United Kingdom Student Visa from Bangladesh 2027

Overview

The United Kingdom is one of the most popular destinations for Bangladeshi students, with strong historical links, a large British-Bangladeshi community and degrees that are shorter than in most countries: a Bachelor's normally takes three years in England, Wales and Northern Ireland (four in Scotland) and a taught Master's usually takes only one year. Every international student over 16 needs a Student visa, and children aged 4-17 going to an independent (private) school use the Child Student visa.

The process is sponsor-led. You first accept an offer from a university or college that holds a Home Office student sponsor licence, pay the deposit it asks for and pass its own checks, and it then issues a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS). With the CAS you apply online to UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) up to six months before your course starts, pay the visa fee and the Immigration Health Surcharge, and give your biometrics at a VFS Global centre in Dhaka, Sylhet or Chattogram. Most decisions arrive within three weeks.

Bangladesh is not on the UK's list of lower-risk nationalities, so Bangladeshi applicants must show their financial evidence and academic documents in full and pass a tuberculosis (TB) test at a Home Office approved clinic. Funds must sit in the account for 28 consecutive days, and both universities and UKVI look closely at where the money came from. Since September 2025 universities must keep their visa refusal rate below 5% to protect their licence, and some have paused or restricted recruitment from Bangladesh, so expect a pre-CAS credibility interview, a larger deposit and careful questions about your study plan.

After graduating, students can switch to the Graduate visa without a job offer. For applications made from 1 January 2027 it lasts 18 months for Bachelor's and Master's graduates and three years for PhD graduates, so most students starting in 2027 will receive the shorter period. Only PhD and other research-degree students, and students on government-sponsored courses such as Chevening or Commonwealth, can bring a partner or children.

What's new for 2027

• Graduate visa shortened: Bachelor's and Master's graduates who apply on or after 1 January 2027 receive 18 months instead of two years. PhD graduates keep three years. Most students starting in 2027 will graduate under the 18-month rule.
• Higher maintenance figures: for Student visa applications made on or after 30 November 2026 the living-cost requirement rises to GBP 1,570 a month in London and GBP 1,203 a month elsewhere (up to nine months: GBP 14,130 or GBP 10,827). The date you apply decides which figure applies.
• The Student and Child Student visa fee rose from GBP 524 to GBP 558 on 8 April 2026. UK visa fees are usually reviewed every April, so check the fee again if you apply after April 2027.
• Stricter university compliance: since September 2025 universities must keep visa refusals below 5% under the Basic Compliance Assessment. Several universities have paused or restricted recruitment from Bangladesh, and others now require larger deposits, earlier pre-CAS interviews and stronger evidence of funds.
• A levy of GBP 925 per international student per year is planned for universities in England from August 2028. It does not apply to 2027 applications, but it may influence future fees and scholarships.
• Bangladesh is scheduled to graduate from the UN Least Developed Country category in November 2026, which may affect eligibility for some LDC-only scholarship schemes in future rounds.

Scholarships available in United Kingdom

The UK government funds two flagship schemes open to Bangladeshi students, Chevening and the Commonwealth Scholarships, but both run on fixed national dates in August-October the year before you start, and the Commonwealth route goes through a Ministry of Education nomination handled by the UGC. For most students, money comes from the universities themselves as tuition-fee reductions, from the GREAT Scholarships for Bangladesh, and for PhDs from funded studentships. Government-sponsored scholars (Chevening and Commonwealth) cannot switch to the Graduate visa and must return to Bangladesh.

