United Kingdom
UK Student Visa from Dubai and the UAE: what you need, step by step
The UK Student visa in brief
You can apply for a UK Student visa from Dubai, or anywhere else in the UAE, once a licensed university or college has offered you a place and issued your Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS). You apply online, no earlier than 6 months before your course starts, and GOV.UK says you’ll usually get a decision within 3 weeks.
Two things catch people out more than anything else: the money rule, where timing matters as much as the amount, and the Graduate route change on 1 January 2027. Both are explained below.
Last reviewed: 26 September 2026 against GOV.UK (sources at the end of this page). We check the rules again when we prepare each file.
| At a glance | What GOV.UK says |
|---|---|
| Who can apply | Anyone 16 or over with a course offer from a licensed student sponsor, enough money and the required English level |
| English level | CEFR B2 at degree level and above; B1 below degree level |
| Money to live on | £1,529 a month in London or £1,171 a month elsewhere, for up to 9 months, held for 28 days in a row |
| Work in term time | Up to 20 hours a week at degree level with an eligible university; 10 hours below degree level |
| Decision time | Usually within 3 weeks from outside the UK |
| Length of stay | Usually up to 5 years at degree level (if you’re 18 or over); up to 2 years below degree level |
| After you graduate | Graduate visa: 2 years if you apply by 31 December 2026, 18 months from 1 January 2027, 3 years after a PhD |
Which UK study route fits you
Most people reading this need the Student visa. The other three routes are narrower.
| Route | Who it’s for | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|
| Student visa | People 16 or over on a further or higher education course with a licensed student sponsor | It replaced the old Tier 4 (General) student visa |
| Child Student visa | Children aged 4 to 17 at an independent school | From 16, part-time work of up to 10 hours a week in term time is allowed |
| Short-term study visa | English language courses of more than 6 months and no more than 11 months | Only for English language courses |
| Graduate visa | Student visa holders in the UK who have successfully completed an eligible course | You apply from inside the UK; it allows work in most jobs and self-employment |
What you need to apply
Every applicant needs a current passport and a CAS. Most applicants from the UAE also need some or all of the evidence below.
Your CAS
The CAS comes from your university or college, which must be a licensed student sponsor. It shows the first-year course fee you need to cover, which feeds into your money calculation. Check that the name, date of birth and passport details on it match your passport exactly.
Money: the 28-day rule
You need the first year’s course fee shown on your CAS, plus £1,529 a month to live on for courses in London, or £1,171 a month outside London, for up to 9 months.
Timing matters as much as the amount. GOV.UK says: “You must have this money for at least 28 days in a row. The end date of the 28-day period must be within 31 days of the date you apply for your visa.” So if you apply on 1 January, the money must have been in your account for at least the 28 days ending on 1 December. A balance that dips below the required figure on any day breaks the run.
You don’t need to show this money if you’ve been in the UK with a valid visa for at least 12 months. Nationals of countries on GOV.UK’s “differential evidence requirement” list, which includes the UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman and Qatar, don’t have to submit the evidence when they apply, although UKVI can still ask for it. India, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia are not on the list, so most expatriate students here show their funds in the normal way.
English level
The level is CEFR B2 for degree level and above and CEFR B1 below degree level. At degree level, a Higher Education Provider can assess your English itself and may ask for a different test, but it must still be equivalent to B2. A degree taught in English can also count (with an Ecctis assessment if it wasn’t awarded by a UK institution). Need a test? See our IELTS and PTE pages.
TB test, ATAS and other documents
The TB test depends on where you’ve lived, not where you apply from. The UAE is not on GOV.UK’s TB test country list. You need a test if you’re coming for 6 months or more, have lived in a listed country for 6 months or more, and were living there within the last 6 months. India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka are on the list, so check your history if you moved to the UAE recently. The test must be done at a Home Office-approved clinic, and the certificate is valid for 6 months from the X-ray.
You may also need an ATAS certificate if your course and nationality require it (mainly master’s level and above), and parental consent if you’re under 18.
Applying from the UAE, step by step
- Get your offer and CAS from a licensed student sponsor.
- Put the money in place early. Keep the full amount in the account for at least 28 days in a row, ending within 31 days of the date you apply.
- Arrange English, TB and ATAS evidence if they apply to you.
