The Visa application

Applying from outside the UK

Detail	Info
When to apply	Up to 6 months before your course start date
Where	From the country where you are lawfully living
How	Apply online at GOV.UK, then attend a visa application centre for biometrics (fingerprints and photo)
Application fee	£490 (standard Student visa)
Processing time	Usually 3 weeks (15 working days) after biometrics
Priority option	Available in some countries for an extra fee

EU/EEA/Swiss nationals: You follow the same process, but can use the UK Immigration: ID Check app on your phone instead of attending a visa centre.

Applying from inside the UK

Detail	Info
Who cannot switch	Visitors, short-term students, parent of child student, seasonal workers, domestic workers
Timing	Apply before your current visa expires. The date you pay the fee online is your official application date.
28-day gap rule	Your new LSBU course must start within 28 days of your old visa expiring
Application fee	£490 (standard)
Processing time	Standard: around 8 weeks \| Priority: 5 working days \| Super Priority: next working day
Previous course	If you had a Student visa before, you generally need to have completed that course successfully and show academic progression to a higher level.

⚠ Important: The date you pay the application fee online is your official application date for UKVI purposes. Your bank statements must be dated within 31 days of this date.

When can you arrive in the UK?

Course length	Earliest arrival
6 months or longer	Up to 1 month before course start date
Less than 6 months	Up to 1 week before course start date

How long does your visa last after your course ends?

Course duration	Extra time after course end
12 months or longer	4 months
6 to 12 months	2 months
Less than 6 months	7 days

⚠ Critical: Financial evidence is the number one reason Student visa applications get refused. Read this section carefully.

Because LSBU is based in Inner London, you must show the highest maintenance amount set by UKVI.

How much you need to show (2025/26 rates)

Component	Amount
Living costs	£1,483/month × up to 9 months = £13,347
Remaining tuition fees	Total first-year fee minus the 50% deposit you have already paid
Total	£13,347 + remaining fees

The 28-day rule

The total amount must sit in a bank account for 28 consecutive days without dropping below the required threshold — not even for one day. The bank statement must be dated within 31 days of your visa application date (i.e. the date you pay the application fee online)

What counts as acceptable evidence

Personal bank statements (in your name or a joint account)
Building society passbook or letter
Letter from a regulated financial institution
Government or academic loan letter confirming funds available to you

Using your parents' bank account

If the money is in a parent's account rather than your own, you need to provide additional documents:

Bank statements in your parent's name (still meeting the 28-day rule)
Your birth certificate or other legal proof of the relationship
A signed letter from your parent confirming they agree to fund your studies and living costs

Accommodation offset

If you have already paid LSBU directly for university accommodation, that amount can be deducted from the living costs requirement: up to a maximum of £1,483 (one month's living costs). You will need a receipt or confirmation from LSBU as evidence.

Low-risk nationals

Nationals from certain countries (the "differentiation arrangement" list) do not need to submit financial documents with their visa application. This includes countries such as the US, Canada, Australia, Japan, and most EU/EEA states. You must still have the evidence available in case UKVI requests it.

Non-English bank statements

If your bank statements are not in English, you must provide a certified translation from a professional translator, including the translator's credentials.

Note: The £1,483/month and £13,347 figures are set by UKVI annually and must be reviewed before every September intake.

If a government, international scholarship body, or similar official sponsor is covering your fees and/or living costs, you do not need personal bank statements. Instead, you provide a sponsorship letter.

What the letter must include

Written on the sponsor's official letterhead
Your name, the sponsor's name and contact details, and the date
The duration of the sponsorship
What is covered: fees, living costs, or both
An official stamp if the sponsor uses one

Who counts as an official sponsor

Government ministries and departments
International organisations (e.g. UN bodies)
The British Council
University scholarship bodies

⚠ Important: Private companies and family members do not count as official sponsors for UKVI purposes.

Previously sponsored students

If you received full official sponsorship in the 12 months before your previous course ended, you need written consent from that sponsor before LSBU can issue a new CAS.

Document	Who needs it	Notes
Passport	Everyone	Must be valid. If applying at a visa centre, needs at least one blank page.
CAS statement	Everyone	Check all details match your passport exactly.
Financial evidence	Self-funding students	Bank statements (28-day rule), sponsorship letter, or loan letter.
English language certificate	Most applicants	IELTS for UKVI or equivalent. Not needed if you are from a majority English-speaking country.
ATAS certificate	Some courses	Mainly certain postgraduate Engineering, Science, and Technology courses. Apply early — processing takes 30+ working days.
Parental consent letter	Under 18s	Signed letter from parent(s) or guardian.
TB certificate	Some countries	Required if you are from a country on the UKVI TB list. Valid for 6 months.
Qualifications	Varies	Required for courses below degree level.
Previous course evidence	Switching inside UK	Transcript, award letter, or similar.

Translations: Any document not in English must be accompanied by a certified translation from a professional translator.

Check if you need a TB test Check if you need ATAS

Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS)

Detail	Info
Cost	£776 per year of visa duration
Payment	Paid upfront during the online application
Refunds	If your visa is refused, you can apply for a refund
EU/EEA nationals	May be able to claim a partial or full refund with a valid EHIC card

Credibility interviews

The Home Office may interview you — either randomly or based on your application history. The interview is conducted in English only — no interpreter is allowed.

Overseas applicants: Usually a short video call (5–10 minutes)
In-UK applicants: 20–30 minutes, in person or by phone

💡 Interview preparation tips

Why LSBU? Think about location, industry links, and specific modules
Your course structure and how it fits your career plans
Where you will live and how you will get to campus
How you are funding your studies
Your work hour restrictions (20 hours/week during term time)
What you did during your previous course (if applicable)

If your application is refused on credibility grounds

You can request an administrative review within:

28 days if applying from outside the UK
7 days if applying from inside the UK

There is a fee of around £80 for the review.