• Chevening Scholarships (UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) and partner organisations): Full funding for a one-year Master's: university tuition fees, a monthly living stipend, a return economy airfare to the UK, arrival and departure allowances, the cost of one visa application and other allowances. The 2027/28 round opened on 4 August 2026 and closed on 6 October 2026 at 11:00 UTC (5:00 pm in Bangladesh). The next round, for 2028/29, normally opens in early August 2027
• Commonwealth Master's Scholarships (Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the UK (CSC), funded by the FCDO; nominated in Bangladesh by the Ministry of Education (Secondary and Higher Education Division) through the University Grants Commission (UGC)): Full tuition fees, a monthly stipend of GBP 1,712 (GBP 2,000 in the London area), an approved return airfare from Bangladesh, a study travel grant and, where applicable, child allowances. CSC deadline for 2027/28 is 16:00 BST on 20 October 2026, but you can only apply after being nominated: the UGC publishes its own circular and holds a viva-voce earlier, usually between July and early October
• Commonwealth PhD Scholarships (Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the UK (CSC), funded by the FCDO; nominated through the UGC): Full tuition fees for the doctorate, a monthly stipend of GBP 1,712 (GBP 2,000 in the London area), an approved return airfare, study travel and fieldwork grants, and family allowances where applicable. CSC deadline for 2027/28 is 16:00 BST on 20 October 2026, after nomination by the UGC, whose circular and interviews come earlier
• GREAT Scholarships Bangladesh (British Council and the UK government's GREAT Britain Campaign, jointly with participating UK universities): A minimum of GBP 10,000 towards tuition fees for a one-year postgraduate taught course. Living costs, the visa and travel are not covered. The 2027/28 list of universities and courses is usually published by British Council Bangladesh early in the year, and each university sets its own deadline, typically between spring and early summer 2027
• Gates Cambridge Scholarship (Gates Cambridge Trust, University of Cambridge): The full cost of studying at Cambridge: university and college fees, a maintenance allowance for living costs, one economy airfare at the start and end of the course, and inbound visa costs including the Immigration Health Surcharge. Applications opened in September 2026; for non-US applicants the deadline is either early December 2026 or early January 2027 depending on the course, and offers are made around April 2027
• UKRI and university-funded PhD studentships (UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) doctoral training partnerships and individual UK universities): A tax-free stipend of at least GBP 21,805 a year in 2026/27 (GBP 23,805 in London) plus tuition fees, usually for three and a half to four years. UKRI pays fees at the home rate, so check that the university waives the international fee difference. Most studentships for October 2027 are advertised between October 2026 and February 2027, with deadlines commonly in December-February
• UK university international scholarships (Individual UK universities (for example Vice-Chancellor's, international merit and regional scholarships)): Tuition-fee reductions, typically GBP 2,000-10,000 or 20-50% of the first year's fees, and sometimes for every year of a Bachelor's. A few awards for exceptional students cover full tuition. Many are awarded automatically with the offer; others have their own deadlines between January and June 2027 for September 2027 entry

Who can apply

• You have an unconditional offer and a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) from a university, college or school that holds a Home Office student sponsor licence.
• You are 16 or older for the Student visa, or aged 4-17 at an independent school for the Child Student visa; applicants aged 16-17 need written consent from both parents or legal guardians.
• You can pay the remaining tuition fees for the first year (or for the whole course if it is shorter) as shown on your CAS.
• You can show living costs of GBP 1,570 a month in London or GBP 1,203 a month elsewhere for up to nine months (for applications from 30 November 2026), held for 28 consecutive days, unless you have an official sponsor or loan.
• You meet the English requirement: CEFR B2 for degree-level study, assessed by the university, or CEFR B1 through a UKVI-approved Secure English Language Test (such as IELTS for UKVI) for courses below degree level.
• You have a TB test certificate from a Home Office approved clinic in Bangladesh, because you will stay in the UK for more than six months.
• You have an ATAS certificate if your postgraduate course (or integrated Master's) is in a sensitive science or technology subject named on your CAS.
• You are a genuine student who intends to study, can explain your course choice and finances clearly, and have no serious immigration or criminal history.

Requirements by study level

Intermediate / A Level

Students under 18 can take GCSEs or A-levels at an independent boarding school on a Child Student visa. HSC holders who are not ready for direct university entry can take an International Foundation Year on a Student visa, which normally leads straight into the first year of a Bachelor's at the same university.

• Child Student visa holders must study at an independent (fee-paying) school; state-funded schools and academies cannot sponsor them.
• Children under 16 can stay for the course plus four months (maximum six years); 16-17 year olds for the course plus four months (maximum three years).
• Parents must consent in writing to the study, the travel and the care arrangements, and under-16s at day schools must live with a parent or a close relative.
• Foundation courses are below degree level, so you normally need CEFR B1 English through a UKVI-approved SELT such as IELTS for UKVI, and you may work only 10 hours a week in term time.
• Many universities accept strong HSC results (often GPA 4.5 or higher) for direct entry into some Bachelor's courses, while top universities usually ask Bangladeshi HSC students to complete a foundation year or A-levels first.
• A foundation-year Student visa is limited to two years in total for study below degree level, so choose a programme with a guaranteed progression route.

Bachelor's Degree

Bachelor's degrees take three years in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and four in Scotland. You apply through UCAS with a personal statement and a reference, receive a conditional or unconditional offer, pay the deposit and then receive your CAS.

