UK Student Visa Extension & Change of Course 2026, What You Need to Know

Most international students in the UK don't plan to stay longer than their original Student visa, until they do. A resit, a course extension, a master's added after a bachelor's, a PhD that takes an extra year: all of these require either a Student visa extension or a new Student visa application. In 2026 the rules around this have tightened in several areas. This guide covers every scenario clearly.

When you need to extend vs. apply fresh

The 60-day rule for extensions

You can apply to extend your Student visa up to 3 months before your current visa expires, but not earlier. Most students apply in the final 28 to 60 days.

If your visa expires and you haven't yet applied, you have entered the UK illegally (overstaying). The consequences:

• Overstaying a student visa by more than 28 days without reasonable cause can trigger a re-entry ban
• Your university must report a "suspected overstayer" to UKVI if you're still enrolled
• Overstaying does not automatically cancel your enrolment, but many universities have policies requiring active immigration status

Apply early, but not too early. The earliest you can apply in-country is 3 months before expiry. The latest is the day before expiry.

What you need for a Student visa extension

1. New CAS from your university

Your university's International Student Office issues a new CAS for the extension period. The CAS must state:

• The new course end date (or resit period)
• Confirmation you've been attending and progressing satisfactorily
• Your new tuition balance (fees owed for the extension period)

Most universities generate CAS codes within 5 to 10 working days of your request. Give them 2 weeks to be safe.

2. Maintenance funds

Same rule as the initial application: you need to show the required amount has been in your account for 28 consecutive days immediately before applying.

Even for a 3-month extension, you must show the full 9-month equivalent maintenance, the Home Office does not pro-rate this.

3. Passport and previous visa evidence

Your current passport plus any previous passports showing relevant visas. If you've renewed your passport since arrival, bring both.

4. Proof of academic progress

Not always explicitly required, but recommended:

• Most recent academic transcript
• Letter from your tutor or personal supervisor confirming progress
• Enrolment confirmation letter dated within 28 days of application

Fees for a Student visa extension

Total minimum for a 1-year extension: £1,300. For a 2-year extension (PhD): £2,076.

Note: if you're switching from another visa type into Student for further study, the same fees apply as an initial application.

Changing your course, what's allowed

Within the same institution: Your university can update your CAS to reflect a course change without you needing to submit a new visa application, if the new course is at the same level or higher. Switching from PGCE to MSc at the same university, no new application needed.

Dropping a level (e.g. master's to bachelor's), you must apply for a new Student visa, even at the same institution.

Moving to a different institution, you must apply for a new visa with a new CAS from the new institution. You can apply in-country before your current visa expires. The new visa will overlap the old one, UKVI cancels the old visa when the new one is issued.

Resits and failed years

If you fail a year and must resit, your Student visa may not cover the resit period. In that case:

1. Ask your university to issue a new CAS for the resit year
2. Apply to extend your Student visa using that CAS
3. Show maintenance funds for the full 9-month equivalent
4. Pay the extension fee (£524 + IHS)

If your visa expires before your resit results are confirmed, you must apply for the extension while in the UK (on or before expiry day) on the basis that the resit is pending. Your university should provide a letter confirming the timeline.

Part-time study, is it allowed?

Student visa holders must be studying full-time. Part-time study is not permitted on a UK Student visa. However:

• Studying part-time at a university while on a different visa (Skilled Worker, spouse visa) is permitted
• Distance learning from overseas with a UK institution does not require a Student visa
• If you switch to part-time study mid-way, UKVI expects you to notify them and may curtail your leave

After your extension, what comes next?

Student visas cannot lead directly to ILR. After completing your studies:

• Apply for a Graduate visa (if eligible, see our Graduate visa guide)
• Or apply to switch directly to Skilled Worker if you have a job offer
• Or return home and re-enter later

Graduate visa time and Student visa time both do not count toward the 5-year ILR clock. Your settlement path effectively begins on the day your first qualifying "settlement route" visa (Skilled Worker, spouse visa, etc.) is granted.

Frequently asked questions

How to extend your Student visa, the full process

Step 1: New CAS from your university

You cannot extend a Student visa without a new Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS). Your university must issue a new CAS covering the extended or new course period. The CAS:

• Is generated in the university's SMS (Sponsor Management System)
• Has a 6-month validity, apply for the visa within 6 months of issuance
• Must list the new course details, duration, and fees owed

Contact your university's international office at least 8 to 12 weeks before your current visa expires to start the CAS process. Universities typically require proof of enrollment, fee payment (or payment plan), and in some cases academic progress evidence before issuing a new CAS.

Step 2: Confirm maintenance funds

For in-country extensions, you must hold the maintenance amount for 28 consecutive days:

• Outside London: £1,023/month, so £9,207 for 9-month course extension
• London: £1,334/month, so £12,006 for 9-month course extension

The 28-day period must end within 31 days before your application submission date. Start the 28-day count while preparing your other documents, don't wait.

Step 3: Complete the online application

Go to gov.uk/student-visa and select "Extend my Student visa." You'll need:

• New CAS reference number
• Passport details
• Maintenance funds evidence (bank statements for the 28-day window)
• ATAS certificate (if your new course is in a covered subject)
• English evidence (usually the same as your original application, you won't need to retest)
• Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) if required for your new subject

Step 4: Pay fees and book biometrics

Application fee: £490 (in-country). IHS: £776/year × additional visa length. Priority service: £500 (recommended if timeline is tight).

