HOW TO APPLY UK STUDENT VISA | UNIVERSITY ADMISSION | VISA PROCESS FROM PAKISTAN

 

How I Applied for My UK Student Visa – Full Process from Pakistan or India

Since I came to the UK, I’ve received countless messages from friends and followers asking how I managed to come here, and what the process is for applying for a UK student visa from Pakistan or India. That’s why I decided to create a complete guide—from A to Z—based on my experience.

When I applied, I didn’t know much. But now that I’ve gone through the whole journey, I want to share everything with you.

The first and most important requirement is IELTS. IELTS is a basic English language certificate, and without it, you can’t enter any English-speaking country for studies. Some people think they can come to the UK without IELTS, but that’s not possible. You must have some form of English language qualification.

To get admission in most UK universities, you typically need between 5.5 to 6.0 bands for a foundation or undergraduate program, and 6.0 to 6.5 for Master’s. Each university has its own specific requirements, so it depends where you apply.

Next, you need to decide when to apply. The UK has two major intakes: January and September. You should apply at least 3 months before the intake starts. You can apply either through a consultant or directly yourself. Most consultants in Pakistan charge around PKR 25,000. I applied through a consultant, but I won’t name them because I don’t want anyone to blame me later if things don’t go well with their case.

If you want to apply yourself (which is honestly easy and straightforward now), you can do so via www.ucas.com. You need to create an account there and apply to a maximum of 5 universities. While applying, you’ll need your IELTS certificate, Matric/FSc or Bachelor’s degree (depending on the level you’re applying for), and other supporting documents.

Once you’ve applied, the universities will start responding to you via email. Normally, you’ll get an offer letter within 1 to 2 weeks. An offer letter simply means that the university is offering you admission. You’ll need to accept the offer, and that will lead to the next stage: the interview.

Almost every student has to go through a credibility interview. I had one too. They ask basic questions to check if you’re a genuine student. They want to hear you speak English and verify that your stated IELTS score matches your language ability. If you pass, the university will issue you an unconditional offer letter. This document includes your course details, student ID, tuition fees, and other information.

At this point, they will ask you for documents again—especially your bank statement. Let me explain this part in detail, because many students get confused about it.

You need to show a bank statement covering the last 28 days only (not 3 or 6 months). The money in the account must be a lump sum and untouched for 28 continuous days. For example, in my case, my tuition fee for one year was £13,000 (around PKR 33 lakhs). You must show one year’s tuition + one year’s living cost.

The cost of living depends on where your university is located:

• Outside London: £9,207 (around PKR 23 lakhs)
• Inside London: £12,006 (around PKR 28-29 lakhs)

So, if your tuition fee is £13,000 and you’ve already paid £5,000, then your bank statement must show the remaining £8,000 plus your living expenses.

For Bachelor’s programs, you’ll need to show around PKR 68–70 lakhs.
For Master’s programs, you’ll need around PKR 60–64 lakhs. I suggest keeping extra because currency rates fluctuate. One day, the pound might be 250 PKR; the next day, 300 PKR.

After submitting your documents and being approved, you’ll have to take a TB (Tuberculosis) test. This is a health requirement because TB is common in our region. You can take this test at approved clinics in Lahore, Karachi, or Islamabad. The fee is around PKR 11,000. You’ll get a certificate that says whether you’re TB-free. This certificate is submitted along with your visa application and shown at the airport.

Once all of this is done, the university will issue you a CAS letter—Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies. This is basically your sponsor letter. It includes your name, your course, your university, start and end dates, and a unique CAS number. You need this to apply for your visa.

But before the CAS is issued, you’ll likely have a second pre-CAS interview. This happens over video call. They’ll ask you things like:

• Why are you coming to the UK?
• Why this university?
• Why not study in your own country?
• What do you know about the course and the city?

Answer genuinely and confidently.

Once you receive your CAS, you can begin the visa application process. Go to the UK immigration website and fill out the form. Be honest—your information must match your passport, ID card, and documents exactly. Then pay the visa fee, which is currently around PKR 107,000.

You also have to pay the IHS (Immigration Health Surcharge). This covers your healthcare while you’re in the UK. If anything happens—small illness or big surgery—you won’t have to pay a single rupee. For my Bachelor’s (3 years), the IHS fee was PKR 485,000. For a 1-year Master’s, it's around PKR 165,000.

After payment, book your VFS appointment online. VFS Global is the organization that handles UK visa application submissions. It’s like a courier or middleman service between you and the UK Home Office. They collect your documents, take your fingerprints and facial scan, and send everything to the UK.

In Pakistan, VFS centers are located in Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi, and Mirpur. You’ll need to physically go there for your appointment. Bring all your documents: passport, CAS, TB test result, IELTS certificate, academic records, and bank statement.

Your passport will be submitted, and usually you’ll get it back with the visa decision in 15 business days. Mine arrived in just 9 days. It depends on the case, but that’s the normal timeline.

This whole process takes time and effort. It took me more than a year—from preparing for IELTS, taking the test, getting documents ready, and finally applying for and receiving my visa.

There may be other ways, but this is the main and most common route. That’s how I got my UK student visa, came here, and started my studies.

I hope this guide was helpful to you. If it was, please like, share, and follow me on Instagram and Facebook, where I regularly post updates about life in the UK.