How to apply for UK student visa in Malaysia - Guide on requirements, fees and more

If you’re considering studying in the UK you’ll need to get to grips with the process to get a UK student visa in Malaysia. This guide gives an overview of the UK student visa requirements, and the UK student visa fee you need to pay - plus a quick look at how to apply.

As a bonus, we'll also quickly touch on Wise as a good way to pay in pounds for everything from tuition fees to your morning coffee - to cover GBP expenses before you travel, and once you arrive in the UK.

UK student visa for Malaysians

The current UK student visa¹ replaces the older Tier 4 (general) student visa, and is the visa issued to foreigners who are 16 or older, coming to the UK to study an approved course at an eligible institution.

You can apply for your UK student visa online from Malaysia, but you’ll need to have a few things lined up first - including a confirmed offer of a place at an appropriate institution. Once you have that, you’ll need to gather your required documents and start your application online. In some cases you’re asked to visit an in person visa application centre to give biometric information - but this isn’t always necessary. You’ll also pay a couple of fees - an application fee and a variable healthcare surcharge.

If you’re applying from outside of the UK, the UK student visa processing time is pretty fast - often taking just 3 weeks. However, if you’re already in the UK on a different visa, it can take longer to process your application, and different rules may apply - more on that later.

What can you do as a Malaysian with a UK student visa?

When you are offered a UK student visa, you’ll be told exactly what you can and can’t do as part of the visa terms. It’s important to note these details carefully to avoid falling foul of the law.

Usually you’ll be able to study on your course, and work as a student union sabbatical officer if you want to.

In some cases, visa holders are able to work in some other jobs - this depends on the course, and may only be allowed out of term time.

It’s also important to know what you cannot do - which includes claiming benefits, becoming self-employed, or studying in an academy or authority-funded school.

Applying for a UK student visa

Let’s look at a bit more detail about the UK student visa application, including who can apply, how - and when you'll need to get that crucial application submitted.

UK student visa requirements for Malaysians

In this guide we’re focusing on the UK’s Student visa, which is open to people who are 16 or over who:

• have a place on an eligible course at an eligible institution in the UK
• have enough money to pay for tuition and day to day expenses
• can speak, read, write and understand English
• Can prove parental consent (only for people who are 16 or 17)

It’s worth noting that if you’re under 18 and want to study at an independent school in the UK, there’s an alternative visa which may be suitable - the Child Student visa.

UK student visa application Malaysia

If you’re outside of the UK you’ll need to apply for a visa online. You’ll gather the required documents then start your application on the UK government website².

While the exact documents you need to gather can vary, generally as part of your application for your Student visa you must provide³:

• Your current passport
• Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) from your course provider
• Evidence you can pay for your course and daily life
• A valid ATAS certificate (depending on your course)
• Your tuberculosis test results

If you’re under 18 you’ll also be asked for proof of parental consent and proof of your relationship to your parent or guardian.

Once you’ve started your application online, on the UK government website, you’ll be able to check if you need to attend a visa application centre to submit biometric information, or if you can do this digitally. Visa application centres are available in locations including Kuala Lumpur, Sabbah and Sarawak⁴.

When you submit your application you’ll need to pay the UK student visa Malaysia price of 490 GBP, plus a healthcare surcharge. The surcharge depends on how long your course - and therefore your visa - will last. There are tools on the UK government website which can help you check the full cost of applying for your visa.

UK student visa processing time

Assuming you’re still in Malaysia when you apply, the earliest you can apply for a visa is 6 months before you start your course. You’ll usually get a decision on your visa within 3 weeks. This also applies if you’re in another country when you apply - but not in the UK already.

If you’re already in the UK when you apply, there are different rules. In this case, you can apply up to 3 months before your course starts, but you must apply before your current visa expires. Your new course must begin within 28 days of your current visa expiring. Processing time for applicants already in the UK can take up to 8 weeks.

Going to the UK to study? Save on MYR to GBP conversions for school fees and more with Wise

Study in the UK isn’t cheap - but you can avoid unnecessarily high currency conversion fees with Wise.

Use Wise to send payments to the UK for tuition, or to convert to GBP for day to day spending, with low transparent fees, and the mid market rate. That means you can have easy access to GBP while keeping your main finances and savings at home

And once you arrive in the UK, there’s also the Wise card to spend seamlessly, with low fees and the mid-market rate.

Just add money to your card in MYR and either convert to GBP instantly to see your budget in pounds, or just leave your balance in ringgit and allow the card to convert for you when you pay for things. There’s no foreign transaction fee and you’ll get the exchange rate you see on Google with low, transparent fees from 0.33%.

You can also use your Wise card to get cash at an ATM - including 2 withdrawals to the value of 1,000 MYR for free before a low, transparent fee begins⁵.

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