For the biometrics appointment, you'll attend a UK biometric enrolment centre (UKVCAS), unlike the initial application where you attended a VFS/TLScontact centre, extensions use in-country UKVCAS centres. Book as soon as you submit the application.

Step 5: Wait for decision

Target processing: 8 weeks (standard), 5 working days (priority). During this period you're on 3C leave, your original Student visa terms apply (20-hour working limit in term time).

Changing your course, when you need a new visa and when you don't

This is the most commonly misunderstood area of Student visa rules.

You DO need a new visa application if:

• Moving to a higher level of study (e.g. switching from bachelor's to master's mid-stream without finishing the bachelor's)
• Changing to a completely different subject at a level that changes your ATAS requirement
• Changing to a different university (even the same course)
• Extending your stay beyond the current visa end date

You do NOT need a new application if:

• Changing modules within the same degree at the same university
• Deferring a year (same CAS, extended dates, but your university must update UKVI)
• Minor academic changes confirmed by your international office

The safest test: if your current CAS is still accurate in all its key fields (institution, course level, subject, fees), you probably don't need a new visa. If any of those fields changes, you likely do.

ATAS, Academic Technology Approval Scheme

Postgraduate students in certain advanced STEM subjects must obtain ATAS clearance before applying for a new Student visa or extension. ATAS applies to:

• Advanced research in aerospace, chemistry, nuclear, electronics, computing, and some other fields
• Specific Master's and PhD programs, check the gov.uk ATAS list

ATAS is free but takes 4 to 6 weeks. Apply as soon as you have your new CAS reference. You cannot submit a Student visa application without valid ATAS if your course requires it.

If your course doesn't require ATAS, you don't need to do anything, just proceed with the normal extension application.

Resitting or repeating a year

If you fail an exam and need to resit, or fail a year and need to repeat:

• If this extends your course beyond your current visa's end date, you need an extension
• If you're within your current visa validity, you can resit on your current leave
• Your university must report academic progress issues to UKVI, continued engagement with studies is required

A student who abandons their course is in breach of their visa conditions. The university is obligated to report this and UKVI may curtail the leave. If you're considering withdrawing from your course, speak to your international office before making any decision, there may be options to defer or transfer that preserve your visa.

What happens when the maximum Student visa period is reached

There is a maximum amount of time you can spend on Student visa in the UK:

• With a degree-level course (RQF Level 6+): up to 5 years total for bachelor's, 6 years for master's, 8 years for PhD
• For English language courses: up to 2 years

If you approach these limits, UKVI may refuse further extensions even if you have genuine academic reasons. The time limits are in place to prevent indefinite "perpetual student" status.

Plan your studies to fit within these limits. If you're doing a sandwich degree or integrated master's (like MEng), ensure the CAS covers the full duration from the start.

After your studies, your options

Once you've completed your course and your Student visa approaches expiry:

1. Apply for Graduate visa, the recommended next step for most graduates. 18 months unsponored work in the UK. Apply before the Student visa expires.
2. Switch directly to Skilled Worker, if you have a sponsoring employer and meet the salary threshold. Saves the Graduate visa fee but requires having an offer.
3. Return home, if you have no plans to stay in the UK. Leave before your visa expires.
4. Apply for a new Student visa, if you want to pursue further study at a different level.

The Graduate visa is the most popular option in 2026. It provides 18 months to find the right Skilled Worker opportunity without time pressure. Apply early, processing takes 8 weeks standard.

Fees for Student visa extension vs new visa

Comparing the costs of extending vs applying fresh:

Student visa in-country extension:

• Application fee: £490
• IHS: £776/year × additional years
• Priority service: £500 (optional)

New Student visa entry clearance (from overseas):

• Application fee: £490 (same fee structure)
• IHS: £776/year × total new visa length
• Travel: flights, accommodation during biometrics visit
• TB test (if required): £85

Extending from within the UK is almost always cheaper and more convenient than leaving and reapplying. The only reason to leave and reapply is if your existing leave has lapsed (you've overstayed), in that case you must apply from overseas.

What CAS documents must show

The Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies issued by your university must include:

• Your name as on your passport
• Course details: title, level, qualification, start and end dates
• Course fees: total fees and what has been paid vs what remains
• Your university's Sponsor Licence number
• The CAS reference number

If any detail on the CAS is wrong (wrong course end date, misspelled name), the visa application may be delayed or refused. Check the CAS against your offer letter and passport immediately when it's issued.

Common CAS errors:

• Course end date shows the thesis submission deadline instead of the approved graduation date
• Your name has an anglicised version rather than passport-exact spelling
• Fees show a different amount than your offer letter (scholarship reduced fees but CAS shows full fees)

If you find an error, ask your university's international office to reissue the CAS before submitting your visa application. Reissuance is free but takes 3 to 5 working days.

The UKVCAS biometrics system for in-country extensions

In-country Student visa extensions use UKVCAS (UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services) centres, different from the overseas VFS Global / TLScontact centres. UKVCAS locations in the UK:

• Multiple locations in London (London Shoreditch, London City)
• Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds, Edinburgh, Cardiff, Belfast

Book your UKVCAS appointment immediately after submitting your application. Appointments at popular centres (London especially) book 2 to 4 weeks ahead. If you're on 3C leave (original visa expired, extension pending), you want your biometrics done as quickly as possible to move the application forward.

The UKVCAS appointment takes 20 to 30 minutes. You'll have fingerprints taken, a photo taken, and confirm your personal details. Bring your passport and application submission confirmation email.

Frequently asked questions