Student visa information

If you are making your application from inside the UK, you will need to make your application online via the UK Visas and Immigration website. Once you have completed the application form and paid the IHS, biometrics and application fee, you will have three options to choose how soon you should receive a decision on your application:

• Standard Service - you should receive a decision within eight weeks from your date of submitting and paying for your application online. If UK Visas and Immigration are unable to make a decision on your application within the eight week time frame, they will write to you and inform you. The cost of this service is currently £524.
• Priority Service - after giving your biometrics at an appointment with a UKVCAS centre, the process should take no more than 10 working days for you to receive a decision and currently costs £1024.
• Super Priority Service - if you choose this option, you should get a decision the day after submitting your biometrics at your appointment with a UKVCAS centre. The cost of using the premium service is currently £1,524.

Once you've chosen the mode of application, you will be directed to the UKVCAS website to book an appointment. At the appointment, you will have your documents checked and scanned, and your biometrics taken. At the end of your appointment, all of your documents will be returned to you for you to take home whilst your visa application is being considered.

Our local UKVCAS centre is in Bedford town centre. Appointments at this centre cost upwards of £60 per person depending on date and time of the appointment.

You must submit your visa application online before your current visa expires.

You will require the following documents in support of your application:

• Current passport and any previous passports that you have used to travel to the UK;
• Confirmation of acceptance for studies (CAS) - more information on how to apply for the CAS number is available in the 'Further documentation' section on this page;
• Evidence used to obtain offer as referred to on your CAS - you will need to submit any documents that Cranfield University has listed on your CAS document that were used for your admission;
• Evidence of English Language - such as IELTS (International English Language Testing);
• Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) - ATAS clearance is needed for some postgraduate study in the UK and in some areas of research - you must have a valid ATAS clearance certificate before you apply for your Student visa. More information on how to apply is in the 'Further documentation' section on this page;
• Evidence of finances - you will need to provide evidence with your visa application that you are able to pay for your tuition fees and living expenses, or have a sponsor who will support you financially'
• Translations - if any of your documents are not in English, you will need to provide a certified translation
• Tuberculosis (TB) testing (if applicable) - If you are coming to the UK for more than 6 months and are a resident in any of these listed countries you will need a certificate confirming that you are free of TB.  You must obtain the certificate from an approved clinic. Certificates from non-approved clinics will not be accepted.

You will need to prove to the Home Office that you have enough money to pay for your tuition fees and your living expenses (maintenance) while you are studying in the UK.

If you are applying for a new Student Visa in the UK and you have been in the UK for the previous 12 months on a valid visa, then the requirement to show finances is waived. Please contact the Student Immigration team to confirm this if you believe this applies to you.

Tuition fees

You must be able to show that you have enough money to pay for your tuition fees for the first year of your course at Cranfield University. Your CAS document will detail the fees you have paid and the fees that are due. The amount stated in the fees due is the amount of money that you will need to show to the Home Office.

Maintenance

You must also be able to show that you have enough money to pay for your living expenses. The Home Office state that you need £1,136 for maintenance per month for nine months. Therefore, you will need to show that you have £10,224 (£1,136 x 9).

What money can I use?

Money that you use must be:

• Held in an account by you or your parents;
• In the form of cash funds held in the bank;
• Used for your studies and living costs in the UK, and must continue to be available to you after your application is made.

It is also possible to use a joint account, however you must be named on the account along with one other person.

• Personal/joint bank account statements

The statements must show your name or your parents' name(s), the account number, date of the statement, the bank’s name and logo and the amount of money available. The Home Office will not accept bank statements from any other relative or friend. If you are using your parents' or legal guardian's bank statements, you must also provide your birth certificate and a letter of parental consent confirming that the money will be used for your studies.

It is possible to use overseas bank accounts, but if they are not in English you will need to send an official translation.

If your bank statements are in your home currency, the Home Office will use their official conversion site to check the amount in £GBP (access the OANDA currency converter).  

Finally, you must ensure that your funds are not held in a financial institution that does not use electronic record keeping and that the Home Office are unable to verify.  

In the case of using a bank statement as evidence of finances, you must show that you have had the required funds for a consecutive 28 days from the date of the closing balance (latest transaction date). Also, there must be less than 31 days between the date of the closing balance and the date of your visa application.

• Paper receipts

If Cranfield University has not included details of money that you have already paid to the University for your tuition fees or accommodation, you will need to include paper receipts confirming that all fees have been paid or a part payment has been paid.

• Official Financial sponsorship or government sponsorship

If Cranfield University is acting as your financial sponsor, the details will be noted on your CAS. For any other financial sponsorship, you must provide a confirmation letter from your official financial sponsor. The letter must contain your name, the name and contact details of the official financial sponsor, the length of sponsorship, and the amount of money they will be giving to you. This letter must be dated and stamped by the official financial sponsor.

You can only receive official financial sponsorship from the UK Government, your home government, the British Council, any international organisation, an international company (must have an office in more than one country), any university or a UK independent school.

Under the Student visa rules, your dependants are:

• A husband, wife, civil partner, unmarried partner or same sex partner;
• Children under 18 years of age (children must not be married or in a civil partnership, must not have formed an independent family unit, and must not be leading an independent life).

