UK Student Visa Requirements for Nepali Students

Senior Counselor

By Dhiraj Kandel

11 min read

To meet the UK student visa requirements from Nepal, you need a CAS (Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies) from a licensed university, enough money and good English. You show your unpaid first-year fees plus £1,203 a month for living costs, or £1,570 in London, for up to 9 months. That is about Rs 21 to 28 lakh for living costs alone, kept in the bank for 28 days in a row. Applicants from Nepal also need a TB test from an approved clinic in Kathmandu or Damak. The Home Office also checks that you are a genuine student, and a decision usually takes about 3 weeks.

You must show unpaid first-year fees plus £1,203 a month outside London, or £1,570 in London, for up to 9 months.
The money must stay in the account for 28 days in a row, ending no more than 31 days before you apply.
Degree courses need English at level B2 and courses below degree level need B1.
Nepali applicants need a TB certificate from one of 3 approved clinics, and it is valid for 6 months.
You can apply up to 6 months before your course starts, and decisions usually take about 3 weeks.

The Three Essentials for a UK Student Visa

A CAS from a licensed university

Your university sends a CAS number after you accept an unconditional offer. You cannot apply without it.

Money held for 28 days

Unpaid first-year fees plus living costs for up to 9 months, kept in the account for 28 days in a row.

English at the right level

Level B2 for a bachelor’s or master’s, B1 below degree level, shown in the way your university accepts.

Which UK Visa Do Nepali Students Need?

If you are 16 or older and going for a bachelor’s, master’s or PhD, you need the UK Student visa.

The Student visa replaced the old Tier 4 visa. It lets you study a full-time course at a university or college that holds a student sponsor licence. At degree level you can usually stay up to 5 years if you are 18 or over, and up to 2 years for a course below degree level.

There are two other study routes, but few Nepali students use them. The Child Student visa is for students aged 4 to 17 at an independent school. A short course of 6 months or less can be done as a Standard Visitor, but that route does not let you work or extend your stay.

This page explains every requirement of the Student visa for an applicant in Nepal. For the bigger picture, such as costs, intakes and courses, start with our guide to study in UK from Nepal. To choose where to apply, compare the universities in the UK for international students.

What Are the UK Student Visa Requirements?

You need a CAS, enough money, the right English level and a TB test, and UKVI must believe you are a genuine student.

UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) is the part of the Home Office that decides your visa. It looks at all of these together, not one by one. So your offer, your bank papers and your study plan must tell the same story. Here are the six things every Nepali applicant has to get right.

A CAS from a licensed sponsor

An unconditional offer from a UK university or college with a student sponsor licence, and the CAS reference number it sends you.

Money for fees and living costs

Your unpaid first-year fees plus £1,203 a month (£1,570 in London) for up to 9 months, held for 28 days in a row.

Academic documents

The +2, bachelor’s or other results your university used for your offer. Check the marks you need in our guide to eligibility to study in the UK.

English language

English at level B2 for degree courses or B1 below degree level, proved in a way your university and UKVI accept.

TB test certificate

Nepal is on the UK tuberculosis list, so you need a certificate from a Home Office approved clinic in Nepal.

Genuine student and other checks

A believable study plan, plus an ATAS certificate for some science and technology courses at master’s level or above.

What Changed in UK Student Visa Rules?

The main recent changes are higher money amounts, a shorter Graduate visa from 2027, fewer students who can bring family, and digital eVisas.

If an older page or a friend told you different figures, these changes are usually why:

Living costs go up again. If you apply from 30 November 2026, you show £1,570 a month for London and £1,203 outside London, up from £1,529 and £1,171. Older pages still show the lower figures.
The visa fee is £558 for each person applying from outside the UK.
The Graduate visa gets shorter. After a bachelor’s or master’s you get 2 years if you apply on or before 31 December 2026, and 18 months if you apply from 1 January 2027. Our UK Graduate route visa guide explains it.
Family members are limited. For courses starting from 1 January 2024, only PhD and other research-based postgraduate students (and government-sponsored students) can bring a partner or children. See the GOV.UK family rules and our UK dependent visa guide.
No more BRP cards. If your visa is approved you get an eVisa, a digital record you see in your UKVI account.
A visa brake started on 26 March 2026 for students from Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar and Sudan. Nepal is not on that list.

