Reviewed by the finduni team · Last verified 14 September 2026 · Sources: GOV.UK: Graduate visa, GOV.UK: Student visa, knowledge of English, GOV.UK: Secure English Language Tests, Home Affairs: English language requirements
What changed in this update: Corrected the claim that Duolingo is a UK SELT. The English evidence now names the approved SELTs or a university assessment, and the Graduate Route section cites GOV.UK and drops an unsourced rule citation.
Everything Nepali students need for the UK Student Route visa in 2026: the 70-point system, exact bank balance amounts, TB test clinics in Kathmandu, NOC from MoEST, the new eVisa, and what the Graduate Route change means for you.
- UK visa fee: GBP 558 plus Immigration Health Surcharge of GBP 776 per year of visa length
- Bank balance required: GBP 13,761 (London) or GBP 10,539 (outside London) plus unpaid first-year tuition, held 28 consecutive days
- TB test is mandatory: IOM Kathmandu (USD 60) or Norvic Hospital (NPR 7,800), certificate valid 6 months
- NOC from Ministry of Education (MoEST) required: NPR 2,000, apply at noc.moest.gov.np
- Visas are now digital (eVisa) since February 2026. No sticker, no BRP card
- Graduate Route: 2 years if you apply on or before 31 December 2026, 18 months if you apply on or after 1 January 2027. PhD and other doctoral graduates: 3 years
- 1What is the UK Student visa?
- 2The 70-point system explained
- 3Total visa cost from Nepal
- 4Bank balance: the 28-day rule
- 5Documents checklist
- 6TB test in Nepal: clinics and fees
- 7NOC from Ministry of Education
- 8Step-by-step application process
- 9The credibility interview
- 10The new eVisa system
- 11Graduate Route: what changed
- 12Common refusal reasons
- 13Frequently asked questions
What is the UK Student visa?
The UK Student visa (officially the Student Route, formerly Tier 4) allows Nepali students to study full-time at a UKVI-licensed university or college for courses longer than 6 months. You apply online at gov.uk, attend a biometric appointment at VFS Global in Kathmandu, and since February 2026 receive a fully digital eVisa linked to your passport rather than a sticker or BRP card.
- You can apply up to 6 months before your course start date
- You can arrive in the UK up to 1 month before your course begins (for courses longer than 6 months)
- The visa covers your full course duration plus a wrap-up period after the course ends
The 70-point system explained
The Student Route is points-based. You need exactly 70 points to qualify, made up of three components:
| Requirement | Points | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) | 50 | CAS reference number from a licensed sponsor university |
| Financial requirement | 10 | 28-day bank statement covering tuition plus living costs |
| English language requirement | 10 | An approved SELT (IELTS for UKVI, PTE Academic UKVI, Skills for English UKVI), or at degree level a university assessment at CEFR B2 (Duolingo or MOI where the university accepts it) |
The CAS is issued by your university after you accept an unconditional offer and pay your deposit. It contains your course details, start and end dates, and the fees you have already paid. Each CAS number can only be used once: if your application is refused, you need a new CAS to reapply. A CAS is valid for 6 months from the date it is issued.
Total visa cost from Nepal
Here is the full cost breakdown for a UK student visa application from Nepal, as of June 2026:
| Cost item | Amount (GBP) | Approx NPR |
|---|---|---|
| Visa application fee | 558 | ~109,000 |
| IHS (per year of visa) | 776 | ~151,000 |
| IHS for typical 1-year master's (visa ~16 months) | ~1,164 | ~227,000 |
| TB test (IOM Kathmandu) | USD 60 | ~8,200 |
| TB test (Norvic Hospital alternative) | n/a | 7,800 |
| NOC from MoEST | n/a | 2,000 |
| Priority processing (optional) | ~500 | ~97,500 |
NPR conversions are approximate at NPR 195 per GBP (mid-2026). Rates change daily. Check Nepal Rastra Bank for current rates.
Figures verified against official sources as of June 2026. Confirm current fees at GOV.UK before applying, as the Home Office updates fees periodically.
Bank balance: the 28-day rule
The financial requirement is the single most common reason Nepali applications fail. The total you must show is your unpaid first-year tuition (as stated on your CAS) plus living costs set by UKVI:
| Study location | Monthly | 9-month total | Approx NPR |
|---|---|---|---|
| London | GBP 1,529 | GBP 13,761 | ~26.8 lakh |
| Outside London | GBP 1,171 | GBP 10,539 | ~20.5 lakh |
Living cost amounts apply from the 2025-26 academic year onwards.
