Extending your Student visa in the UK
If you’re already in the UK and hold a Student Route/Tier 4 visa, you may be able to apply to extend your visa from within the UK. Our step-by-step guide will take you through everything you need to do.
1. Check if you're eligible to extend your Student visa
There's lots of reasons why you might want to apply to extend your Student visa from within the UK.
You might be looking to progress to a new course, after completing the course for which your current visa was issued. You might have transferred to a longer programme. Or you may need additional time to complete your current course.
Examples of reasons for extending your Student visa
You can only apply to extend your Student visa in the UK if you can demonstrate valid academic reasons for doing so.
Some of the reasons why you might want to extend your current visa include:
- Successfully completing the course for which your current visa was issued and wanting to progress to a new course. This new course would usually be at a higher level, for example progressing from an undergraduate degree to a master's course, or from a master's course to a PhD
- Successfully completing a Pre-Sessional English course prior to joining your intended undergraduate degree or master's course
- Successfully transferring to a longer programme, for example from an undergraduate degree to an integrated master's degree
- Needing additional time to complete your current course. This could be to complete your research on a PhD, adding a year in industry or a year studying abroad to your course, or repeating some of your course where you'll be attending classes and not only resitting exams.
Please note, there's a five-year limit on undergraduate study in the UK on a Student visa, excluding integrated master's courses. If you're seeking to extend your Student visa and this would take you beyond five years of study at degree level in the UK, your application will be refused.
If you're seeking to extend your Student visa to join a new course after completing your original programme, the new course must start no more than 28 days after your current visa is due to expire.
If you're not eligible to extend your current Student visa in the UK, you'll need to make a new Student visa application from overseas.
If you're in the UK on a different type of visa and intend to switch to a Student visa, please email our International Advice and Guidance team at iagteam@liverpool.ac.uk for advice.
2. Make sure you have proof of funding (if required)
The requirements for demonstrating you have proof of funding depend on whether you've been living in the UK for at least 12 months.
Living in the UK for 12 months or more
If you've been living in the UK for 12 months or more prior to applying to extend your Student visa, you won't need to provide financial evidence to UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) as part of your visa application.
Living in the UK for less than 12 months
If you've been living in the UK for less than 12 months prior to applying to extend your Student visa, you'll need to provide proof of funding as part of your Student visa application. This will cover:
- Your tuition fees for the first year of study
- Your living expenses for the first year of study. This must be at least £9,207 to meet UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) requirements, equivalent to £1,023 per month for nine months.
To demonstrate this funding, you'll need to provide a bank statement that belongs to you or your parent or legal guardian. A joint account is acceptable as long as you or your parent(s) or guardian(s) are named account holders.
The funds must have been in your nominated account for at least 28 consecutive days and the statement cannot be older than 31 days at the time of your visa application.
3. Accept your offer of a place or request a new CAS statement
The next step varies depending on whether you're seeking to progress to a new course, after completing your original programme, or you've transferred courses or need additional time to complete your current course.
Progressing to a new course after completing your original programme
If you're seeking to extend your Student visa after completing the course for which your current Student visa was issued, you'll need to accept our offer of a place on your new course to begin the visa application process.
You don't need to request a new Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) statement. If you accept your offer of a place, we'll issue your new CAS as soon as you meet all of the requirements.
Transferred courses or need additional time to complete your current course
If you're extending your Student visa following a course transfer, or need additional time to complete your current course, you'll need to request a new CAS statement. You can do this by contacting Student Administration and Support by emailing studentcentre@liverpool.ac.uk.
4. Obtain an Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) certificate (if required)
For some courses and research areas in science, engineering and technology, the UK Government requires international applicants to gain clearance to study in the UK.
This means applying for an Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) certificate, unless you’re from a country classed as exempt.
Where an ATAS certificate is required, this is mandatory and your Student visa application will be unsuccessful without it.
5. Send us your documents
You'll need to provide evidence of your qualifications before we can issue your CAS statement unless we have these on your student record already. We'll accept copies of academic certificates and transcripts during the application process but you’ll need to present the original documents when you enrol on campus.
If any academic document is not in English, it must be accompanied by a full, certified translation. You’ll need to provide the contact details of the translation company, the date the translation took place, and the signature of the authorised translator.
We also need a scanned copy of your current passport. If you didn’t submit this as part of your initial course application, you should send it to us as soon as possible.
You can submit your documents to us online, following the instructions below for your intended level of study.
Undergraduate degrees
Please submit your documents using the supporting document portal for undergraduate applicants.
