Student visa applications

What is a licensed student sponsor?

If you are accepted unconditionally into one of our courses, ARU will become your licensed student sponsor for the duration of your time in the UK.

As your sponsor we are responsible, under immigration law, for you during your entire duration in the UK. We must tell the UKVI if you do not arrive for the start of your course, change the course you are studying, withdraw from your course, defer or suspend your studies, or if you do not attend classes.

Confirmation of acceptance of studies (CAS)

A CAS is the only route to gaining a student visa. It is a unique 14 digit alphanumeric reference number, not a paper document. As a University, we will issue you with a ‘CAS statement’ which will be sent by email.

Your CAS will not be issued until you have met all the University conditions. You will not be issued a CAS if you cannot realistically obtain a visa before the start of your course. See visa processing times from the UK Home Office.

Check your CAS statement carefully and report any incorrect information to [email protected] immediately.

You will need to transfer some of the details on the CAS statement onto your visa application form. Any differences between the information on the CAS and what you provide on the visa application form could result in a visa refusal.

The CAS is valid for six months and can only be used for one visa application.

To obtain a student visa, students must meet the full requirement of the Student Route of the Immigration Rules.

If you are applying for a visa extension you must apply before your current visa ends. If you do not apply before then you become an over-stayer. Please note that overstaying is a criminal offence and Anglia Ruskin University will no longer sponsor you. Your future UK immigration applications may also be affected.

Please make an appointment with our International Student Advice Service (ISAS) who will be able to offer immigration advice and guidance.

You should apply for your student visa as soon as you meet the conditions but no earlier than six months before the start date of your course.

You must apply online.

Make sure that you apply in good time so that you can attend our Orientation & Welcome events. Check current visa application processing times in your home country.

If you wish to progress to a new course at ARU, for example a Masters following successful completion of your bachelors degree, your current previous student visa (or Tier 4 visa) will allow you to register on a new course before extending your visa.

You must extend your student visa for the new course within six weeks of the start date of the new course, or before the current visa expires, whichever is the earlier.

This provision is set annually at the discretion of the Home Office and may change in the future.

• A student visa application form completed online:
• Apply for a new student visa from outside of the UK
• Extend your existing student visa. Your International Student Adviser will assist you with the online application process at your visa checking appointment.
• A valid passport and valid visa and/or a biometric residence permit card.
• A credit or debit card to pay the application fee online. Your International Student Adviser can help you to make your payment online if you are applying in the UK.
• The application fee for a student visa application outside the UK is £348 + £470 per year for the health surcharge paid as the equivalent in your local currency. Some visa application centres (VACS) charge additional fees.
• The application fee for a standard student visa application within the UK is £494.20 + £470 per year for the health surcharge.
• CAS Statement (Confirmation of Acceptance of Studies) – sent to you by email.
• If you were living and studying in the UK in the last 12 months, you automatically meet the financial requirements. In all other cases you will need to provide the following financial evidence. If you have an official financial sponsor, you will need your Sponsor letter from your home government, British Council, Her Majesty’s Government, British Council or any international organisation, international company or University.
• Your personal bank statement or bank letter to confirm that you have the money for your tuition fees and living costs. Tuition fees costs will be shown on your CAS statement. See other valid forms of evidence.
  You must show that you have held the money for tuition fees and living costs in your bank account continuously for a minimum of 28 days. The final date of this 28 day period must not be more than 31 days old on the date that you submit your application
• You can also use a bank account that belongs to your partner or your parent(s) / legal guardians. In order for you to use their bank account, your partner must be applying as your dependent at the same time. If you are using your parent(s)' bank statement, you must also include the following:
• Your original birth certificate (or notarised copy) showing the name of the parent(s) providing the funds or Certificate of adoption showing your name and the parent(s) providing the funds or Court document stating your name and the name of your legal guardian(s) providing the funds.
• An original signed and dated letter from the parent(s) or legal guardian(s) who are providing the funds. This letter must confirm the relationship between the parent(s)/legal guardian(s) and the named student and also confirm that the parent(s) or legal guardian(s) have given their consent to their funds being available to you while you are studying in the UK.
• If your funds are not in pounds sterling, the closing balance should be converted using the conversion rate and the sterling sum should be written on the document you are using as proof of your finances.
• Academic qualifications listed on your CAS statement. This will be all the original certificates or transcripts from your previous educational institutions that are listed on your CAS.

