If you're an international student (including EU, EEA & Swiss students), you’ll need to apply for a Student visa to study the King’s Foundation programme in the UK (unless you already have another type of UK immigration permission that permits study).
The Student visa is for students aged 16 or older who want to study in the UK for longer than six months. This article will help you understand the requirements, the costs and how to apply.
We generally advise that you:
Plan ahead: Allow yourself plenty of time to prepare and submit your application. It’s better to start earlier as visa processing can take several weeks.
Be clear on financial requirements: Incorrect or incomplete documents are a common reason for visa refusals.
Stay updated: The immigration rules change frequently. Check the UK government's webpages about Student visa requirements.
Applying for a Student visa for the King's Foundation programme
Get your CAS
A CAS is a unique reference number confirming you’ve been accepted for a course at King’s.
- You'll receive your CAS through King’s Apply once you’ve received and accepted an unconditional offer to study the King’s Foundation Programme.
- Check your CAS for any errors. If you find any, contact the Visa Compliance team through King’s Apply.
- A CAS is valid for 6 months and can only be used once.
Prepare your supporting documents
Passport
- You must provide a passport or travel document which will be valid on your intended date of travel to the UK (or on the date you apply for the visa if you're applying inside the UK).
- Ensure the personal details on your CAS match the passport you use for your visa application.
- If you need to renew your passport, do it before requesting your CAS to make sure the details are correct.
Financial evidence
Unless you’ve been living in the UK with a valid visa for 12 months or more, you’ll need to show you have enough money for your visa. This includes:
Course fees
The first year’s tuition fees listed in your CAS (Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies).
Living costs
- £13,347 for a course lasting 9 months or more, or £1483 per month if your course is shorter.
- Use the course start and end dates on your CAS to calculate the length of your course.
- Even if your course overlaps part of a month, count it as a full month. For example, if your course runs from 15th September to 30th May, count it as 9 months.
If your bank account is in a foreign currency, use the OANDA currency converter to check if your balance meets the required amount in GBP.
Documents to prove you have enough money include:
Personal bank statements
- This can be a fixed-term deposit statement; bank statement; bank letter or certificate of deposit.
- From your account or your parent/guardian’s account.
- If using parent/guardian funds, you must:
- provide proof of your relationship (for example, a birth certificate or court order).
- include a consent letter from them allowing you to use the funds.
- If using parent/guardian funds, you must:
- Must show the required amount for at least 28 consecutive days. The 28-day period should end within 31 days before your visa application.
Scholarship letter
- A full scholarship letter from an 'Official Financial Sponsor' (government, company, or university).
- A partial scholarship letter from an 'Official Financial Sponsor' plus evidence of the remaining funds.
Educational loan letter
This must be in your name.
Important to know:
- After submitting your application, don't use the evidenced funds until you received your visa unless they're for course-related expenses.
- UKVI frequently do verification checks with applicants’ banks.
- We recommend including a cover letter from your bank confirming the information can be provided to a third party such as UKVI.
- If you're using funds with unclear sources of income (for example, large deposits in a short time), it's helpful to explain where the money comes from.
- If you're from a country listed under the ‘differential evidence requirement’, you don’t need to provide financial evidence with your application. However, you must still have the required funds available as UKVI may request proof later.
Read the latest guidance on finances for student applications for more information about the money you need and how to prove it.
English language test
You must submit the evidence of your English language ability with your visa application.
If you hold a nationality listed at paragraph ST 22.1 of Appendix Student, you don’t need to provide English language evidence with your visa application. However, a UKVI caseworker may ask for it later.
Academic qualifications
As you're studying the King’s Foundation Programme (below degree level), you must submit the evidence of academic qualification as listed on your CAS with your visa application.
If you hold a nationality listed at paragraph ST 22.1 of Appendix Student, you don’t need to provide English language evidence with your visa application. However, a UKVI caseworker may ask for it later.
