There was a substantial upsurge in visa applications from Indian students visiting the United Kingdom in 2021, notably when the travel restrictions and mandatory quarantine for Indian visitors were repealed following India’s retaliation policy for UK visitors coming to India.
This year, Indian nationals submitted 9,930 applications to British universities, up 30% from the previous year’s 7,640 applications. The deadline for applying for a student visa in the UK was June 30.
According to the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), there has been a significant increase of 38,580 Indian students at UK universities over the last five years, from 2015-16 to 2019-20. In the academic year 2019-20, there were 55,465 Indian students enrolled in UK higher education institutions.
If you are an Indian student accepted to study in the United Kingdom, you will almost certainly need one before you can pursue your study abroad goals. You can learn and stay in the UK with the correct visa, and even work part-time during your education.
If you’re an international student, your UK student visa will be determined by your institution’s level of study. According to GOV.UK, international students can apply for one of four visa categories in the UK:
- Student visa: This is the most popular visa for overseas students aged 16 and up who want to study at a university. This is the visa you’ll need if you want to study at a British university.
- Short-term study visa: This is a visa for students who are travelling to the UK to study English for more than six months and up to 11 months. As long as your total stay in the UK does not exceed 11 months, you are permitted to stay in the UK for the duration of your course plus an additional 30 days.
- Child student visa: This is the visa that allows pupils aged four to seventeen to attend British independent schools. Students on this visa are not permitted to attend a state-funded institution.
- Standard visitor visa: You can apply for this visa for certain courses and examinations if your course is shorter than six months long.
If you are seeking a student visa in the United Kingdom, you will need to have:
- An offer from a licensed student sponsor for a course. The Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS), which is a reference number supplied by your education provider once you’ve been offered a place, is the most significant document you’ll require. You cannot apply for a Student Visa without a CAS.
- Enough funds to cover your tuition and living expenses. The amount of your tuition fee will be indicated on your CAS, and the cost of living will vary depending on where you study.
- Language proficiency in English must be shown.
A required tuberculosis test must be completed at a clinic approved by the Home Office. Your visa application must include the test results. You will also need a notarized consent letter from both parents and legal guardians if you’re under the age of 18.
Certain courses may require an Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) certificate. The ATAS applies to all overseas students and researchers (excluding exempt nationalities) who are subject to UK immigration control and intend to study or conduct research in certain sensitive disciplines at the postgraduate level.
As part of your application for authorization to enter the UK, the entry clearance officer (ECO) will ask to examine your ATAS certificate. As part of an application for permission to stay in the UK, a caseworker will need to view your ATAS certificate.
Application Process for Indian Students
To begin, double-check that all of your paperwork is in order. You can apply for a UK student visa online or by printing and signing your application form and submitting all of your documentation to the nearest UK immigration center in India.
The application price is 348 pounds or less than Rs. 35,000. Keep in mind that if you’re studying in the UK for more than six months, you will have to pay an Immigration Health Surcharge on top of your visa application price, which increases depending on your duration of stay. You can apply for priority service at an additional expense for a speedier conclusion.
If you are studying in the UK for more than six months, you will need to submit your biometrics to the nearest visa center once your study visa has been accepted. Once you arrive in the UK, you can pick up your BRP at your institution or the nearby post office.
Since October 2021, India has been removed from the UK government’s amber list. Due to extraordinarily high global demand, expect delays in processing times if you apply for the UK visiting visa.
By December 2021, all foreign visitors to the UK will be required to take a PCR test both before and after their arrival. You must quarantine upon arrival while awaiting the results of your tests.
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