Study in the UK from Pakistan: Requirements & Cost (2026)

By Faham Baloch · September 28, 2026 · 8 min read

Study in UK from Pakistan: a student preparing a CAS, bank statements and a Student visa application

Last checked: 28 September 2026 against GOV.UK pages for the Student visa (overview, money, family members, knowledge of English), the financial evidence guidance (updated 31 December 2025), the immigration health surcharge, TB testing and the Graduate visa. UK rules and fees change. Confirm on GOV.UK before you apply.

The UK is popular with Pakistani students for good reasons. Master's degrees usually last a year, many universities teach subjects Pakistani employers recognise, and there is a post-study Graduate visa. Most refusals and nasty surprises come from a handful of rules around money, English and family members.

This guide explains how to study in the UK from Pakistan step by step, using figures published on GOV.UK.

Step 1: Choose a course at a licensed student sponsor

To get a Student visa, you need an offer from a licensed student sponsor. GOV.UK says you must have been offered a place on a course by one. The Home Office publishes a register of student sponsors, so check your university and college are on it.

Don't confuse this with the Skilled Worker sponsor list, which is for jobs rather than study. If you later want to work in the UK, our guide to the UK sponsor licence check explains that separate process.

Read each course page closely: modules, entry grades, English requirements and full fees. Our checklist on how to choose a university abroad helps you compare offers fairly.

Step 2: Accept your offer and get a CAS

Once you accept an offer and meet its conditions, the university issues a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS). It is an electronic reference number, and it shows your course fees and any money you have already paid. You need it for the visa form.

Some master's subjects in sensitive fields need an Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) certificate before you apply. Your university will tell you if yours does.

Step 3: Show the money

This is where many Pakistani applications go wrong. Pakistan is not on the UK's list of nationalities that can skip financial evidence at the application stage. So you should expect to submit full evidence with your application.

How much you need

Course fees: enough for one academic year (up to nine months), as shown on your CAS, minus anything you have already paid.
Living costs: £1,529 per month for courses in London, or £1,171 per month outside London, for up to nine months.
Dependants (if allowed, see below): an extra £845 per month in London or £680 per month elsewhere, for up to nine months.

For GOV.UK, "London" means the City of London and the 32 London boroughs. A university with "London" in its name may still be outside that area, and the reverse can also happen. Use your campus location.

The 28-day rule

You must have held the money for at least 28 days in a row. The end of that 28-day period must fall within 31 days of the date you apply. If the balance drops below the required amount even for one day, the 28 days restart.

Whose money counts

Your own money, in an account you control.
Your parents' money, if they provide a letter confirming you can use it.
An official financial sponsorship, for example from a government or university.
A qualifying student loan.

GOV.UK says you cannot use overdrafts, cryptocurrency, stocks and shares, or pensions. Bank statements must show your name, the bank's name and the balance. The Home Office may verify them with your bank, and if it cannot, your application may be refused. Foreign currency is converted at the OANDA rate on the date you apply.

Step 4: Prove your English

For degree-level study, GOV.UK requires English equivalent to CEFR level B2. If you study at a higher education provider, the university can assess your English itself, so it may accept its own test or other evidence. If you have no qualification that proves your English, you need a Secure English Language Test (SELT) from an approved provider.

If your degree was taught in English outside the UK, GOV.UK says you may need an assessment from Ecctis to confirm it. Check exactly what your university will accept before booking a test. Our guide to IELTS preparation in one month helps if you do need one.

Step 5: Take a TB test

Pakistan is on GOV.UK's list of countries where you need a tuberculosis (TB) test if you are coming to the UK for six months or more. The test must be done at a UK-approved clinic. Book early, because the certificate is part of your application.

Step 6: Pay the fees and apply

Student visa fee: £558 when applying from outside the UK.
Immigration health surcharge: £776 per year for students. If your visa runs part of a year beyond the whole years, you pay extra depending on the length.

You can apply up to six months before your course starts, and GOV.UK says you will usually get a decision within three weeks from outside the UK. If your course lasts more than six months, you can arrive up to one month before it starts, but never before the start date on your visa.

Can you bring your spouse or children?

For most Pakistani master's students, the answer is now no. Under GOV.UK's family rules, if your postgraduate course starts on or after 1 January 2024, you can bring dependants only if the course is a PhD, another doctorate, or a research-based higher degree. The other route is being a government-sponsored student on a course longer than six months. A standard one-year taught master's does not qualify.

Working while you study

How much you can work depends on your course level and your sponsor. According to UKCISA, most full-time degree-level students at universities can work up to 20 hours a week during term time and full-time during official vacations. Below-degree courses usually have lower limits. Your visa will state your exact conditions.

GOV.UK also says Student visa holders cannot be self-employed. If you freelance from Pakistan now, talk to your university's international student advisers before you continue any freelance work from the UK.

After graduating: the Graduate visa

The Graduate visa lets you stay and work after completing an eligible UK degree. According to GOV.UK, it lasts:

2 years if you apply on or before 31 December 2026;
18 months if you apply on or after 1 January 2027;
3 years for PhD or other doctoral graduates.

The Graduate visa has its own £937 application fee plus the health surcharge at the general rate. Anyone starting a one-year master's in 2027 should plan for the 18-month version.

Funding your UK study

Self-funding is not the only route. The UK government's Chevening scholarship for Pakistan covers a one-year master's for applicants with work experience, and universities offer their own awards. Compare options on our map of fully funded scholarships for Pakistani students, and run the numbers with our is studying abroad worth it checklist before paying a deposit.

Documents checklist

Valid passport
CAS reference number
Bank statements or sponsor letters meeting the 28-day rule
Parents' consent letter if using their money
English evidence as required
TB test certificate
ATAS certificate if required
Degree and transcripts used for your admission

For a tidy filing system, see our guide on documents required for scholarship applications.

More guides for Pakistani students

Frequently asked questions

How much bank balance do I need for a UK student visa from Pakistan?

You need your first year's unpaid course fees plus £1,529 per month in London or £1,171 per month elsewhere, for up to nine months. The money must be held for 28 consecutive days ending within 31 days of your application.

Can I take my wife or husband with me on a UK master's?

Usually not. For postgraduate courses starting on or after 1 January 2024, only PhD, other doctoral or research-based higher degree students can bring dependants, apart from government-sponsored students on longer courses.

How long can I stay in the UK after my degree?

The Graduate visa lasts 2 years if you apply on or before 31 December 2026 and 18 months if you apply from 1 January 2027. PhD graduates get 3 years.

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

Degree-level students at universities can typically work up to 20 hours a week in term time and full-time in vacations. Your visa sets your exact limit, and self-employment is not allowed.

Do this week

Pick two or three courses. Check that each university is a licensed student sponsor, note whether the campus is inside London, and calculate your fees plus nine months of living costs. Then compare that total with the funds your family can hold for 28 days.