How Do You Get a CAS for a UK Student Visa?

Your university gives you a CAS after you accept an unconditional offer, meet its conditions and usually pay a deposit.

CAS stands for Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies. It is an electronic record with a reference number, not a paper letter, although most universities email you a CAS statement. You enter that number in your visa form, and you must apply within 6 months of getting it, as the GOV.UK course rules say.

Many universities hold a short pre-CAS interview first to check your plans and English. Practise with our pre-CAS interview questions. Your CAS shows these details, so check each one against your passport and papers:

Your name, date of birth and passport number
The course name, level and RQF level
The course start and end dates
The tuition fee for the first year and any amount you have already paid
Any accommodation fee paid to the university
How the university checked your English, and the evidence it used
Whether you need an ATAS certificate
The unique CAS reference number

If any detail is wrong, ask the university to fix it before you apply. A wrong fee or a wrong date can make your bank balance look short. Our CAS letter UK guide covers deposits, timing and common CAS problems in more detail.

Before the university issues a CAS, it usually asks you to do these things:

Accept the offer and meet every condition on it
Send your final transcripts, English result and passport copy
Pay the tuition deposit the university asks for
Pass the pre-CAS interview or credibility check, if it holds one
Show the university your financial documents, if it asks to see them early

Universities in the UK often get busy before the September intake, so a CAS can take a few weeks. Send clear, complete papers the first time and reply to emails quickly.

How Much Money Do You Need to Show for a UK Student Visa?

You must show your unpaid first-year tuition plus £1,203 a month outside London or £1,570 a month in London, for up to 9 months.

These amounts come from the GOV.UK money rules. London means the City of London and the 32 London boroughs. If your course is shorter than 9 months, you show living costs for the length of the course. The new amounts apply to applications made from 30 November 2026, under the Home Office rule change HC 584. If you apply before that date, you show £1,171 or £1,529 a month.

Where you study	Per month	For 9 months	About in rupees
Outside London	£1,203	£10,827	about Rs 22 lakh
London	£1,570	£14,130	about Rs 28 lakh
Each partner or child (only if allowed)	£680 outside London, £845 in London	£6,120 or £7,605	about Rs 12 to 15 lakh

Add your unpaid first-year tuition to these figures. Any fee you have already paid is taken off, as long as it is on your CAS or on a receipt. The same goes, up to a limit, for accommodation fees paid to the university. Rupee amounts on this page are rounded; check today’s rate with our GBP to Rs forex converter. Tuition by level is on our total cost to study in the UK from Nepal page. Real monthly spending is on our cost of living in the UK page.

What Nepali students usually show: a bank statement or a bank balance certificate in your or a parent’s name, or an education loan letter from a bank. If a parent’s money is used, add a relationship certificate and your birth certificate. UKVI checks how the family earned the money, so keep income papers such as a tax clearance certificate ready.

The 28-Day Bank Statement Rule

The money must stay in the account for at least 28 days in a row, and it must never drop below the amount you need. The last day of those 28 days must be no more than 31 days before the date you apply.

For example, if you apply on 1 January, the 28 days must end on or after 1 December. That is why many families in Nepal deposit the money early and leave it untouched. Nepali bank papers often carry Bikram Sambat dates, so use our Nepali date converter to check the English dates before you count the days.

A student loan, an official scholarship or money from your university does not need the 28-day history, but the letter must be recent and show the amount clearly.

What Documents Do You Need for a UK Student Visa from Nepal?

GOV.UK asks for a passport and a CAS, plus money evidence, your TB certificate and an ATAS certificate if your course needs one.

These are the UK student visa documents on the GOV.UK documents list. Most documents required for a UK student visa from Nepal are uploaded online after you fill in the form, and the checklist below covers them all.

Passport: valid for your travel. If yours is old or damaged, see our Nepal passport for study abroad guide.
CAS reference number from your university.
Money evidence: bank statement or balance certificate, loan letter, or sponsor letter, plus the relationship certificate if a parent pays.
TB test certificate from an approved clinic in Nepal.
ATAS certificate, only if your CAS says your course needs one.
Academic documents used for your CAS, if UKVI asks for them. Our guide on how to get transcripts in Nepal helps.
English evidence named on your CAS, such as a test report.
Consent from both parents and your birth certificate, if you are under 18.
Certified English translations of anything in Nepali.