Tuberculosis (TB) test certificate
You may need to provide evidence of a tuberculosis (TB) test as part of your Student visa application. You need to submit a TB certificate if:
- You’ve been living in a country, or countries listed in the Immigration Rules Appendix Tuberculosis (TB) for 6 months or more.
- Any part of that 6-month period overlaps with the 6 months before your application date.
You must provide a valid TB certificate from a UK Government-approved clinic.
If you're under 18 years old
If you're under 18 on the date you make your visa application, you must provide:
- a consent letter from both parents (or legal guardian, or one parent if that parent has sole responsibility for you) which gives consent:
- to your visa application
- to you living independently in the UK
- your reception arrangements in the UK
- to you travelling independently to the UK
- a birth certificate, certificate of adoption, or court document proving your relationship to your parent or legal guardian.
Translations
If any of your documents are not in English or Welsh, you must provide a certified English translation by a professional translator or company. The translation must include:
- The translator's credentials
- A statement confirming the translation is accurate
- The translator’s contact details
- The date of translation and the signature of the translator or an official from the translation company.
Apply online
Applying overseas
You must apply in the country where you are living. This means that you hold its nationality or have the legal right to live in the country long-term.
You must apply online for a Student visa using the ‘apply outside the UK’ form on the gov.uk website and pay the visa application fee and Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS).
Visa application fees and waiting times
- Standard service: £490, decision within 3 weeks.
- Faster services (subject to availability):
- Priority service: 1 week
- Super Priority service: Next working day
- These times start the day after you upload your documents or attend your biometric appointment.
Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS)
- £776 per year for students.
- Since the visa duration for the King’s Foundation programme is more than 6 months but less than one year, you'll pay full cost of a year.
Supporting documents
You'll need to upload your supporting documents.
Biometric appointment or UKVI Immigration ID check app
- You must give your biometric information (your facial photograph and fingerprints) at an appointment. You'll be instructed to book an appointment as part of your online application.
- If you're an EEA or Swiss national and your passport has a biometric chip, you can use the UK Immigration ID check app to scan and upload your passport and a photo.
- If you can't use the app, you'll be required make a biometric appointment.
- After submitting your application, you may be invited to attend an interview, known as a credibility interview, before UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) can make a decision. The purpose of the interview is to check that you're a genuine student.
Important to know:
- You must not attempt to enter the UK until your visa has been granted and until its start date has passed.
- You must arrive in the UK by your course start date, or by your CAS 'Course Latest Arrival Date' if you cannot arrive on time.
Applying in the UK
You must hold a valid UK visa that allows you to extend/switch to a student visa, and that expires no sooner than 28 days before your course start date.
Academic progression
- You need to meet UKVI’s Academic Progression requirements to get a CAS for your new course and to apply for your Student visa in the UK.
- Your application meets the criteria if:
- You’ve successfully completed the course for which you were last granted a Student visa.
- Your new course is at a higher level than your previous course.
- If your new course is at the same level, it must be related to your previous course, or together, the courses should support your career goals.
- If you don’t meet these requirements, you must apply from outside the UK.
Time limits
Since you're studying the King’s Foundation Programme (below degree level), the proposed new visa must not lead to you being granted more than 2 years of Student visa time for study below degree level since your 18th birthday.
Apply online
You must apply online for a Student visa using the Apply from inside the UK form on the gov.uk website. Once you’ve started your application, you can save your form and complete it later.
Visa application fees and waiting times
- Standard service: £490, decision within 3 weeks.
- Faster services (subject to availability):
- Priority service: 1 week
- Super Priority service: Next working day
- These times start the day after you upload your documents or attend your biometric appointment.
Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS)
- £776 per year for students.
- Since the visa duration for the King’s Foundation programme is more than 6 months but less than one year, you'll pay full cost of a year.
Supporting documents
Where required, you'll need to upload your supporting documents.
Biometric appointment or UKVI Immigration ID check app
- You must give your biometric information (your facial photograph and fingerprints) as part of your online application.
- If you've previously submitted your biometric information to UKVI before, you may be able to use the UK Immigration ID check app to verify your identity.
