✕
✕
Contact Us
✕
Contact Us

Student Visa Extension UK: Who Can Extend, Costs and How to Apply

“My Student visa is ending soon. Can I stay in the UK and keep studying?”

Your Student visa is ending soon, but you want to keep studying in the UK. Perhaps you are finishing your bachelor's degree and have an offer for a master's, or you need more time to complete your current course.

In many cases, you can extend your Student visa from inside the UK without going home. But the timing and academic progress rules are strict, and missing one deadline can mean applying from your home country instead.

This guide explains who can extend, when to apply, what it costs, what to know while you wait and how to apply, based on official GOV.UK guidance.

Quick answer: You can usually extend your UK Student visa from inside the UK if you have an unconditional offer and a CAS for a course at a higher level, you apply before your current visa expires, and your new course starts within 28 days of that expiry date. It costs £558 plus the healthcare surcharge of £776 per year. You must not travel outside the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man until you get a decision.

Can I extend my Student visa in the UK?

You may be able to extend your Student visa from inside the UK if you:

  • are in the UK on a Student visa (or an older Tier 4 (General) student visa)
  • have an unconditional offer on a course with a licensed student sponsor, shown by your Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS)
  • meet the academic progress requirement, which usually means your new course is at a higher level than your current one

If you meet these three points, the next thing to check is academic progress, because this is where many students get caught out.

What does “academic progress” mean?

Academic progress means your new course moves you up a level. For example:

  • bachelor's degree to master's degree
  • master's degree to PhD

To show this, you usually need to have successfully completed your previous course. GOV.UK also accepts:

  • a course at the same level, if it meets the conditions below
  • an intercalated course linked to medicine, dentistry or medical science

You do not need to show academic progress if you are:

  • resitting exams or repeating modules
  • applying for the first time to a new university because your previous university lost its student sponsor licence
  • completing a PhD or other doctorate you started on a previous Student visa
  • extending to finish your studies after a work placement or study abroad

In some cases, a course at the same level can count. This is only possible when all of these apply:

  • the new course is at degree level or above
  • your university is a higher education provider with a track record of compliance
  • the university confirms that the new course is connected to your previous course, or that your previous and new courses together support your genuine career aspirations

Your university must explain this on your CAS.

Not sure whether your next course meets the academic progress requirement? Speak to our team and we can help you compare courses for your next step.

Can I extend my visa if I change university?

Yes, this can be possible. You do not have to stay at the same university. Your new university must be a licensed student sponsor and give you a CAS, and you must still meet the academic progress, timing and other requirements in this guide.

If you meet the academic progress rule, the next question is timing.

When should I apply to extend my Student visa?

Timing is the most important part of an extension. GOV.UK sets four rules:

  1. The earliest you can apply is 3 months before your new course starts.
  2. You must apply before your current visa expires.
  3. Your new course must begin within 28 days of your current visa expiring.
  4. You must apply within 6 months of getting your CAS.

Example from GOV.UK:

Date

What it means

1 December

Your current visa expires

Before 1 December

The last day you can apply to extend

By 29 December

Your new course must have started

Watch the 28-day gap. The 28 days are counted from the date your visa expires, not from the date your current course ends. If your new course starts more than 28 days after your visa expires, you cannot extend from inside the UK. You would need to apply for a new Student visa from outside the UK.

Planning your next course? Applying early makes it easier to meet the 28-day rule. Speak to our team about UK courses that start at the right time for you.

Do I need to show money for a Student visa extension?

Not always. If you have been in the UK with a valid visa for at least 12 months on the date you apply, you do not need to prove you have money for your course fees or living costs.

If you have been in the UK for less than 12 months, you need to show living costs of:

Where you will study

Money needed

London

£1,529 per month, for up to 9 months

Outside London

£1,171 per month, for up to 9 months

You must hold this money for at least 28 days in a row, and the end of that 28-day period must be within 31 days of the date you apply. You may also need money for course fees, as shown on your CAS.

If a government or scholarship body paid for your studies

If your last course was funded by a government or international scholarship agency that paid both your course fees and living costs, and you apply within 12 months of finishing that course, you must get written consent from that sponsor for your new application.

How much does a Student visa extension cost?

For each person, you pay the visa application fee and the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS). Here is an example for a one-year visa:

Cost

Amount

Visa application fee

£558

Immigration Health Surcharge (one year)

£776

Example total for one year

£1,334

This is only an example. The IHS is £776 per year, and the amount you pay depends on the length of the visa you are given, which is based on your course dates. It can include part of a year. For more detail, read our guide to UK Student Visa Fees 2026.

How long does it take, and can I stay while I wait?

You will usually get a decision within 8 weeks. You may be able to pay for a faster decision, and you will be told if this is possible when you apply.

Some applications take longer, for example if your documents need to be checked, you need to attend an interview, or because of your personal circumstances, such as a criminal conviction.

If you apply before your current visa expires, you can stay in the UK until you get your decision.

This also applies if your application is refused and you apply for an administrative review. You can stay in the UK while the review is decided.

Can I travel outside the UK while I wait?

No. You must not travel outside the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man until you get a decision. If you do, your application will be withdrawn.

