Students change university in the UK for many reasons: a course that is not working out, a better offer elsewhere, a move to a higher level, or a provider that has lost its sponsor licence. It is possible, but the rules are strict and some of them have no exceptions.
This guide is for students already in the UK on a Student visa. It explains when you can make the new application from inside the UK and when you would have to leave.
A new university means a new visa application
Your Student visa is tied to your sponsor. To study at a different university, the new university must issue you a new CAS and you must make a new Student visa application before you start there. The same applies to many changes of course at your current university, particularly to a course at a different level.
Speak to the international student advisers at both universities before you withdraw from anything. Once your current university reports that you have stopped studying, the Home Office can shorten your visa.
When you can apply from inside the UK
- You must hold valid permission now. If your visa has already expired, you generally cannot apply in the UK.
- The academic progress requirement. If you have studied on a Student visa before, the new course should normally be at a higher level than your last one, for example from a bachelor’s to a master’s. There are limited exceptions, such as resits or continuing the same course.
- The 28-day rule. The gap between your current visa ending and your new course starting must not be more than 28 days. UKCISA describes this as an eligibility requirement with no exceptions.
- Timing. You can apply no more than three months before the start date on your new CAS.
If you cannot meet these conditions, you would need to leave the UK and apply from abroad, which means meeting the full overseas requirements again, including the financial requirement.
Fees for an in-country application
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Student visa application | £558 (standard, decision usually within 8 weeks) |
| Priority service | £500 extra (about 5 working days) |
| Super priority service | £1,000 extra (next working day) |
| Immigration Health Surcharge | £776 a year of permission; under six months charged at half |
If you have been in the UK on a visa for 12 months or more at the date you apply, you do not need to show the maintenance funds again.
If your university loses its sponsor licence
If the Home Office revokes your provider’s licence, you are not at fault, but you do need to act. The Home Office will normally write to you and shorten your visa, usually giving you a short period to find a new sponsor or leave. Use that time to secure an offer and a new CAS from a licensed university and to apply before the new deadline.
Keep copies of your transcripts, attendance records and correspondence. A new sponsor will want to see your academic history, and credit for completed modules can sometimes shorten your new course.
Starting the new course
Some universities let you begin your new course once you have submitted a valid application in time. Probationary sponsors must see your new permission before you enrol. Ask your new university which applies, and do not start working more hours than your current conditions allow.
Mistakes that force students to leave the UK
- Withdrawing from the current course before securing the new CAS.
- Letting more than 28 days fall between the visa end date and the new course start date.
- Applying for a course at the same or a lower level without an applicable exception.
- Waiting until after the visa expires to apply.
- Using a CAS with errors; a CAS can only be used once.
Click Admissions helps students who are already in the UK to find a sponsor that will take them, secure the offer and new CAS, and time the move so the visa does not lapse. Read more about our support for students already in the UK, or book a free call.
Frequently asked questions
Can I change university in the UK without leaving?
Often yes, if you apply before your current visa expires, the new course meets the academic progress requirement, and the gap between your visa end date and the new course start is no more than 28 days.
Do I need a new CAS to change university?
Yes. The new university issues a new CAS, and you make a new Student visa application with it.
Do I need to show funds again for an in-country application?
Not if you have been in the UK on a visa for at least 12 months when you apply.
How much does it cost to extend a Student visa inside the UK?
£558 for the standard service, plus the Immigration Health Surcharge of £776 for each year of new permission.
Sources
Every figure in this guide was checked against the official sources below on 2 November 2026. Rules and fees change, so check the official page before you apply.