Rules UKVI Checks on Every Document

Your name and date of birth must match on your passport, CAS, bank papers and certificates.
Bank papers must show the account holder, the bank, the balance and the dates clearly.
Translations must be certified, with the translator’s details and the date.
Never edit or “arrange” a statement. False documents lead to a refusal and can stop you getting UK visas for years.
Keep the originals. UKVI or the university can ask to see them.

Some papers are not on the GOV.UK list but you still need them in Nepal. You need an NOC from the Ministry of Education to send fees abroad from a Nepali bank. Your university uses your +2 grades, so check your GPA with our NEB GPA calculator before you apply. The online form asks for your full home address, and our Nepal postal code finder gives the right postcode.

What English Level Do You Need for a UK Student Visa?

You need English at level B2 for a degree course and B1 for a course below degree level.

The GOV.UK English rules use the CEFR scale, a common European scale for language levels. For most Nepali students, the UK student visa requirements on IELTS come down to what your university accepts. You can prove your English in one of these ways:

A Secure English Language Test (SELT) from an approved provider, such as IELTS for UKVI or PTE Academic UKVI
Your university’s own assessment, which is allowed for degree-level courses at a university
A degree taught in English, confirmed with an Ecctis code
A degree from a UK university, or a GCSE or A level in English from a UK school

A university can accept a normal IELTS Academic, PTE or other test for a degree course, because it assesses your English itself. For courses below degree level, such as a foundation year at a college, you usually need a SELT taken at a UKVI test centre. Our page on IELTS vs IELTS for UKVI explains the difference, and our list of minimum IELTS and PTE scores for UK study gives the usual band scores.

Some universities accept good +2 English marks or a medium of instruction letter instead of a test. That is the university’s choice, so get it in writing. Your English must also hold up in a pre-CAS or UKVI interview, because a weak interview can raise doubts about your whole application.

ATAS: if you plan a master’s or PhD in sensitive science or engineering topics, you may need an Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) certificate. It is free but can take several weeks, so apply as soon as your CAS says you need one.

Where Do Nepali Students Take the UK TB Test?

You must take the TB test at one of three Home Office approved clinics in Nepal: two run by IOM and one at Norvic Hospital.

Nepal is on the UK tuberculosis list, so you need a TB certificate if you are coming for 6 months or more. The test is a chest x-ray. The GOV.UK list of TB clinics in Nepal names these three:

IOM Migration Health Assessment Center, Lazimpat Sadak, Panipokhari, Kathmandu (opposite the Embassy of Japan). Phone +977 1 5970001, email mhacinfo@iom.int.

IOM Resettlement Health Assessment Centre, Devkota Chowk (New Vegetable Market), Damak-11, Jhapa. Phone +977 23 585211 or +977 23 585213.

Norvic International Hospital, Maternity Road, Thapathali, Kathmandu. Phone +977 1 5970032, email visamed@norvichospital.com. Open Sunday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.

How much the TB test costs: at the two IOM clinics the fee is USD 60 for anyone 11 or older and USD 40 for children under 11. A reissued certificate costs USD 12, and you pay in rupees at the IOM rate. At Norvic it is Rs 7800 for 11 and older, Rs 5200 for children under 11 and Rs 1300 for a reissue. Women aged 12 to 54 may be asked to pay Rs 650 for a pregnancy test. The test fee is separate from the visa fee.

Book early and say it is for a UK visa. Appointments usually come within a few days, but from June to October, the student peak, you may wait up to 10 days. The certificate is valid for 6 months from the date of the x-ray, as the GOV.UK TB test rules say, so time it close to your visa application.

Take your passport and 2 recent passport-size photos
Carry the fee and your appointment details
Bring old x-rays or medical notes if you have had TB or a lung illness
Ask for a female clinician when booking, if you prefer
Children under 11 see a clinician and usually do not have an x-ray

How Much Are the Visa Fee and the Health Surcharge?

The UK student visa fee is £558, and the Immigration Health Surcharge for students is £776 for each year of your visa.

The fee of £558 (about Rs 1.1 lakh) is on the GOV.UK Student visa page, and every family member who applies pays it too. Our UK student visa fee guide shows totals by course length, priority fees and refunds. The Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) gives you the National Health Service, the UK’s public health care, while your visa lasts. You pay it online as part of the application.

