UKVisaPath is a free, independent guide that turns the official UK Student visa rules into steps a first-time applicant can follow. We started it because the rules are scattered across gov.uk, change most years, and are hard to read when you are applying for the first time and the money involved is significant.
We are not the government or an agent
UKVisaPath is not affiliated with the UK government, UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI), any university, or any visa agent. We do not process applications, take fees, or make decisions. Your visa decision rests entirely with UKVI. Always confirm the current rules on gov.uk before you rely on anything here.
What we cover
- Costs: the visa fee, Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS), and maintenance funds for London and outside London.
- Documents: what you need, including the Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS), TB test and proof of funds (POF).
- Process: a step-by-step walkthrough from online application to biometrics to decision.
- Country guides: Nigeria, Ghana, Pakistan, Nepal and Bangladesh, covering local friction such as forex mechanisms, approved TB clinics and bank-statement quirks.
- Tools: a cost calculator and a document checklist you can tick off as you prepare.
How we compile our content
Everything is built from primary sources. Fees, rules and processing standards come from gov.uk. Guidance on student rights and practicalities draws on UKCISA, the UK Council for International Student Affairs. TB clinic details are checked against the gov.uk approved-clinics list before we publish them. Where something depends on your caseworker or your circumstances, we say so rather than invent certainty.
When our figures were last verified
The costs on this site were last re-verified in June 2026 against gov.uk: Student visa £558 (from 8 April 2026), Graduate visa £937, IHS £776 per year, and maintenance of £1,529 per month for London and £1,171 outside London. UK fees usually change each April, so we re-check them then and after any major rule change. Read our editorial and fact-checking policy for how we keep pages current.
Found an error?
Fees move and clinic details change. If you spot something out of date or wrong, please tell us and we will re-verify it against the live source before updating the page.
Last updated: July 2026