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To study in the UK in 2027, Indian students need to get three separate things right: a place on an eligible course at a licensed student sponsor, a Student visa application that meets the financial and document rules exactly, and a realistic post-study plan under rules that change on 1 January 2027. A university offer alone settles none of these.
This guide is built around the rules in force in July 2026, verified against GOV.UK. The UK has been changing student and post-study rules frequently, so use this page for planning and confirm the final rule on GOV.UK before you pay a deposit or submit a visa application.
The most important UK change for 2027: Graduate visa applications submitted on or after 1 January 2027 are granted 18 months instead of 2 years for bachelor’s and master’s graduates. PhD and other doctoral graduates still get 3 years. If you start a one-year master’s in autumn 2027, plan around the 18-month window from day one.
On this page
UK Rules Indian Students Should Know Before a 2027 Intake
| Rule | What it means now | Why it matters for 2027 planning |
|---|---|---|
| Licensed sponsor required | Your institution must hold a Student sponsor licence and issue you a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS). | Check the official register before paying anything. |
| Maintenance funds | £1,529 per month for courses in London, £1,171 per month outside London, each for up to 9 months, plus unpaid first-year tuition. | For a course of 9 months or longer that is £13,761 (London) or £10,539 (outside London) on top of outstanding fees. |
| 28-day rule | Funds must be held for 28 consecutive days, and the closing balance must be dated within 31 days of your application. | One dip below the required amount on any day restarts the clock. |
| India must submit evidence | India is not on the differential evidence list in paragraph ST 22.1 of Appendix Student, so Indian applicants must provide financial evidence with the application. | Prepare bank statements or loan letters in the exact required format before applying. |
| Graduate visa shortens | Applications from 1 January 2027 get 18 months (3 years for doctoral graduates). Applications up to 31 December 2026 still get 2 years. | Most 2027-intake students will fall under the 18-month rule. |
| Dependants restricted | Since January 2024, most taught-course students cannot bring a partner or children. The main exceptions are doctoral or research-based postgraduate courses and government-sponsored students. | If family plans matter, check this before choosing a course type. |
These are not footnotes. Each one can change whether a UK plan is affordable, approvable, or worth it for your goals.
Who Should Seriously Consider the UK in 2027?
The UK may fit you if
- You want a shorter degree, such as a one-year master’s, and the academic fit is strong.
- You can fund tuition plus the full maintenance requirement without depending on part-time work.
- You have a realistic plan to move from the Graduate Route into sponsored skilled work within 18 months.
Reconsider if
- Your plan depends on maximum post-study time; the window shrinks for 2027 applicants.
- Your budget only works if you earn in the UK from month one.
- You are choosing a course mainly because an agent calls it “easy for visa”.
Compare alternatives if
- You need to bring a partner or children and are not on a doctoral or research course.
- Your field has stronger, better-funded options elsewhere.
- The loan burden for London costs is too high.
Compare the UK against other destinations in the Best Countries to Study Abroad for Indian Students guide before committing.
Step One: Verify the University Is a Licensed Student Sponsor
A UK institution can only sponsor your Student visa if it holds a Student sponsor licence. Before paying an application fee or deposit:
- Search the official register of licensed student sponsors on GOV.UK and match the exact legal name of the institution.
- Check the sponsor’s status on the register. Only a sponsor with the appropriate status can issue a CAS.
- Confirm the exact course exists on the institution’s own official website, at the level and campus stated in your offer.
If a sponsor loses its licence after you enrol, your visa can be affected, which is why verification belongs at the start, not after payment. Use the complete country-specific process in How to Verify a UK University, or see the general university-recognition method.
CAS: The Document Your Whole Visa Application Is Built On
Once you accept an unconditional offer, the university issues a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies. It is an electronic record, not a paper certificate, and it states your course title, level, dates, tuition fees, and any fees you have already paid.
- You must apply for the visa within 6 months of receiving your CAS.
- If applying from outside the UK, you can apply no more than 6 months before the course start date stated on the CAS.
- Every detail on the CAS must match your passport exactly. Name spelling, date of birth, and course title mismatches are avoidable refusal risks.
- Payments towards tuition or university-owned accommodation only reduce the funds you must show if they are recorded on the CAS, so ask the university to include them.
Money for a UK Student Visa: The Numbers and the 28-Day Rule
You must show you can pay any outstanding first-year tuition (as stated on your CAS) plus living costs, called maintenance.
| Where you study | Monthly maintenance | Maximum (9 months) |
|---|---|---|
| In London | £1,529 | £13,761 |
| Outside London | £1,171 | £10,539 |
London means the City of London and the 32 London boroughs, and the rate depends on where your campus is, not where you plan to live. Maintenance is capped at 9 months even for longer courses; shorter courses are calculated per month of the course, with part months counted.
The 28-day and 31-day rules
- The full required amount must be held for 28 consecutive days. The 28 days are counted back from the date of the closing balance on your most recent statement.
- That closing balance must be dated no more than 31 days before the date you apply.