Your visa usually lasts longer than your course. For a 1-year master’s, the visa often lasts about 17 months. So you pay £776 plus £388 for the extra part year, which is £1,164 (about Rs 2.3 lakh). The GOV.UK IHS rules work it out like this:

How the IHS Is Worked Out

6 months or less, applying from Nepal: no surcharge.
More than 6 months but under a year: a full year, £776.
More than a year but 18 months or less: £776 plus half a year (£388).
More than 18 months but under 2 years: 2 full years, £1,552.

You get an IHS reference number when you pay. Keep it with your papers.
If you pay too little, UKVI emails you. Pay within 7 working days from outside the UK, or your application can be refused.
If your visa is refused, the surcharge is refunded. The visa fee is not.
The TB test and the visa centre’s optional extras are paid separately.

What Is the Genuine Student Requirement?

UKVI must believe you really plan to study your course, that you can pay for it, and that your plans after it make sense.

This is the Genuine Student rule. The Home Office Student route caseworker guidance lists what officers must look at. It matters for every Nepali applicant, because a file can have every paper and still be refused if the plan does not make sense. Our UK visa success rate from Nepal page shows how many Nepali files the Home Office grants each quarter.

What UKVI looks at

Your past visas, and any refusal from any country
How long since you last studied, and your reason if there is a gap
Whether the course is a step up from what you studied before
How well you know your course, university and living plans
Where your family’s money came from, and whether the source is believable
How the course fits your plans in Nepal or elsewhere afterwards

How it is checked

Officers read your form, your CAS and your papers. If they still have doubts, they usually invite you to a credibility interview by video. They must not refuse you on genuineness grounds without interviewing you, except in a few cases such as an earlier refusal on the same grounds with nothing new.

Questions you may be asked

Why this course, and why this university?
Why the UK and not Nepal or another country?
How does it link to your +2 or bachelor’s subject?
Who is paying, and how did they earn the money?
What will you do after you finish?
Do you have relatives in the UK?

Does UKVI Interview Nepali Students?

Not every Nepali student is interviewed, but you should prepare as if you will be. The interview is short and usually by video. Officers are not testing hard facts like bus routes in your city, which the guidance says they must not refuse you for. They want to hear, in your own words, why this course makes sense for you. Practise your answers out loud, but do not memorise a script.

Two things often need extra care for applicants from Nepal. First, a gap after +2 or after your bachelor’s needs a clear reason and proof, as our guide on studying in the UK with an academic gap explains. Second, your family’s income must match the money in the bank. A short SOP for the UK student visa helps you put your plan into words.

Why Do UK Student Visas Get Refused?

Most refusals come from money problems, papers that do not match, or answers that do not convince UKVI you are a genuine student.

A refusal letter always gives the reasons, and they are usually avoidable. These are the ones we see most often with Nepali files. Our page on UK student visa rejection reasons explains each one and what to do next.

Money short or not held for 28 days: the balance dipped, or the statement ended more than 31 days before you applied.
Unclear source of funds: large deposits with no income papers to explain them.
Details that do not match: a different name spelling or date of birth on the CAS, passport and bank papers.
A weak interview: not knowing your course, or a plan that does not fit your studies.
No valid TB certificate: missing, expired, or from a clinic that is not approved.
False documents: this leads to a refusal and can block future UK visas for years.

Most refusals are preventable. When your money, papers and answers tell the same story, UKVI has fewer reasons to doubt you.

How Long Does a UK Student Visa Take from Nepal?

You usually get a decision within 3 weeks of applying from outside the UK, and you can apply up to 6 months before your course starts.

You apply online, pay the fee and the IHS, then prove your identity. You either use the UK Immigration: ID Check app or give your fingerprints and photo at the visa centre, as the GOV.UK apply page explains. In Nepal the centre is VFS Global in Kathmandu; see our biometrics locations in Nepal guide.

A faster decision may be offered for an extra fee when you apply. Complex files, such as ones where papers must be checked or an interview is needed, take longer. If you are approved you get an eVisa. You can travel up to 1 month before a course of more than 6 months, but never before the start date on your visa.

Not Sure If You Meet the UK Student Visa Requirements?

Many Nepali students worry about their bank papers, a study gap or the interview before they apply. That is normal, and most of these worries can be sorted out early.

