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If you are heading to Law School in Dundee or Physiotherapy in Birmingham, you have probably heard older students talk about the Tier 4 visa.
First, a correction: The Tier 4 doesn’t exist anymore. The UK government rebranded it simply as the Student Route Visa. But while the name is simpler, the rules have become stricter (and more expensive) for the 2026/27 academic year.
Unlike the Automatic entry you might expect as a Canadian tourist, the Student Visa is a rigorous legal process. One wrong document can lead to a rejection. At KOM Consultants, we handle hundreds of these applications every summer. Here is the definitive guide to getting your passport stamped without the stress.
1. The Cost: Prepare Your Wallet
This is the biggest shock for Canadian families. The sticker price of the visa is just the tip of the iceberg.
The Application Fee
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Cost: £558 (approx. $960 CAD).
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When: Paid online at the moment you submit your application.
The Hidden Tax: Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS)
To access the National Health Service (NHS), which gives you free doctor visits and emergency care, you must pay a subscription fee.
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The 2026 Rate: £776 per year for students.
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The Trap: You must pay this upfront for the entire duration of your course.
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Example: If you are doing a 2-Year Senior Status LLB, you pay for 2.5 years (course + wrap-up period).
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Calculation: £776 x 2.5 = £1,940 (approx. $3,400 CAD).
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Result: You need ~$4,500 CAD in liquid cash just to hit Submit on the website.
Budgeting Help: We broke down these Launch Costs in detail in our Hidden Costs of Moving Guide.
2. The Golden Ticket: Your CAS
You cannot apply for a visa until you have a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS).
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What is it? A unique 14-digit reference number issued by your university.
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When do you get it? Only after you have accepted your Unconditional Offer and paid your tuition deposit (usually £2,000–£5,000).
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KOM Warning: Do not book your flight until you have your CAS. If the university is slow to issue it (which happens in August), you cannot rush the visa office.
3. Work Rights: The 20-Hour Rule
One of the best parts of the UK Student Visa is the right to work.
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Term Time: You can work up to 20 hours per week. (Perfect for a café job or campus rep role).
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Holidays: You can work full-time during Christmas, Easter, and Summer breaks.
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The Placement Bonus: If your course includes a mandatory work placement (like some Physio programs), that placement is in addition to your 20-hour cap.
4. The Graduate Route (Post-Study Work)
This is the most critical update for students starting in September 2026. The Graduate Route Visa allows you to stay in the UK to work after you finish your degree (no job offer required).
The 2027 Change: For students graduating on or after January 1, 2027 (which includes you!), the duration is set to 18 months (reduced from the previous 2 years).
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PhD Exception: PhD graduates still get 3 years.
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Strategy: 18 months is still plenty of time to gain international legal or clinical experience, but it means you need to be sharper with your job hunt in your final semester.
5. The Dependent Ban (Family Reality Check)
We must be blunt here to save you from a denied application. If you are studying a standard undergraduate or Master’s course (e.g., Law, OT, Physio, Teachers College), you cannot bring your partner or children.
The UK rules are strict: Dependents are only allowed for Research-based Higher Degrees (PhDs). If you need to move a family, you should strongly consider Australia instead, where dependents are allowed (though expensive).
Family Options: Read our comparison of Family Rules in UK vs. Australia to see why Australia might be the better fit for parents.
6. The Timeline: The 3-Week Sprint
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Standard Processing: Takes roughly 3 weeks (15 working days) from the moment you do your biometrics.
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Priority Service: For an extra £500, you can get a decision in 5 working days.
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Super Priority: For an extra £1,000, you can get a decision by the next working day.
KOM Advice: August is Visa Rush Month. Standard processing often slows down to 4-5 weeks due to volume. If you receive your CAS after August 15th, we strongly recommend paying for Priority Service to ensure you don’t miss Orientation Week.
7. How We Help (The Safety Check)
The UK visa form is long. It asks about your travel history for the last 10 years. It asks about your parents’ birth dates. One typo can lead to a rejection.
As a KOM student, you don’t do this alone.
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We Audit: We review your CAS to ensure the university didn’t make a mistake (e.g., wrong birth date).
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We Guide: We send you a step-by-step screenshot guide of the visa portal so you know exactly which box to tick.
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We Chase: If your visa is delayed, we have direct contacts at the university admissions teams to help flag urgent cases.
External Resource: Always verify the latest fees and rules on the official GOV.UK Student Visa page.
Ready to start your UK adventure? Contact the UK Admissions Team
The visa is step one. Our Living in the United Kingdom guide covers everything after it lands, and our UK partner universities page shows where Canadians study.
Disclaimer: Content on the KOM Consultants blog is for informational purposes. Visa rules, fees (IHS), and processing times are subject to change by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI). Always verify the latest information directly with the official government website.
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