Determine what type of student visa you need. If you are studying in the UK for six months or less, you should apply for a student or child visitor visa. If you are studying in the UK for more than six months, you should apply for a Tier 4 visa.
Provide the necessary documentation. You will need official confirmation that you have been accepted to a course of study. This can be an acceptance letter, written with the university letterhead or proof that you have paid your tuition, such as an official receipt from the human fees department.
Prove that you have enough money to sustain yourself and cover your school fees. You can offer a bank statement or a letter from your bank that proves you have enough money to subsist while you are living in the UK. As of 2010, if you are studying in London for more than nine months, you must have enough money to cover one year of course fees and at least 7,200 British pounds. If you are studying outside of London, you need at least 5,400 British pounds plus your course fees.
Pay your visa application fee. The minimum application fee is 199 pounds, as of August 2010, for those applying from outside of the UK. The fee increases exponentially if you are applying from within the UK.
Fill out an application form. Go to the UK Border Agency website to fill out an online application.
