Applications for a Tier 4 General Student visa may be made from outside the UK or, in some circumstances, from within the UK. Applicants must be aged 16 or over, and they may be able to apply to study a degree-level course or a lower level course.

Applicants must have received an unconditional offer of a full-time course from an educational institution in the UK which holds a Tier 4 sponsor licence, and they must have been issued with a CAS (confirmation of acceptance for studies) by the institution. The CAS is a virtual online document.

Applicants who are already studying in the UK may be able to apply in the UK for a Tier 4 General visa extension so they can carry on studying their course and, in some circumstances, they may be able to apply for a visa extension so they can study a new course.

Applicants have to show that their English language ability is good enough, and they also have to satisfy a financial requirement, which varies depending on the circumstances of the application.

Tier 4 General students may, in some cases, be able to bring their dependants with them to the UK, and they may in some cases be able to work part-time in addition to studying.