When making a Student visa application you may be required to submit various supporting documents.
The financial requirements are extremely strict, and not meeting it is the main reason applicants get visa applications refused. It is essential that you read our guidance carefully and allow enough time to prepare before making your visa application. Please click here to read more about the financial requirements.
- The visa application is submitted online and documents are also submitted electronically.
- Any documents submitted that are not in English must include a translation that meets the Home Office requirements (see: Translations [pdf]),
- Bank statements should contain certain information, (see financial requirements),
- Please see our financial requirements section for the UKVI's specific definition of an offical financial sponsor.
Please note that the documents required for a student starting a new course of study will be slightly different to the documents required for a continuing student as shown by the checklists below.
Are you a low-risk student?
Certain nationalities are designated as low-risk for the purposes of the Student visa application process. Nationals from these countries are not required to submit all documents with their application. Check the Home Office website to see if you are considered a low-risk national.
Document Checklist
Document checklist
Documents for a Student Visa for a new course of study
Below is a summary of documents that you may need to include with your visa application if you are applying for a new course of study from overseas or within the UK.
Exceptions
- Students applying to study a degree-level course at Imperial do not need to submit evidence of qualifications with the visa application.
- The College will confirm English language ability on the CAS - you do not need to submit any English language certificates with the visa application.
- If you are applying for your visa from within the UK please refer to the Financial requirements page to check if you are required to provide financial evidence.
Documents for Student visa applications made overseas or in the UK for new course of study
| Document | Type | Low-risk | All other applicants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Passport | Scan/photo of the photo page in your passport | Required to submit | Required to submit |
| Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) | Scan/photo of front and back of BRP (applications within the UK only) | Required to submit | Required to submit |
| Previous Qualifications (as listed on your CAS) | Electronic copy of certificate or transcript (+ translation, if required) | Not required to submit | Not required to submit |
| English Language (pre-sessional students only) | Electronic copy of certificate (+ translation, if required) | Required to submit | Required to submit |
| ATAS Certificate (if required for your course) | Use the PDF emailed to you by the ATAS team | Required to submit | Required to submit |
| Bank statements** | Electronic copy of statements (+ translation, if required) | Not required to submit | Required to submit |
| Scholarship letter (if receiving a scholarship) | Electronic copy of letter (+ translation, if required) | Not required to submit | Required to submit |
| TB Test Results (not required if applying from within the UK) | Scan/photo of your certificate | The Home Office requires certain nationalites to take a TB test, this must be included with your application. | The Home Office requires certain nationalites to take a TB test, this must be included with your application. |
** If you will be using your parents' bank statements to show evidence of funds you will need to include (i) a letter of consent from that parent and (ii) an electronic copy of your birth certificate or a notarised copy (plus translations if any of these are not in English)
Documents for a Student Visa for continuing students
Below is a summary of documents that you may need to include with your visa application if you are a continuing student, on the same course of study and you will be applying either from overseas or within the UK.
If you are continuing student you should not be required to show previous qualifications or an English language certificate
If you are applying for your visa from within the UK please refer to the Financial requirements page to check if you are required to provide financial evidence.
Documents for continuing students applying for a Student visa overseas or within the UK
| Document | Type | Low-risk | All other applicants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Passport | Scan/photo of the photo page in your passport | Required to submit | Required to submit |
| Biometric Residence Permit (only if you have been issued with one) | Scan/photo of the front and back of the BRP card | Required to submit | Required to submit |
| ATAS Certificate (if listed on your CAS) | Use the PDF emailed to you by the ATAS team | Required to submit | Required to submit |
| Bank statements** | Electronic copy of statements (+ translation, if required) | Not required to submit | Check the Financial requirements page |
| Scholarship letter | Electronic copy of letter (+ translation, if required) | Not required to submit | Check the Financial requirements page |
** If you will be using your parents' bank statements to show evidence of funds you will need to include (i) a letter of consent from that parent and (ii) an electronic copy of your birth certificate or a notarised copy (plus translations if any of these are not in English)