- If the balance drops below the required total on any single day, the 28-day period restarts. Do not move money in or out of the account during the window.
India and the differential evidence requirement
Some nationalities listed in paragraph ST 22.1 of Appendix Student do not need to upload financial evidence with the application. India is not on that list. Indian applicants must submit financial evidence in the correct format with the application itself. Acceptable evidence includes personal bank statements in your name or a parent’s name (with a consent letter and proof of relationship), and loans from a bank or regulated financial institution that meet the Student route rules. Business accounts, shares, property, and most investment instruments are not acceptable.
What you can deduct
- Tuition fees already paid, if recorded on the CAS.
- Up to £1,529 paid for university-owned or university-managed accommodation, if recorded on the CAS. Advance rent to a private landlord cannot be deducted.
The visa minimum is not your real budget. Build the full picture—tuition, accommodation, deposits, travel, insurance, devices, exchange-rate movement and emergency money—with the Cost of Studying in UK for Indian Students 2027 guide.
Visa Fee, Immigration Health Surcharge and Faster Decisions
| Cost | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Student visa application fee | £558 | Current fee, applied from 8 April 2026. The same fee applies to extending or switching inside the UK, and to each dependant. |
| Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) | £776 per year, £388 for a part year of 6 months or less | Charged on the full visa length, which includes extra time before and after the course. A one-year master’s usually pays £1,164–£1,552 depending on exact visa length. |
| Priority service | £500 extra | Decision usually within 5 working days, where available. |
| Super priority service | £1,000 extra | Decision usually by the end of the next working day, where available. |
The IHS is calculated by the application form from your CAS dates and is paid upfront in full. It applies even if you hold private health insurance. Standard decisions usually take 3 weeks when applying from outside the UK and 8 weeks inside the UK. Do not book non-refundable flights before the decision.
Documents Indian Applicants Need
- Valid passport. Details must match your CAS exactly.
- CAS reference number.
- Financial evidence meeting the 28-day and 31-day rules, in the correct format.
- TB test certificate. India is on the UK’s TB testing list, so applicants coming for more than 6 months must test at a UKVI-approved clinic. The certificate is valid for 6 months from the test date, so time it against your application, not your offer.
- ATAS certificate, if required. Some postgraduate courses (RQF level 7 and above) in sensitive science, engineering, and technology subjects require Academic Technology Approval Scheme clearance before you can apply. Check the requirement on GOV.UK and apply early; processing can take several weeks.
- English language evidence. Degree-level courses require CEFR level B2. Depending on the university and route, this is shown through a Secure English Language Test (SELT) such as IELTS for UKVI, or through the university’s own assessment. Confirm which applies to you before booking a test, because a standard academic test is not always valid for the visa.
- Consent documents if under 18, including written parental consent and evidence of the relationship.
Identity is proved either through the UK Immigration: ID Check app (for biometric-chip passports) or at a visa application centre. Successful applicants receive an eVisa—a digital immigration status linked to a UKVI account—rather than a physical sticker, so set the account up carefully and link the passport you will travel on.
Prepare Your Application Profile Before You Start Uploading
UK postgraduate applications usually need a clear CV alongside your statement and references. Organise your education, projects, internships, and work experience once, then adapt it to each course.
Can You Work While Studying in the UK?
- Degree-level students at approved higher education providers can work up to 20 hours per week during term time and full-time during official vacations.
- Students on courses below degree level are limited to 10 hours per week during term time.
- A week runs Monday to Sunday, all jobs combined, and hours cannot be averaged across weeks. Exceeding the cap in a single week is a breach even if the average is fine.
- You cannot be self-employed, freelance, work as a professional sportsperson or entertainer, or fill a permanent full-time vacancy.
- For one-year taught master’s students, the summer dissertation period is normally term time, not vacation, so the 20-hour cap still applies until the course formally ends.
Breaching work conditions is treated seriously and can lead to visa cancellation and future refusals. Part-time work should ease your budget, never be the plan that makes the degree affordable, and it cannot be counted towards the maintenance requirement in the first place.
Dependants: Who Can Bring Family in 2027?
For courses starting on or after 1 January 2024, Student visa holders can generally only bring a partner and children if they are:
- Studying a PhD, other doctorate, or a research-based higher degree, or
- Government-sponsored on a course of the required length.
Students on taught master’s programmes such as an MSc, MA, or MBA cannot bring dependants on this route. Each eligible dependant pays their own £558 fee and IHS, and separate maintenance amounts apply for each dependant (£845 per month in London, £680 outside London, up to 9 months).
The Graduate Route in 2027: Plan Around 18 Months
The Graduate visa lets you stay and work, look for work, or be self-employed after successfully completing an eligible course, without employer sponsorship. You apply from inside the UK before your Student visa expires, after your university has reported your successful completion to the Home Office.
| When you apply | Bachelor’s / master’s graduates | PhD and doctoral graduates |
|---|---|---|
| On or before 31 December 2026 | 2 years | 3 years |
| On or after 1 January 2027 | 18 months | 3 years |
A student starting a one-year master’s in September or October 2027 will apply for the Graduate visa in 2028 and receive 18 months. The visa cannot be extended, so the realistic plan is to treat it as a bridge: secure a role with a licensed Skilled Worker sponsor well before the 18 months run out, or have a clear alternative. The Graduate visa has its own application fee and pays the IHS at the standard (non-student) rate of £1,035 per year.