Master's courses
If you've applied for a master's degree, excluding MRes courses, please submit your documents using our postgraduate application tracker.
If you're an MRes applicant, you should email your documents directly to the relevant academic department. You'll find the contact email address you need in your offer letter.
Postgraduate research degrees
Please email your documents directly to the relevant academic department. You'll find the contact email address you need in your offer letter.
6. Pay your tuition fee deposit (if applicable)
If you’re joining a master’s course as an international student, you’ll need to pay a £2,000 tuition fee deposit before the relevant deadline. If you’re joining a Pre-Sessional English course as part of your offer conditions, you’ll need to pay a £1,000 tuition fee deposit instead.
No tuition fee deposits are required if you’re joining an undergraduate degree or postgraduate research degree, or if your tuition fees are being paid by a sponsor.
7. Check the information in your CAS statement
Once you’ve followed the above steps and met any academic conditions of your offer, we should be able to issue your CAS statement.
We’ll email you if there’s any problems with issuing your CAS statement or we need further information. Make sure we have the correct email address for you and check your inbox regularly.
Your CAS statement must match the information you provide when you submit your Student visa application. Check it carefully to make sure that all of the information is correct. If any details are incorrect or change, it’s essential to let us know so that your CAS statement can be updated before applying to extend your Student visa.
8. Make sure you have everything you need for your Student visa application
By completing the previous steps, you’ll have gathered many of the documents you need for your Student visa application, including a current and valid passport.
If you're under 18, you'll need a letter from your parent(s) or legal guardian(s) confirming their consent for your visa application and living arrangements in the UK. You’ll also need to supply evidence of your relationship to your parent(s) or legal guardian(s), such as a birth certificate or adoption letter.
9. Complete the online visa application form
When you’ve got everything you need to apply to extend your Student visa, you can use the online application form at GOV.UK. You must apply before your current visa expires. You can:
- Apply up to three months before your new course starts, if you've completed the course for which your current Student visa was issued. If your current visa expires before this time, you'll need to apply for a new Student visa from overseas
- Apply up to three months before your current Student visa is due to expire, if you've transferred courses or need additional time to complete your current course.
As part of the application process, you’ll need to pay:
- A Student visa fee. This is currently £490
- An immigration health surcharge (IHS). This is currently £776 per year. It will mean that most National Health Service (NHS) treatments are free while you’re studying in the UK. The IHS is refundable if your visa application is refused.
10. Confirm your identity
Confirming your identity is a key part of the application process. How this is done depends on your nationality and the type of passport you have.
Download the UK immigration ID check app
If you're an EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland national and you've got a valid passport with a biometric chip, you can download the UK immigration: ID check app.
You can use this app to scan your face and photo ID when prompted during the online application process.
You'll be issued with a digital immigration status (e-visa) if your application is successful.
Visit a UKVCAS service point
If you're not an EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland national, or you don't have a valid passport with a biometric chip, you'll be able to submit your application without confirming your identity. You'll then be directed to create an account on the UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS) website, ready to arrange an appointment at a UKVCAS service point.
Your fingerprints and photo will be taken during this appointment. You'll be issued with a Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) if your application is successful. Please ensure you have a blank page in your passport.
11. Check the results of your application
Once you’ve completed the application process and confirmed your identity, you’ll need to wait for a decision.
Your application should be processed within eight weeks of submitting your application or attending a UKVCAS service point.
If you want a decision as soon as possible, you can apply to get a faster decision if you pay an additional fee. More information about this priority visa service is available on GOV.UK.
What to do when your Student visa application is approved
If your application is successful, you’ll be issued with a decision letter and either a digital immigration status, which you can access online, or a new Biometric Residence Permit. You should check all of your details are correct and contact UKVI if you notice a mistake. You should also make sure you understand the terms of your Student visa.
If you’re issued with a new BRP, this will be delivered to you by courier, within seven to ten days, to the address you gave on the visa application form.
Your digital immigration status or BRP provides proof of your right to study in the UK.
What to do if your Student visa application is refused
If your application is refused, you should contact us as soon as possible. Please use the email address for your intended level of study from the options below and enclose your notice of refusal.
- Undergraduate degrees - ugosi@liverpool.ac.uk
- Master's degrees (excluding MRes) - pgosi@liverpool.ac.uk
- MRes and postgraduate research degrees - pgr@liverpool.ac.uk
The relevant team will review why your visa was refused and be in touch to offer you advice on your options and recommended next steps.
12. Share your Student visa details with us
Whether your Student visa is extended as a digital immigration status or new BRP, you need to share this with us so we can update your student record.