Student Visa duration

Students on a Student Visa can use the table below to determine if they have been granted the correct amount of leave.

Off
Type of course Entry clearance granted before course starts

Entry clearance granted after course ends 

12 months or more

1 month* 4 months
6-12 months 1 month* 2 months
Pre-sessional course less than 6 months 1 month* 1 month
Course of less than 6 months that is not a pre-sessional course  7 days 7 days
Postgraduate doctor or dentist 1 month 1 month

*Intended date of travel

  • When you complete your Student visa application online, you will confirm your intended date of travel to the UK.

Your visa will be valid to travel to the UK from the latest date of:

  • 30 days before your course start date (as stated on your CAS); or
  • 7 days before your intended date of travel to the UK

If your visa is issued later than 7 days before your intended date of travel to the UK, it should be valid for travel to the UK with immediate effect.

Where you don’t yet have an unconditional offer for your degree course, your leave entitlement will only be for the length of any preparatory course (English or Foundation).


BRP expiry date of 31 December 2024

Your BRP will have a latest expiry date of 31 December 2024, even if your immigration permission or visa expires after this date. This is because UKVI is planning to change the BRP system. Please do not worry about this or report this as an error, as UKVI will be contacting you in early 2024 with guidance on how to get updated immigration evidence.

This applies if you have been issued with a BRP only. If you have been issued a digital status, the digital status should show the correct length of visa as per the table above, and should still be reported as an error if it is not correct.


 See also:

Applying for a Tier 4 Visa Inside the UKApplying for a Tier 4 Visa Outside the UK