Other announced changes worth tracking
The UK government has also announced an international student levy of £925 per student per year of study, planned to start in August 2028, and a higher B2 English standard for settlement applications on various routes from March 2027. Both were announced through official channels but sit outside the Student visa application itself. Check GOV.UK for the final detail closer to your intake.
UK Application Timeline for a September 2027 Intake
| Timing | What to do |
|---|---|
| 12–15 months before (mid 2026) | Choose the course family, compare the UK with other countries, set the total budget including maintenance. |
| 10–12 months before | Shortlist courses; verify each institution on the register of licensed student sponsors; check ATAS exposure for your subject. |
| 8–10 months before | Prepare transcripts, English test (confirm SELT vs university assessment first), statement, references; submit applications. |
| 5–8 months before | Compare offers on academic fit and total cost; arrange funds so the 28-day window will be clean when needed. |
| 3–5 months before | Accept the offer, pay what the CAS should record, book the TB test, apply for ATAS if required, receive the CAS. |
| 2–4 months before | Submit the visa application (up to 6 months before the course start), pay £558 plus IHS, complete identity checks. |
| Final 1–2 months | After approval, set up your UKVI account and eVisa, arrange housing and travel. You can enter the UK up to 1 month before a course longer than 6 months. |
Use the detailed UK University Application Timeline 2027 for confirmed UCAS dates, postgraduate planning, scholarship milestones, CAS, funds and visa actions. Coordinate documents with the University Application Checklist.
Red Flags Before You Pay a UK University or Agent
- The institution’s exact legal name is not on the register of licensed student sponsors.
- An agent promises the visa is “guaranteed” or discourages you from reading GOV.UK yourself.
- Your funding plan depends on part-time earnings or an unconfirmed loan.
- Someone suggests borrowing money briefly to “show” the balance—the 28-day history makes this visible, and it risks refusal.
- The course is pitched mainly as a settlement route rather than for its academic value.
- You are told dependants can come on a taught master’s, or that the Graduate visa is still 2 years for 2027 applicants.
- Payment instructions use a personal or unrelated bank account.
Should You Study in the UK in 2027?
The UK remains a strong choice when the course is academically right, the institution is verified, the budget covers the real cost without depending on UK earnings, and your post-study plan works inside an 18-month Graduate Route. It is a weak choice when the decision is driven by agent promises, immigration expectations, or a budget that only balances in the best-case scenario.
Official Sources Used in This Guide
| Official source | Used for |
|---|---|
| GOV.UK Student visa | Eligibility, £558 fee, CAS timing, decision times, eVisa |
| Financial evidence guidance | £1,529 / £1,171 maintenance, 28-day and 31-day rules, dependant amounts, acceptable evidence |
| Immigration Rules: Appendix Student | ST 22.1 differential evidence list, application timing, ATAS and TB requirements |
| GOV.UK Graduate visa | 18-month rule from 1 January 2027, 3-year doctoral rule, application conditions |
| Immigration Health Surcharge | £776 student rate, £388 part-year rate, £1,035 standard rate |
| TB tests for UK visas | TB testing requirement and approved clinics for applicants from India |
| Academic Technology Approval Scheme | ATAS subject and nationality requirements |
| Register of licensed student sponsors | Verifying that an institution can sponsor Student visas |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much money do Indian students need to show for a UK Student visa?
Outstanding first-year tuition (as stated on the CAS) plus £1,529 per month for courses in London or £1,171 per month outside London, for up to 9 months. For a course of 9 months or longer, that is £13,761 in London or £10,539 outside London, held for 28 consecutive days ending within 31 days of the application.
Is India on the UK’s differential evidence list?
No. India is not listed in paragraph ST 22.1 of Appendix Student, so Indian applicants must submit financial evidence in the correct format with the visa application itself.
How long is the UK Graduate visa for 2027 applicants?
Applications submitted on or after 1 January 2027 receive 18 months for bachelor’s and master’s graduates. PhD and other doctoral graduates receive 3 years. Applications submitted on or before 31 December 2026 still receive 2 years.
Do Indian students need a TB test for a UK Student visa?
Yes. India is on the UK’s TB testing list, so applicants coming for more than 6 months must take a TB test at a UKVI-approved clinic. The certificate is valid for 6 months from the test date.
How many hours can students work in the UK?
Degree-level students at approved higher education providers can work up to 20 hours per week during term time and full-time during official vacations. The dissertation period of a taught master’s normally counts as term time. Self-employment is not permitted.
Can Indian students bring a spouse on a UK Student visa?
Generally not on taught courses. For courses starting on or after 1 January 2024, dependants are limited mainly to students on doctoral or research-based postgraduate courses and government-sponsored students.