationship — all in one pack.
Credibility interview prep
Some applications trigger a credibility interview. We rehearse the common questions — course content, university choice, post-study plans — to avoid 'vague answer' refusals.
Refusal recovery if it happens
If you are refused (rare for prepared applicants), we read the refusal letter, fix the underlying issue and re-apply. Most second attempts succeed when the diagnosis is right.
Sri Lankan applicants we've placed in the UK
Three anonymised journeys from this year. Names changed; outcomes real.
Sanduni — BSc Computer Science, Sheffield
Sponsored by her father's HNB account. We held the funds for 32 days (buffer above 28), drafted the sponsor letter, and submitted with priority service. Visa returned in 7 working days.
Timeline
Priority service · 32-day fund hold · approved in 7 days
Yohan — MSc Data Science, Edinburgh
Yohan's previous Bachelor's was in Civil Engineering — switching to Data Science raised a progression question. We wrote a 1-page rationale explaining the switch via his internship work, attached to the CAS submission.
Timeline
Career-switch case · No credibility interview · 14-day decision
Tharindi — PhD Engineering, Imperial College
Tharindi's Imperial offer came with a £20,000 stipend letter and CAS confirmation. We used the stipend as primary funding evidence, no sponsor account needed.
Timeline
Funded PhD · 18-day decision · standard processing
Frequently asked questions
Don't see your question? WhatsApp a UK visa counsellor — we usually reply within the hour, weekdays.
-
Can my parents be my sponsor? expand_more
Yes. Parents can be sponsors — you'll submit their bank statements plus a sponsor declaration and proof of relationship. Funds must still be held for 28 consecutive days. -
How early should I apply? expand_more
You can apply up to 6 months before your course starts. We recommend applying at least 2 months ahead to allow buffer for refusals or document issues. -
Can I work on a Student Route visa? expand_more
Yes — up to 20 hours/week during term-time for degree-level students. Full-time during vacations. -
What happens after I graduate? expand_more
You can switch to the Graduate Route visa, which gives you 2 years (3 for PhD) of unsponsored work rights in the UK.
More on UK
Study in UK
Universities, costs, intakes, post-study work — the full destination overview.
Destination Guide arrow_forward paymentsCost of Studying in UK
Tuition, living costs and total LKR budget — with and without scholarships.
Cost Breakdown arrow_forward workspace_premiumScholarships for UK
Open scholarships for Sri Lankan students — government, university, and private awards.
See Scholarships arrow_forwardDon't risk a UK visa refusal
Send us your offer letter (or your I-20 / CAS / CoE / LoA) on WhatsApp and a counsellor returns a 1-page file review — what's strong, what's weak, what the embassy will probe. Free. No commitment. Reply within one working day.
Message a UK visa counsellor- check_circle Free for students — universities pay us, not you
- check_circle Average reply: under 1 hour, weekdays
- check_circle Walk in to any of 4 offices across Sri Lanka
Prefer a callback?
Drop your number — a UK visa counsellor calls within one working day.