• UCAS allows up to five course choices; for 2027 entry the equal-consideration deadline is 13 January 2027, and 15 October 2026 for Oxford, Cambridge, medicine, dentistry and veterinary science.
• Entry requirements for Bangladeshi students are set by each university: some accept the HSC directly with strong grades, others need A-levels, a foundation year or one year of university study in Bangladesh.
• English Medium A-level and O-level students can usually apply with their Cambridge or Pearson Edexcel grades, and often meet the English requirement through their English language results.
• International undergraduate fees usually range from about GBP 15,000 to GBP 30,000 a year, and much more for medicine.
• Most universities ask Bangladeshi applicants for a tuition deposit (commonly GBP 3,000-6,000, sometimes the full first-year fee) before issuing the CAS.
• Bachelor's students cannot bring dependants, and the Graduate visa after a Bachelor's is 18 months for applications from 1 January 2027.

Master's Degree

Most taught Master's courses last 12 months, which keeps tuition and living costs low compared with two-year Master's elsewhere. You apply directly to each university with your Bachelor's transcripts, a statement of purpose and references.

• A four-year Bachelor's from a recognised Bangladeshi university is normally required; many universities ask for a CGPA of about 3.0 out of 4.0 or above, and top universities often 3.3-3.5 or higher.
• IELTS Academic of 6.5 overall (no band below 6.0) is the most common requirement; some universities also accept an English medium of instruction letter from your Bangladeshi university at their own discretion.
• International Master's fees usually range from about GBP 14,000 to GBP 35,000, and MBAs cost more.
• Taught Master's students cannot bring dependants unless they are on a government-sponsored scholarship such as Chevening or Commonwealth.
• Some STEM Master's courses (and integrated Master's degrees) require an ATAS certificate before the CAS is issued; apply as soon as you hold an offer.
• Because the course is short, the visa normally covers the course plus about four months, and you can apply for the Graduate visa before it expires.

PhD / Doctorate

A UK PhD usually takes three to four years and is research-only from the start. You apply to a department with a research proposal, often after agreeing a topic with a supervisor, or apply for an advertised funded project.

• Most applicants hold a Master's degree, although strong four-year Bachelor's graduates can be admitted directly in some subjects.
• Funded places come mainly from UKRI doctoral training partnerships, university studentships, Commonwealth PhD scholarships and schemes such as Gates Cambridge, and most close between December and February for October entry.
• Many PhDs in physical sciences, engineering and related fields need ATAS clearance, which takes about 20 working days or longer.
• PhD and other research-degree students may bring their partner and children as dependants, each with extra funds of GBP 845 a month in London or GBP 680 elsewhere for up to nine months.
• PhD graduates receive a three-year Graduate visa, longer than the 18 months for Bachelor's and Master's graduates.
• The old Doctorate Extension Scheme has been replaced by the Graduate visa, so plan your post-PhD stay through that route or a switch to a Skilled Worker or Global Talent visa.

How to apply, step by step

1. Choose courses and check entry requirements: Check each university's page for Bangladesh (HSC, A-level or degree requirements and English scores), and confirm it is currently recruiting from Bangladesh and holds a student sponsor licence.
2. Take an English test: Book IELTS Academic (or the test your university accepts) for degree courses, or IELTS for UKVI for foundation and other below-degree courses. Results are valid for two years.
3. Apply to universities: Apply through UCAS for undergraduate courses and directly to universities for postgraduate courses, with your transcripts, personal statement or statement of purpose and references.
4. Apply for scholarships: Apply for Chevening, Commonwealth (through the UGC), GREAT and university scholarships in parallel, on their own deadlines, which are often well before the course application closes.
5. Accept an offer, pass the pre-CAS check and pay the deposit: Most universities hold a credibility interview, check your funds and documents, and ask Bangladeshi students for a tuition deposit before issuing the CAS. Remit the deposit through a student file at an authorised dealer bank in Bangladesh.
6. Take the TB test and prepare funds: Book the TB test at an approved clinic, and keep the required money in the account for at least 28 consecutive days before you apply. Get ATAS clearance first if your CAS requires it.
7. Receive your CAS: Check every detail on the CAS (name, passport, course dates, fees paid, documents used for admission) and ask the university to correct any mistake before you apply.
8. Apply online and pay: Apply on GOV.UK up to 6 months before the course starts, pay the GBP 558 fee and the Immigration Health Surcharge, and book a biometrics appointment.
9. Give biometrics at VFS: Attend the VFS Global centre in Dhaka, Sylhet or Chattogram with your passport and documents. UKVI may also invite you to a credibility interview by video.
10. Decision and travel: Most decisions arrive within 3 weeks. Your permission is issued as an eVisa linked to your passport in your UKVI account; you can arrive up to one week before the course if it is under six months, or up to one month before for longer courses.

