The Immigration Rules covering student visas were substantially revised in early September 2020, with the changes coming into force on 5 October. The revision did not major affect student visas as much as any other visa route, but it includes some amendments to the rules for students. The main changes in student visas are changes in condition of maintenance and the introduction of Short-term Study Route.

Inside London, the maintenance evidence have been increased from £1,265 pounds to £1,334 per month and from £1,015 pounds to £1,023 pounds for non-London courses. One positive change has now been revised to allow applicants to submit electronic bank statements without having to visit banks to stamp every page.

The effect of COVID-19 is assumed, but if a student or their dependents are permitted to work, the dependents can be trained or worked as doctors or dentists.

EEA citizens now have to apply for a visa if they want to study in the UK and also for their family dependants. If EEA nationals in the UK who have a master's degree or higher apply for a visa to their family as dependents before January 2021, they must apply in a new form for EEA citizens.

Officially, universities cannot evaluate the initial B1 English level required. However, in certain circumstances where students study at the degree level after a pre-sessional course, they can evaluate students that their English will improve to the B2 level.

There is also some changes for parents of Child student. Parents will now be granted permission to remain in the UK as the same length as their child's learning period without having to re-apply every 12 months. This is welcome given the excessively high priced applications these days, but it should be noted that visas can end sooner when the child turns 12 in the meantime.

A new short-term student visa route has been introduced to replace the English study Visitor Visa. Short-term student visas are for adults over the age of 16 who wish to take English courses for 6 to 11 months at an accredited institution. Previous visas could be applied for visas as an invitation to the school, but the revised short-term student visa must have an official institution authorised by the Home Office. If you are studying English for less than 6 months, you can apply for a Visitor visa as before.

For short-term student visa applications, you must study English only in the fixed course and submit a financial evidence for study. If you want to do a degree course after a short-term student visa, you cannot switch to a general student visa in the UK. To apply for a normal student visa for regular courses, you must return to your home country and apply for a regular student visa.