Can I start my new course before I get a decision?

Sometimes. Home Office guidance allows a university with a track record of compliance to enrol you on a new course straight away if you are already sponsored by that university, have finished your last course and your current visa has not expired. In other cases, you may need to wait for your decision, so ask your university before you start.

Is there a limit on how long I can study in the UK?

Yes, at degree level. You can usually study for up to 5 academic years at degree level on the Student route. If you have already studied for 5 academic years at degree level, you cannot extend for a sixth.

There are exceptions for some longer degrees, including architecture, medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine and science, and music at a Conservatoires UK member college. There is no maximum limit for study above degree level, such as a master's or PhD.

Can my partner and children extend too?

Your partner or children do not get an extension automatically when you extend. They must apply separately, either at the same time as you or at any time before their current visa expires.

They must also meet the dependant rules, which have been much stricter since January 2024. In general:

  • If your family are already in the UK as your dependants, they may be able to stay with you if your new course is full-time and lasts 6 months or longer.
  • Otherwise, you usually need to be a government-sponsored student on a full-time course of 6 months or longer, or studying a PhD, other doctoral qualification or research-based higher degree.

Check the rules for your situation before you apply.

Each person pays the £558 fee and the healthcare surcharge. Unless they have been in the UK with a valid visa for at least 12 months, they must also show:

  • £845 per month for courses in London, or
  • £680 per month for courses outside London

for up to 9 months, in addition to your own money.

When can I not extend from inside the UK?

You usually cannot extend from inside the UK if:

  • your new course does not show academic progress and no exception applies
  • your new course starts more than 28 days after your current visa expires
  • your visa has already expired
  • you are in the UK on a study abroad programme

In these cases, you may be able to apply for a new Student visa from outside the UK instead.

How do I apply to extend my Student visa?

  1. Get your new CAS from your university once you have an unconditional offer.
  2. Check your dates: your visa expiry date, your course start date and the 28-day rule.
  3. Prepare your documents, including your passport and, if needed, financial evidence. Our CAS guide explains what your CAS should include.
  4. Apply online on GOV.UK using the “extend your visa” application. Pay the £558 fee and the healthcare surcharge. There is no fee for giving your fingerprints and photo.
  5. Prove your identity, either with the UK Immigration: ID Check app or at a UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS) service point. You will be told which one to use.
  6. Wait for your decision in the UK. Do not travel outside the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man.
  7. Get your eVisa. If your application is successful, you will get an eVisa. Your decision letter explains how to set up the UKVI account you need to access it.

Need to change or withdraw your application? Contact UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI). You can ask to withdraw it, but your fee is only refunded if UKVI has not started processing your application.

Finished your course and want to work instead?

The right visa depends on your plans:

  • Want to keep studying? Extend your Student visa.
  • Finished an eligible course and want to work or look for work? The Graduate visa may suit you. Under GOV.UK rules, it lasts 2 years if you apply on or before 31 December 2026, and 18 months if you apply on or after 1 January 2027. After a PhD or other doctorate, it lasts 3 years.
  • Want to work in the UK longer term? You will usually need to look at another eligible visa route, such as a sponsored work visa.

Finishing your course at the end of 2026? A Graduate visa application made on or before 31 December 2026 gets 2 years. From 1 January 2027, it drops to 18 months. You can only apply once your university has told the Home Office you have successfully completed your course, so check with your university when this will happen.

Read our guide to the Post-Study Work Visa in the UK.

Planning to Continue Your Studies in the UK?

Whether you are finishing your bachelor's degree and considering a master's, or moving from a master's to a PhD, choosing the right course is the first step. It also needs to start at the right time to meet the 28-day rule.

Since 2013, Atava Education & Training has helped international students find and apply for UK university courses. As British Council certified education consultants, we can help you:

  • explore UK university courses that suit your next step
  • apply in time for your course start date
  • understand what your offer and CAS should include

Speak to our team about your next course

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I extend my Student visa if I change university?

Yes, it can be possible. Your new university must be a licensed student sponsor and give you a CAS. You must also meet the academic progress and 28-day rules.

Can I extend my Student visa if I fail my course?

Usually not to start a new course, because you normally need to have successfully completed your previous course. However, resitting exams or repeating modules is an exception to the academic progress rule, so you may be able to extend to do this. Speak to your university.

Can I extend my Student visa to repeat a year?

Possibly. GOV.UK lists resitting exams or repeating modules as an exception to the academic progress requirement. Your university must agree and give you a new CAS.

Can I start my new course while waiting for a decision?

Only in some cases, for example if you are staying with the same university, it has a track record of compliance, you have finished your last course and your visa has not expired.

Can I extend my Student visa after it has expired?

No. You must apply before your current visa expires. Otherwise, you may need to apply for a new visa from outside the UK.

What is the total cost of a Student visa extension?

For a one-year visa, £558 plus £776 for the healthcare surcharge, so £1,334 per person. Your surcharge depends on how long your visa is.

Should I extend my Student visa or apply for a Graduate visa?

Extend if you want to keep studying. A Graduate visa is for working or looking for work after you finish an eligible course.

Official sources