Document checklist

• Valid passport (Must have a blank page for the vignette and be valid for your travel; also bring any old passports with UK visas.)
• Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) reference number (Issued by your university after you accept an unconditional offer; you must apply within 6 months of it being issued.)
• Academic certificates and transcripts listed on the CAS (SSC, HSC or O/A-level results and Bachelor's or Master's degree certificates and transcripts, with certified English translations if any are in Bengali.)
• Bank statements or a bank letter showing the required funds (In your name or your parent's name, held for 28 consecutive days, with the end date no more than 31 days before you apply. Show the balance in BDT and keep the source of large deposits explainable.)
• Proof of relationship and parental consent letter (If the funds are in a parent's account: your birth certificate and a letter from the parent confirming the money is available for your studies.)
• Official financial sponsor or scholarship letter (If a government, university or international organisation pays your fees or living costs; it replaces the bank evidence for the amount it covers.)
• Tuberculosis (TB) test certificate (From a Home Office approved clinic in Dhaka, Sylhet or Chattogram (IOM or Green Crescent); certificates from other clinics are not accepted.)
• English language evidence (As stated on your CAS; for below-degree courses a UKVI-approved SELT such as IELTS for UKVI.)
• ATAS certificate (Only if your CAS says your course needs ATAS clearance.)
• Parental consent (applicants under 18) (Written consent from both parents or legal guardians to the visa application, travel, living and care arrangements in the UK.)
• Online application confirmation and appointment letter (Printed from the GOV.UK application, together with the VFS appointment confirmation for biometrics.)
• Proof of payment of the visa fee and Immigration Health Surcharge (Paid online during the application; the IHS reference number is part of the application.)

Costs & proof of funds

• Student visa fee: GBP 558
• Immigration Health Surcharge: GBP 776 per year of the visa (GBP 388 for each extra part-year of up to 6 months)
• TB test: BDT 5,500 at Green Crescent clinics or USD 70 at IOM clinics (ages 11 and over)
• English test: IELTS roughly BDT 25,000-28,000
• UCAS application fee: About GBP 28.50 (2026 entry price; check UCAS for 2027)
• Tuition fees: About GBP 15,000-30,000 a year for Bachelor's and GBP 14,000-35,000 for a Master's
• Living costs (visa requirement): GBP 1,570 a month in London, GBP 1,203 a month elsewhere, for up to 9 months
• ATAS: Free

You must show the remaining first-year tuition on your CAS plus living costs for up to nine months: GBP 14,130 for London or GBP 10,827 elsewhere for applications made on or after 30 November 2026. Bangladeshi applicants must submit this evidence with the application, and the money must have been held for 28 consecutive days.

• The 28-day period must end no more than 31 days before the date you submit your application, and the balance must never drop below the required amount during those 28 days.
• Funds can be in your own account or a parent's or legal guardian's account, with proof of the relationship and a consent letter; money in other relatives' or friends' accounts is not accepted.
• Fees and accommodation already paid to the university and shown on the CAS reduce the amount you must show; up to GBP 1,570 of prepaid university accommodation can be deducted.
• Each dependant (only for PhD students or government-sponsored students) needs an extra GBP 845 a month in London or GBP 680 elsewhere, for up to nine months.
• An official financial sponsor letter from a government, the British Council, a university or an international organisation can replace the bank evidence for what it covers.
• Use statements from an established bank that UKVI can verify. Large or sudden deposits shortly before the 28-day period are a common reason for university and UKVI refusals, so be ready to show where the money came from (salary, business, land sale, savings).
• Tuition must be remitted from Bangladesh through a student file at an authorised dealer bank, following Bangladesh Bank foreign exchange rules.

Visa interview

There is no routine embassy interview, but almost every university holds a pre-CAS credibility interview with Bangladeshi applicants, and UKVI can invite you to a credibility interview by video after you apply. Your answers must match your application, your statement and your finances.

• Know your course title, modules, duration, university location and the total cost of fees and living expenses.
• Explain clearly why this course, why this university and why the UK rather than studying in Bangladesh or another country.
• Be able to explain your sponsor's income and where the money in the account came from, with documents.
• Explain any gap in your education honestly and with evidence of what you did.
• Describe a realistic career plan that connects your previous study, the UK course and your future in Bangladesh or abroad.
• Speak for yourself and in your own words; scripted answers learned from agents are easy to spot.
• Take the interview from a quiet place with a stable internet connection and your documents ready.