Some students will have to also provide:

• If you are applying in the UK – a Police Registration Certificate (if applicable). If you are required to register with the police this will be stated on your entry clearance or BRP card. Ensure the certificate is up to date with your current visa and house address. 
• If you are applying outside the UK – TB Screening Certificate (if applicable). Check whether you need a TB Screening Certificate
• Parental consent and birth certificate if you are under 18 years of age and wish to travel to and live in the UK independently.
• ATAS Clearance Certificate if stated in your offer letter/CAS. Find out more about ATAS Clearance Certificates

Remember to retain copies of all the original documents you submit with your visa application.

Before you can apply for your visa, you will need to show that you have access to sufficient money to cover any unpaid tuition fees and a fixed amount of money for living expenses (maintenance).

Please note: These amounts change frequently and are correct at time the time of publication.

The UKVI maintenance amounts are:

Location of study: Cambridge, Chelmsford
Amount required for your maintenance: £ 1,023 for each month of the course or a maximum of £9,207 (9 months)

Examples of how to calculate your maintenance:

Length of course: More than 9 months (1 academic year)

Campus: Cambridge or Chelmsford

Maintenance (funds) needed: First year of fee and £9,207 to cover living costs for 9 months in the UK

Example: If your tuition fee for your first year of study is £10,000, you have paid a deposit of £4,000 and your scholarship is £500, then your remaining tuition fee to show will be £5,500. You must show £9,207 (living costs) + £5,500 = £14,707 in available funds.

If you have paid for University accommodation, a maximum of £1,334 can be deducted from the total maintenance fees you are required to have. This is the case even if you have paid more towards your accommodation. You cannot deduct any other advance payments you make to private accommodation providers. You have to meet the maintenance requirements even if you are going to live for free with relatives.

The Immigration Health Surcharge is a mandatory fee of £470 per year, charged to visa applicants who plan to stay in the UK for more than six months. Find out more by visiting our Immigration Health Surcharge page.

For bachelor degrees our requirement is IELTS 6.0 or equivalent, with no lower than 5.5 in any of the four elements (listening, speaking, reading and writing). For Masters degrees our requirement is IELTS 6.5 or equivalent, with no lower than 5.5 in any of the four elements.

You will need to include your certificate with your visa application.

If you are applying to study a pre-sessional English language course we must use a Secure English Language Test (SELT) to confirm your English language ability is CEFR B1 or above.

Students from countries listed on the Home Office website must include a TB certificate, from an approved test centre, with their visa application. This does not apply to visitors including student visitors who apply to come for six months or less. How to obtain a TB certificate in your country

Please be aware that you will need to book an appointment and at busy times you may have to wait ten days for an appointment especially during the UK student visa peak season between July-October. Therefore it is important that you plan for your visa application to make sure you have enough time to fulfil all of the requirements and still arrive for the start of your course.

In addition to meeting all the above requirements, the UKVI may also interview you. The purpose of the interview is for the entry clearance officers to assess whether a student is 'genuine' before granting their visa.

Separate guidance will be sent with your CAS.

In your home country:

• if your stay in the UK will be less than six months your visa will be issued in the form of a vignette (stamp) in the passport for the whole duration of your stay
• if you are going to stay in the UK more than six months you will receive an entry vignette. You will be required to collect a Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) upon your arrival in the UK. You should collect your BRP within ten days of arriving in the UK, otherwise you may have to pay a fine. The maximum time UKVI is granting on BRPs is up to 31 December 2024 initially. UKVI will update their information on how to prove your immigration status in early 2024. You do not need to do anything and your immigration status will not be affected.

Anglia Ruskin University has been allocated as an 'Alternative Collection Location' (ACL) for your Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) when you reach the UK.

To ensure your smooth registration process we would advise that you enter the ACL code shown below when you make your visa application to ensure your BRP is sent to your study location. This is much easier than going to the Post Office.

Cambridge
Please use code: 2HE574

Chelmsford
Please use code: 2HE569

You have to travel to the UK before the deadline of registration stated on the CAS. You must also travel to UK during the validity of your vignette as otherwise you would have to pay again to obtain a new one. You may also miss the final deadline of registration and not be accepted on the course. If you experience any delays please email [email protected].

Think very carefully before choosing your course and University. If you apply for a course using a CAS provided by Anglia Ruskin University your visa will be issued to study at Anglia Ruskin University only.

In most cases it is not possible to change your course from within the UK.