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If you need more time to complete your course, you may be eligible to extend your Student visa from within the UK. To qualify, you must be actively attending and engaging with your course. 

Repeating with Attendance

Taught Students

You may be eligible to extend your visa if you are repeating modules that require on-campus attendance. Eligibility depends on the timing of the repeated modules or placements. If there is a gap of more than 60 days between your visa expiry and your next required attendance, you may need to leave the UK during that period.

A CAS (Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies) will only be issued after we have assessed your academic engagement and progression. You cannot extend your visa if you're:

• Repeating without attendance,
• Only sitting exams or submitting coursework with no on-campus sessions.

PhD Students

If you have submitted your thesis and are waiting for your viva, you may need to extend your Student visa to remain in the UK until your PhD is completed.

If you are planning to apply for the Graduate visa after your PhD, please note that you will only become eligible once your PhD award has been formally conferred, following the submission of any final corrections required after your viva.

Your course end date will normally be extended by 12 months from your thesis submission date to allow time for the viva and any final corrections. However, delays in the viva process can have financial implications, so it is important to plan ahead where possible, including submitting your first draft as early as possible. 

If you have been granted additional time by Registry to complete your research, you may be eligible to extend your visa. Request a CAS at least three months before your current visa expires. We’ll review your attendance (e.g. campus swipes) and academic progress before issuing a CAS. Please note, multiple extensions for the same course are unlikely to be approved unless clear academic progression is shown.

How to Apply to Extend Your Visa

• Continuing on the same course: Download and complete the CAS Request for visa extension (MS Word), then email it to your course admin team for initial approval. In the meantime, you may also download our Guide to completing the Student Visa Extension Application (Adobe PDF).
• Starting a new course: You must make a formal online application. Your CAS will be issued by the International Admissions Team.

Our advisers can help you through your visa extension process, including completing the online application and responding to Home Office queries.

ATAS Clearance

If your course requires ATAS clearance, you’ll need a new ATAS certificate before your CAS can be issued. Apply at least 3–4 months before your visa expires, as processing times can be lengthy.

When You Cannot Extend Your Visa

You cannot extend your Student visa if:

• You have outstanding University debts.
• You're waiting for results to apply for a Graduate visa.
• You’re attending graduation (apply for a visit visa instead). See .
• You’ve completed one course and are waiting to start another (with over 28 days between courses).
• You don’t meet the Home Office’s academic progression requirements.
• The extension would exceed your study time limit set by the Home Office.

Academic Progression

You must show academic progression to extend your visa in the UK. For example, if you have completed a master’s degree in the UK, you will not be permitted to study an undergraduate degree. Similarly, if you were unable to successfully complete the course for which your last student visa was granted, you cannot study another course on a new visa and must leave the UK to apply from overseas. The University will assess your eligibility before issuing a CAS.

ºÚÁÏÉç Time Limits

The Home Office sets limits on how long you can study in the UK:

• Below degree level: max 2 years (age 18+).
• Degree level: max 5 years (with some exceptions, e.g. medicine, architecture).
• Postgraduate level and above: no time limit, but academic progression rules still apply.

For full details, see the .

Need Help?

If you have any further questions please contact the Immigration team or attend one of the Immigration Drop-in Sessions so we can advise you further.