Work rights

Students on degree-level courses at a university may work up to 20 hours a week during term time, and full-time during official vacations set by the university. Students below degree level (including foundation courses) may work up to 10 hours a week in term. Child Student visa holders aged 16 or over may work up to 10 hours a week in term. Self-employment, freelance work and permanent full-time jobs are not allowed.

After successfully completing a Bachelor's or Master's degree you can switch to the Graduate visa without a job offer: 18 months for applications from 1 January 2027 (two years if you apply on or before 31 December 2026), or three years after a PhD. The Graduate visa fee is GBP 937 plus the Immigration Health Surcharge. You can then switch to a Skilled Worker visa if you find an eligible job. Chevening and Commonwealth scholars cannot use the Graduate visa.

Tips & common mistakes

• Before you apply, confirm the university is still recruiting from Bangladesh and ask what deposit and pre-CAS checks it requires.
• Keep your funds untouched for longer than 28 days and make sure the statement is dated within 31 days of your application.
• Book the TB test early, especially before the busy June-August period at the approved clinics.
• Apply for scholarships a year ahead: Chevening and Commonwealth close in October, almost a year before the course starts.
• Read your CAS carefully; a wrong passport number or fee figure can cause a refusal.
• Prepare for the pre-CAS interview as seriously as for a visa interview, because a failed interview means no CAS.
• Budget for the Immigration Health Surcharge, which is paid in full for the whole visa when you apply.
• Moving large amounts of money into the account just before the 28-day period without being able to explain the source.
• Using funds held in an uncle's, sibling's or friend's account, which UKVI does not accept.
• Applying more than 31 days after the closing date on the bank statement.
• Taking the TB test at a clinic that is not on the Home Office approved list.
• Choosing a university only because it accepts low grades, then failing its credibility interview or finding it has paused Bangladeshi recruitment.
• Assuming a taught Master's allows you to bring a spouse; only PhD and government-sponsored students can bring dependants.
• Planning around a two-year Graduate visa when students who graduate in 2028 will receive 18 months.

Frequently asked questions

How much money do I need to show for a UK Student visa from Bangladesh?

Your remaining first-year tuition from the CAS plus living costs for up to nine months. For applications from 30 November 2026 that is GBP 1,570 a month in London (GBP 14,130) or GBP 1,203 a month elsewhere (GBP 10,827), held for 28 consecutive days.

Can I bring my spouse on a Master's course?

Not on a taught Master's, unless you hold a government-sponsored scholarship such as Chevening or Commonwealth for a course longer than six months. PhD and other research-degree students can bring their partner and children.

How long can I stay after graduating?

Graduates who apply for the Graduate visa from 1 January 2027 receive 18 months after a Bachelor's or Master's, and three years after a PhD. You do not need a job offer.

Is the IELTS test compulsory?

For degree-level study the university decides how to assess your English at CEFR B2; most ask for IELTS Academic, and some accept other tests or an English medium of instruction letter. For foundation and other below-degree courses you need a UKVI-approved SELT such as IELTS for UKVI.

Can I go to the UK directly after HSC?

Yes. Some universities accept strong HSC results for direct entry, and others ask you to complete an International Foundation Year first, which leads into the first year of the Bachelor's.

Where do I take the TB test in Bangladesh?

Only at a Home Office approved clinic: the IOM clinics in Dhaka and Sylhet, or the Green Crescent clinics in Dhaka, Sylhet and Chattogram.

How long does the visa take?

Usually about three weeks after your biometrics appointment. Apply as soon as you have your CAS and your funds have been held for 28 days, up to six months before the course starts.

Can I work while studying?

Yes. Degree-level students may work up to 20 hours a week in term time and full-time in official vacations; below-degree students may work up to 10 hours a week in term time.

Official resources

• GOV.UK: Student visa
• GOV.UK: Student visa money requirements
• GOV.UK: Child Student visa
• GOV.UK: Graduate visa
• GOV.UK: TB test clinics in Bangladesh
• GOV.UK: Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS)
• Chevening Scholarships: Bangladesh
• Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the UK
• University Grants Commission of Bangladesh (Commonwealth nominations)
• British Council Bangladesh: GREAT Scholarships
• UCAS: undergraduate applications