A Goreto counselor can check your CAS, your funds and your documents against the rules on this page before you pay the visa fee.

Speak to trusted UK counselors

When Should You Start Preparing Your UK Student Visa?

Start about 6 to 9 months before your intake, so that your offer, CAS, money and TB test are ready in time.

Count back from your course start date. The timeline below suits most bachelor’s and master’s students. Check your own dates with our guide to the UK intakes, and see every step in how to apply to UK universities from Nepal.

Before your course starts	What to do
9 to 6 months	Take your English test, apply to universities, and collect transcripts and family income papers
About 3 months	Accept your offer, pay the deposit, do the pre-CAS interview, and put the money in the bank
About 2 months	Get your CAS, book the TB test, and check that the 28 days are complete
6 to 8 weeks	Apply online, pay the £558 fee and the IHS, and give biometrics
About 3 weeks later	Get your decision and eVisa, then book your flight

You can get advice wherever you live in Nepal, from Dhangadhi to Jhapa, and our branches are in Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Chitwan, Itahari and Pokhara. Talk to a Goreto counselor to check your file before you apply.

FAQs on UK Student Visa Requirements

How much bank balance do I need for a 1-year master's in the UK from Nepal?

You need your unpaid first-year tuition plus £10,827 for living costs outside London, or £14,130 in London. Living costs alone are about Rs 22 to 28 lakh. Keep the full amount in the account for 28 days in a row, ending no more than 31 days before you apply.

Can my parents or relatives sponsor my UK student visa?

Yes, your parents or a legal guardian can provide the money, and you add a relationship certificate and your birth certificate. Money held by other relatives, such as an uncle, usually cannot be used for a UK student visa from Nepal. Whoever pays, UKVI looks at where the money came from.

Can I use an education loan from a Nepali bank?

Usually yes. An education loan letter can count as evidence of funds, and a student loan does not need the 28-day history. The letter should be recent and show your name, the amount and that the money is for your studies. Ask your university whether it accepts your bank’s letter before you rely on it.

Can I get a UK student visa without IELTS?

Yes, for many degree courses. Your university can assess your English itself, or accept +2 English marks or another test, and it records this on your CAS. So when you apply for a UK student visa from Nepal without IELTS, follow your university’s rule. Courses below degree level usually need a SELT.

Does a study gap affect my UK student visa?

A gap does not stop you, but UKVI looks at how long it is and why. Show what you did, such as work with an experience letter, and explain why you are going back to study now.

How many hours can I work on a UK student visa?

At degree level with a university you can work up to 20 hours a week during term time, and full time in the holidays. Below degree level the limit is 10 hours a week in term time. Our UK student work hours page has the full rules. Ideas for work are in our guide to part-time jobs in the UK for Nepali students.

Can I take my husband, wife or children with me?

Only if you are on a PhD or other research-based postgraduate course, or you are government-sponsored. Most taught master’s students cannot bring dependants. Each family member who can come pays £558 and shows £680 a month (£845 in London) for up to 9 months.

What is the UK student visa success rate for Nepali students?

There is no single rate that applies to you. Your chances depend on your qualifications, study plan, funds and evidence, and on how well you answer any interview. A counselor can look at your file and tell you where it is weak before you apply.

My UK student visa was refused. Can I apply again?

Yes, you can apply again once you have fixed the reasons in the refusal letter. Read each reason carefully and add new evidence. Sending the same application again usually leads to the same result.

Can I apply for the UK student visa before I get my CAS?

No. You need the CAS reference number to fill in the form. You can, however, prepare everything else early: your passport, bank papers, TB test booking and income documents.

Student visa GOV.UK (UK Visas and Immigration).
Student visa: money you need GOV.UK (UK Visas and Immigration).
Statement of changes to the Immigration Rules: HC 584 Home Office. Last updated 3 September 2026.
Student visa: knowledge of English GOV.UK (UK Visas and Immigration).
Student route: caseworker guidance Home Office. Last updated 16 October 2026.
Nepal: tuberculosis test clinics for a UK visa Home Office. Last updated 2 November 2025.
Pay for UK healthcare as part of your immigration application: how much you pay GOV.UK (UK Visas and Immigration).

This page provides general guidance about studying abroad. Requirements, fees and policies can change. For advice about your situation, speak with a Goreto counselor before applying.