UK Student Visa Fees for Indian Students 2026-27: Full Cost in Rupees

What Is the Current UK Student Visa Fees for Indian Students?

As of 8 April 2026, the UK Student visa fees is £558, whether you’re applying from India (outside the UK) or extending/switching from inside the UK. This is up from £524, a roughly 6.5% increase applied across most UK visa categories that day.

At Rs.128 per GBP, that works out to approximately Rs.71,424 for the visa application fee alone, before the Immigration Health Surcharge or any other charges.

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Counselor insight: Students frequently quote the old £524 figure because that's what's cached on older blog posts and forum threads. Always check UK GOV Student Visa portal directly on the day you pay, since the visa fee itself is separate from the exchange rate, and both can move independently of what a guide says.

UK Student Visa Fees in Indian Rupees: Full Cost Breakdown

The visa fee is only one part of what you pay. The Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) is compulsory and is charged per year of your visa's length, not per year you actually stay.

Per UK GOV's, students pay £776 per year. For visas longer than a year, the charge scales as follows:

Total cost example, 1-year Master’s course:

This total does not include the financial requirement funds you must show separately (£1,529/month for London and £1,171/month outside London, for up to 9 months) or your course fees, which are separate from the visa cost.

For a full picture of tuition alongside visa costs, see LeapScholar's Cost of Studying in UK guide.

Exchange rate note: This article uses Rs.128 per GBP, confirmed at the time of writing. Verify the current rate before finalizing your budget, since it can shift the total by several thousand rupees.

Priority and Super Priority Visa Service Fees for Indian Applicants

If you need a faster decision, the Home Office offers two optional paid upgrades, confirmed on Gov UK's faster decision page:

These charges are per applicant, not per family, and are added on top of the standard visa fee and IHS. They are not guaranteed. If the Home Office needs more information or additional checks, your decision can still take longer, and the priority fee is usually not refunded in that case.

Counselor insight: Priority service is worth the cost mainly when your Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) arrives late relative to your course start date. If you have the standard 3-week (outside UK) or 8-week (inside UK) processing window available, save the money and apply through the standard route.

Does the UK Student Visa Fees Change When You Extend It?

No. Whether you are applying for the first time from India, extending your Student visa from inside the UK to continue studying, or switching to a Student visa from another visa category while already in the UK, the fee is the same: £558.

The only thing that changes for extension/switch applications is the IHS calculation, since it's based on the new visa's total length, not your original one.

For the full step-by-step process, including document requirements, see LeapScholar's UK Student Visa Process guide.

UK Graduate Route Visa Fee and the 2027 Duration Change

Once you finish your degree, the Graduate Route visa lets you stay and work in the UK without needing a job offer first. Per UK Gov, the fee and duration are

This is the most important 2027 update for anyone planning ahead: the Graduate Route visa duration is changing.

• 2 years if you apply on or before 31 December 2026
• 18 months if you apply on or after 1 January 2027
• 3 years if you completed a PhD or other doctoral qualification, regardless of when you apply

If your course finishes in late 2026, applying before the 31 December 2026 cutoff secures a longer 2-year work window instead of 18 months. This is a genuine planning decision, not just a fee difference, and is worth discussing with your institution's international office if your graduation timeline is close to the cutoff.

Related reading: Post Study Work Visa UK (Graduate Route) and, for the step after the Graduate Route, UK Work Visa for Indians.

Other Costs Indian Students Often Forget

In addition to the main visa fee and IHS, a few other costs can surprise students:

For the dependent visa process specifically, see LeapScholar's UK Dependent Visa from India guide.

You'll also need to meet the English language requirement as part of your application. Most Indian applicants meet this through IELTS; check current UKVI-accepted score requirements on LeapScholar's IELTS for UKVI guide before booking your test, since these vary by course level and institution.

If You’re a Final-Year Student Planning Your UK Visa Budget

If you are applying for the September 2026 intake from India: Budget for £558 (visa) + IHS based on your course length, and apply no earlier than 6 months before your course start date. Lock in the current exchange rate for your budgeting, but confirm it again closer to your actual payment date.

If you are graduating in late 2026 and considering the Graduate Route: Apply before 31 December 2026 if you want the full 2-year work window rather than 18 months. Confirm with your university's international student office exactly when your course completion will be reported to the Home Office since the Graduate Route application must be submitted before your Student visa expires.

If your CAS arrived later than expected and your course start date is close: Consider the £500 priority service only if you're within the standard processing window and genuinely at risk of missing your start date. Confirm eligibility for priority service on your specific application before paying, since not all routes or application methods qualify.

Counselor insight: Parents often ask if there's a way to get a discount on the visa fee for Indian nationals specifically. There isn't. Per Gov UK, the visa fee is the same globally regardless of nationality; what differs, if anything, is a local VFS Global service center charge for optional add-on services in India, which is separate from the government fee itself.

What Happens If Your UK Student Visa Is Refused?

• The fee is generally non-refundable, even if your application is refused. This is true for the standard fee and for priority/super priority charges.
• You can reapply, but you'll need to pay the full fee again and address whatever reason caused the refusal (commonly: insufficient funds shown for the required 28-day period, inconsistent documents, or an invalid CAS).
• Check your refusal letter carefully. It will state whether you have a right to administrative review or must submit a fresh application.
• Don't rush a reapplication just to save time. An incomplete or under-prepared resubmission risks a second non-refundable fee loss.

If you're unsure why an application was refused or how to strengthen a reapplication, this stage is a good point to speak with a study-abroad counselor before resubmitting, since document and financial-evidence issues are the most common reasons for Indian student visa refusals.

UK Student Visa Fees vs Tourist Visa Fee: What’s the Difference?

A common point of confusion: the UK Standard Visitor visa (tourist visa) is not an alternative to a Student visa for anyone planning to study for more than 6 months.

If your course is longer than 6 months, or you intend to work part-time, bring dependants, or later switch to the Graduate Route, you need the Student visa route, not a visitor visa.

3 Takeaways on UK Student Visa Fees

1. Budget the full stack, not just the £558 headline fee. Add the Immigration Health Surcharge (£776/year minimum for students) and any priority service you choose before calculating your total in rupees.
2. If you're applying for the Graduate Route around the turn of 2027, timing matters. Apply on or before 31 December 2026 to get 2 years instead of 18 months.
3. Always check the current fee on Gov UK on the day you pay. Third-party guides, including this one, can lag behind Home Office updates, and paying an outdated amount can delay or invalidate your application.

Verified by: LeapScholar's UK counseling team, with hands-on experience guiding Indian students through Student visa and Graduate Route applications.

Have questions about your UK student visa fees? Book a free session with a LeapScholar counselor.

Frequently Asked Questions About UK Student Visa Fees