You can bring your dependants to the UK only if you are on a full-time course (part-time courses are not eligible) and are:

• • A full-time student on a postgraduate level course (RQF level 7 or above) that lasts 9 months or longer
• A new government-sponsored student on a course that lasts 6 months or longer.

If your postgraduate level course starts on or after 1 January 2024, it must be either:

• a PhD or other doctorate (RQF level 8)
• a research-based higher degree

If you are applying for a Student visa for a full-time course, your family members must apply at the same time as you. Alternatively, once you arrive in the UK and your Student visa has been granted, your family can then make an application as dependants. 

Each dependant will need to complete a separate application form online and pay the relevant fee. If your dependants are from Cuba or North Korea, they will need complete the paper application form. The NHS Immigration Health Surcharge will also need to be paid and their biometrics (fingerprint and photograph) will need to be taken as part of their visa application. 

Your dependants will require the following documents in support of their application:

• Current passport;
• Marriage certificate (if inviting your partner);
• Birth certificate (if inviting your children);
• Evidence of finances - you will need to provide evidence with your visa application that you are able to pay for your family’s living expenses, or have a sponsor who will support you financially.
• Translations - if any of your documents are not in English you will need to provide a certified translation;
• Tuberculosis (TB) testing (if applicable) - if you are coming to the UK for more than 6 months and are a resident in any of these listed countries, you will need a certificate confirming that you are free of TB. You must obtain the certificate from an approved clinic. Certificates from non-approved clinics will not be accepted.

e-Visas

Since October 2024, visa holders will receive digital status of their visa, which is known as an e-Visa. Upon successful issuance of your visa, you will receive digital status and receive your notification through an email. Please see the 'e-Visa: explained' section for more information.

Maintenance Fee increase:

UKVI has announced an increase to the maintenance fee for international students, going from £9,207 for nine months (£1,023 x 9) to £10,224 for nine months (£1,136 x 9).  

Application Fee increase:

On 9th of April 2025, UKVI announced changes to the fees for all visa types among other areas. the student visa application fee has now increased from £490 to £524. 

Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA):

The Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) is a digital permission for non-visa nationals to enter the UK. Those who require a visa to visit the UK will continue to do so and do not require an ETA. Anyone exempt from immigration control will not require an ETA.

An ETA gives you permission to travel to the UK. It currently costs £16 to apply (subject to change), and you can apply online or via the UK ETA app. An ETA will be valid for multiple entry to the UK for 2 years or until the passport expires, whichever happens first.

Once you receive the ETA, it will be electronically linked to your passport. Therefore, if you do not have an ETA at the time of travel, you unfortunately will not be allowed to check-in. 

You will need a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies number (CAS number) issued by us in order to apply for your student visa. 

To get your CAS number you need to have completed the following:

• accepted your course offer online via the EVE portal for Cranfield campus .
• met all the conditions of your offer as stipulated in your offer letter.

Once you have completed these tasks, we will email you with details of how to request a CAS number using CAS Shield. 

You will be asked a series of questions to check that the information we have on your CAS Shield record is correct. You will also have the opportunity to provide any missing information, or if you already have a visa to study in the UK, you will have the chance to provide further details about this. 

The Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) is a UK Government scheme which aims to help stop the spread of knowledge and skills that could be used in the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery. ATAS clearance is needed for some postgraduate study in the UK and in some areas of research. Nationals from Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea and the USA, are exempt from obtaining ATAS clearance for postgraduate study in relevant subjects. Please refer to Appendix ATAS for further details.

How do I apply for ATAS clearance?

You should apply for an ATAS certificate directly with the UK Government’s Foreign and Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) on their ATAS webpages. The application must be made online and is free of charge.

Please ensure that you have all of the required information/documentation to be able to complete the application fully. If your application is incomplete a decision on your application will be delayed. You should check the ATAS webpages for full details of what is required. 

Information about your course including the subject CAH3 code can be found on your offer letter. If you intend to study a taught course you may also require course module information, which can be found on the course page on our website. The Course Director name (please see the 'Teaching team' section of your course page) should be entered in the supervisor field on the ATAS application form. If you will be studying a research programme, you will need to provide the research proposal and Cranfield supervisor as detailed in your offer letter.

How long does the ATAS application take?

It can take at least 30 working days (6 weeks) for the application decision and to receive your ATAS certificate. During busy periods, particularly in August and September, applications may take longer.

The ATAS certificate will be sent to you directly from the FCDO by email.

Please note that ATAS will not begin processing your application until it is complete. They may request additional information from you and your application will be held until this has been received.

When should I apply for an ATAS certificate?

Apply as soon as you can; the sooner the application is submitted the sooner you will receive a response. You cannot apply for your Student visa until your ATAS certificate has been received.

Please also be aware that your ATAS certificate will expire after six months and must be valid at the point you make your visa application.

If your visa application is refused, you should contact the Admissions Office immediately. Please also copy in Student Immigration when you do so, providing a copy of the refusal letter given to you by the Home Office so that we can provide the right advice. You need to also upload the letter to CAS Shield once you receive it.

Your CAS number can only be used once. You must not use the same CAS number again to make a new visa application as you will be refused. We are not always able to issue you with a new CAS number if your Student visa application is refused, but we will consider all requests carefully.