The rules:
- Funds must not dip below the total for even one day during the 28-day window
- The 28-day period must end no more than 31 days before your application date
- The bank must be regulated by Nepal Rastra Bank. Cooperatives and unregulated institutions cause refusals
- Parent's account is allowed with a consent letter and relationship proof (birth certificate)
- Education loans from recognized banks are accepted with a sanction letter
- If your university confirms an accommodation deposit payment, up to GBP 1,529 can be deducted from the required total
Documents checklist
Gather these before you apply:
- Valid passport
- CAS reference number
- 28-day bank statement or loan sanction letter
- English evidence: an approved SELT result (IELTS for UKVI, PTE Academic UKVI, Skills for English UKVI), or your university's own assessment at CEFR B2 for degree-level study
- Academic transcripts and certificates (notarised)
- TB test certificate from approved clinic
- NOC from MoEST
- Sponsor consent letter and relationship proof if using parent's funds
- ATAS certificate (only for certain science/engineering postgraduate courses)
TB test in Nepal: clinics and fees
Anyone coming to the UK for more than 6 months who has lived in Nepal must take a tuberculosis test at a UKVI-approved clinic. Only three clinics in Nepal are approved:
| Clinic | Location | Fee (11+ years) | Reissue |
|---|---|---|---|
| IOM Migration Health Assessment Center | Lazimpat, Panipokhari, Kathmandu (opposite Embassy of Japan) | USD 60, paid in NPR | USD 12 |
| Norvic International Hospital | Thapathali, Kathmandu | NPR 7,800 | NPR 1,300 |
| IOM Resettlement Health Assessment Centre | Damak, Jhapa | USD 60, paid in NPR | USD 12 |
Key points: the certificate is valid for 6 months, the test is a chest X-ray (with a sputum test if the X-ray is unclear), and you should book before submitting your visa application. Bring your passport to the appointment. Slots fill fast between July and September. A test from any non-approved clinic means automatic refusal.
Source: GOV.UK, tuberculosis test clinics in Nepal (updated November 2025).
NOC from Ministry of Education
The No Objection Certificate is a Nepal government requirement (not a UKVI one) for studying abroad and for foreign exchange through banks. Apply online at noc.moest.gov.np with your offer letter, academic documents, and citizenship certificate. The fee is NPR 2,000 and processing takes about 1 to 2 weeks. Do it in parallel with your TB test to save time. Banks in Nepal require the NOC to process tuition payments abroad.
Step-by-step application process
| Step | Action | Timing |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Receive unconditional offer and pay deposit | 4-6 months before intake |
| 2 | Receive CAS from university | 3-4 months before |
| 3 | Take TB test and apply for NOC | 3 months before |
| 4 | Build 28-day bank balance | 3 months before |
| 5 | Apply online at gov.uk, pay GBP 558 + IHS | 2-3 months before |
| 6 | Book and attend biometrics at VFS Global Kathmandu | within 2 weeks of applying |
| 7 | Wait for decision (3-8 weeks) | - |
| 8 | Receive eVisa, book flights | up to 1 month before course |
The credibility interview
UKVI may call selected applicants for a short phone or video interview. Nepali applicants have faced increased scrutiny in the 2025-26 cycle, and the January 2026 intake saw additional mandatory checks that delayed many decisions. Be ready to explain in your own English: why this course, why this university, why the UK instead of Nepal or other countries, how it connects to your career plan in Nepal, and who is funding you. If you cannot hold a basic conversation in English without help, the visa can be refused regardless of your test score. The best preparation is rehearsal: practice with a realistic AI mock interview before the real one, so none of these questions catches you unprepared.
The new eVisa system
Since 25 February 2026, successful applicants receive a digital eVisa instead of a passport sticker, linked to a UKVI online account. No BRP card is issued anymore. Create your UKVI account during the application, keep your login details safe, and use the "view and prove" service to share your status with your university and employers. Carry your passport when traveling; your status is checked digitally at the border.
Graduate Route: what changed
How long you can stay for post-study work depends on the date you apply for the Graduate visa:
- Bachelor's and master's graduates: 2 years if you apply on or before 31 December 2026, 18 months if you apply on or after 1 January 2027
- PhD and other doctoral graduates: 3 years
- What determines your duration is your Graduate Route APPLICATION date, not your graduation date
- You apply from inside the UK after your university confirms course completion
Source: GOV.UK, Graduate visa (last verified 14 September 2026).
Common refusal reasons
- Funds dipped below the required total during the 28-day window: even a one-day dip resets the clock
- Bank statement from a cooperative or non-NRB-regulated institution: UKVI does not accept these as evidence
- English test was not an approved SELT where one was needed: standard IELTS Academic is not a SELT, IELTS for UKVI is
- TB certificate from a non-approved clinic: only the three approved clinics count
- Weak credibility interview or unclear study motivation: you must explain your plans in your own words
- Course inconsistent with academic background without explanation: a big subject change needs a clear rationale
- Previous visa refusals (any country) not declared: non-disclosure is treated as deception
- CAS details not matching submitted documents: names, dates, and fees must align exactly
Before you apply, run your profile through our free study-abroad readiness checker and build your file with the document checklist tool so nothing on this list catches you out. And if you have not booked your English test yet, remember that Duolingo is a lower-cost test at NPR 10,500 through finduni.ai. The Duolingo English Test is not a UK-approved Secure English Language Test (SELT). Some UK universities accept it for admission to degree-level study, where the university assesses your English itself at CEFR B2. That is each university's decision. See our Duolingo English Test guide for details.