- If you can't or are ineligible to use the app, you will be referred to the TLS contact website to book a biometric appointment to give your fingerprints and a photograph.
Important to know:
- Submit your visa application (pay the immigration health surcharge and application fee) on or before your current visa expiry date – this is called making an 'in-time application' and means your legal status in the UK is protected until the application is decided.
- Submit your visa application (pay the immigration health surcharge and application fee) before your course start date if your current visa type is 'Student' and issued for a different course or institution.
- You can't travel outside the UK while your visa application is pending. If you do, the application will be treated as withdrawn.
Further information
Our Student visa interactive guide provides you with a quick and easy overview of the process for applying for a Student visa. This is for students applying both in and outside the UK.
Your visa application outcome
UKVI will send your decision letter to the email address you provided in your application. Make sure to check your inbox, including spam or junk folders, regularly after submitting your application.
Successful visa application
Applied overseas
- If you attended a biometric appointment, you'll be issued with a 90-day Entry Clearance vignette sticker in your passport and a decision notification.
- The vignette is proof only of your permission to enter the UK from its 'valid from' date and before its expiry.
- You'll no longer be issued with a Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) card to collect after you've arrived in the UK. Instead, you'll be given instructions on how to access your eVisa (digital immigration status).
- If you've used the UK Immigration: ID Check app, you'll receive a visa decision by email and will only be issued with an eVisa.
Applied in the UK
You'll receive a visa decision by email but will only be issued an eVisa (digital immigration status). You'll be given instructions on how to access your eVisa in the email.
Length of visa
The duration of your visa depends on the length of your course, which is calculated on the basis of the course start and end dates stated on your CAS.
- For courses longer than 12 months, your visa expiry date should be 4 months after your course end date as listed on your CAS.
- For courses that are less than 12 months but longer than 6 months, your visa expiry date should be 2 months after your course end date as listed on your CAS.
- The total length of the King’s Foundation programme is less than 12 months but longer than six months, therefore add two months to the course end date.
Visa conditions
Your Student visa will be subject to certain conditions. Breaching any of the conditions while you're in the UK can have serious consequences for both your current Student visa and any future immigration applications you may make.
Conditions include:
- Study: you must continue studying your course at King’s College London. Changing your course will only be possible using the same visa under certain specific circumstances.
- Work: there are restrictions on the hours and types of work you can do. For students on the King’s Foundation Programme, you can work up to 10 hours per week during term-time and full-time during vacations.
- Public funds: you can't claim public funds of any kind.
- Engagement: you must also fully engage with your studies.
Visa errors
When you receive your Student visa decision, check for errors immediately.
Common errors include:
- Shorter visa duration: make sure your visa includes the 2 months beyond your course end date.
- Incorrect work rights: verify that you're allowed to work 10 hours part-time.
If you’re not sure if there's a mistake, or whether you should report this, please contact the Visa & International Student Advice team for further guidance.
If your visa application is refused
Please complete a visa refusal form and ask the Visa & International Student Advice team for next steps.
Progressing to undergraduate study at King's
If you want to continue to an undergraduate degree at King’s after finishing your King's Foundation programme, you’ll need to apply for a new Student visa.
As your current Student visa for the King's Foundation programme will likely expire more than 28 days before your new course start date, you'll need to apply for your new Student visa from outside the UK.
Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS)
Before you can apply for your new Student visa for your main programme, you'll need a new CAS. Your new CAS can only be issued if all the conditions below are met:
- You've received an unconditional offer
- You've formally accepted your offer
- You've paid your deposit
- Your passport information is correct
Please check your passport information to avoid delays. Your passport must match the information on your CAS.
The CAS will be issued via the King's Apply portal.
Preparing for your next Student visa application
The Visa & International Student Advice team will run Student visa application tutorials during the spring/summer. Invites to the tutorials will be sent out by your department.
It's very important that you attend these tutorials to fully understand the requirements and avoid a visa refusal. Additional guidance will be available on KEATS.