- Apply online, no earlier than 6 months before your course starts. You pay the visa fee and the Immigration Health Surcharge as part of the application; GOV.UK shows the current amounts when you apply.
- Prove your identity. You’re told how when you apply: through the “UK Immigration: ID Check” app, or at a visa application centre where your fingerprints and photo are taken.
- Wait for the decision, usually within 3 weeks from outside the UK. You may be offered a paid faster service.
- Set up your eVisa. Successful applicants get an eVisa, an online record of their immigration status, accessed through a UKVI account linked to the passport you’ll travel on.
- Travel. For a course longer than 6 months, you can arrive up to 1 month before it starts, but never before the start date on your visa.
Cosmos prepares and reviews the file with you; you submit the application to UKVI and attend any identity appointment yourself.
Timing: when to start
Intake dates vary by university, so plan backwards from the start date on your CAS. The application can go in 6 months before that date, the money must already have been in place for 28 days when you apply, and the decision usually takes up to 3 weeks. In practice, that means sorting out the course, the CAS and the funds several months ahead.
Working while you study
The Home Office’s sponsor guidance sets these limits:
| Your course | Term time | Vacations |
|---|---|---|
| Full-time, degree level or above, at a higher education provider with a track record of compliance | Up to 20 hours a week | Full-time |
| Below degree level, at a higher education provider with a track record of compliance | Up to 10 hours a week | Full-time |
You can’t be self-employed, work as a professional sportsperson or sports coach, or claim public funds.
Bringing your family
This is the rule people most often get wrong. A partner or children can come as dependants only if you are either a government-sponsored student on a course longer than 6 months, or a full-time student on a postgraduate course (RQF level 7 or above) lasting 9 months or longer.
If that postgraduate course starts on or after 1 January 2024, it must be a PhD or other doctorate, or a research-based higher degree. A taught master’s, such as a one-year MSc or MBA, does not qualify. Each eligible dependant needs £845 a month in London or £680 a month elsewhere, for up to 9 months, in addition to your own funds.
The Graduate route and the 1 January 2027 change
After you successfully complete an eligible course, the Graduate visa lets you stay to work in most jobs, look for work or be self-employed. You apply from inside the UK, once your university has told the Home Office you’ve completed the course.
| When you apply | How long it lasts |
|---|---|
| On or before 31 December 2026 | 2 years |
| On or after 1 January 2027 | 18 months |
| After a PhD or other doctoral qualification | 3 years |
The application date is what counts. A one-year master’s starting in autumn 2026 ends in 2027, so it falls under the 18-month rule. If your course ends in late 2026, your university must report completion in time for you to apply by 31 December 2026. A Graduate visa can’t be extended, but you may be able to switch to another route.
After graduation: routes people look at
Each work route has its own requirements, and whether you qualify depends on your job offer, salary or track record when you apply. Three that graduates often look at are the UK Skilled Worker visa, the Global Talent visa and the High Potential Individual visa.
Still comparing countries? See Canada vs Australia vs the UK from Dubai, the Canada student visa and the Australia student visa. For other UK routes, start with UK visas from Dubai.
Common mistakes to avoid
- The balance dips below the required figure on one day of the 28-day period.
- The 28-day period ends more than 31 days before the application date.
- The details on the CAS don’t match the passport.
- Assuming UAE residence rules out a TB test after recently living in a listed country.
- Planning to bring a partner on a taught master’s.
- Not checking which side of 1 January 2027 the Graduate visa application will fall.
How Cosmos helps
We work with students in the UAE, KSA, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain, India and Sri Lanka. We look at your course plans and family situation, work out the funds figure and the 28-day window for your start date, check each document against the current GOV.UK rules, and put together a complete, well-organised file. If you haven’t chosen a course yet, we can help you shortlist programmes.
UK student visa from Dubai: common questions
Official sources
All accessed 26 September 2026.
- GOV.UK: Student visa (overview, timing, length of stay, conditions)
- GOV.UK: Student visa, money you need
- GOV.UK: Student visa, knowledge of English
- GOV.UK: Student visa, documents you’ll need
- GOV.UK: Student visa, your partner and children
- GOV.UK: Tuberculosis tests for visa applicants and the country list
- GOV.UK: Graduate visa
- Home Office: Student sponsor guidance, sponsorship duties (work limits)
- GOV.UK: Child Student visa and Short-term study visa
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