UK at a Glance
London
Outside London
intakes
be demonstrated
Study in UK from Kenya
Explore study opportunities in the UK for students from Kenya, including university admissions, scholarships, intakes and student visa guidance.
Study Intakes in the UK
Major Intakes
The major UK university intakes for students from Kenya and Ghana include:- September / October – Fall Intake
- January / February – Spring Intake
Many universities also offer courses commencing in:
- April
- May
- June
- July
These are generally considered mid-year intake opportunities.
UK Scholarship Opportunities
Students from Kenya and Ghana may be eligible for university scholarships based on factors such as:
- Strong academic performance
- Meeting the university’s course entry requirements
- Holding a valid offer from the university
- International / overseas fee status
- Meeting English-language requirements
- Applying before the scholarship deadline
- Strong personal or supporting statement where required
- Relevant extracurricular, leadership or professional experience where applicable
- Meeting specific nationality or domicile requirements
- Being self-funded where required by the scholarship
UK Student Visa Document Checklist
Students should prepare the required documents before attending their UK visa appointment.
UK Visa Document Checklist
| Sr. No. | Documents Needed for Visa | Remarks |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | All academic documents including IELTS if student has | |
| 2 | CAS | |
| 3 | Unconditional Offer | |
| 4 | TT Receipt | |
| 5 | Passport | |
| 6 | TB Test Report | |
| 7 | Updated Bank Documents | |
| 8 | Parent/Spouse Consent Letter | If applicable |
| 9 | Birth Certificate in English | If using parent’s funds |
| 10 | VISA Application Form – PDF | |
| 11 | VISA Checklist – PDF | |
| 12 | IHS Payment Confirmation | |
| 13 | VISA Application Fees Payment Receipt | |
| 14 | VFS Services Fees Payment Receipt/Appointment Confirmation Receipt | |
| 15 | All Travel History Documents | If applicable |
| 16 | VISA Refusal letters (if any) | If applicable |
| 17 | Marriage Certificate | If applicable |
Documents to Carry for the Visa Appointment
- Original Passport
- Passport photocopy of the first and last pages
- Online Visa Application Form
- Printout of Visa Appointment
- Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS)
- Education Loan Sanction Letter along with the visiting card of the branch manager
- Bank Balance Certificate and Bank Statement
- IELTS / TOEFL score sheet, if required
- Bachelor’s Degree Certificate and all year / semester mark sheets, including backlogs
- WASSCE Passing Certificate and Marksheet or KCSE Passing Certificate and Marksheet
- Letter of Consent and Birth Certificate if the student is under 18
- Parent’s Consent Letter and Birth Certificate where parents’ funds are being used
- TB Clearance Certificate from an approved doctor and chest X-ray
- Printout of the email received after payment of the NHS Health Surcharge
- ATAS Certificate printout, if mentioned in the CAS
UK Student Visa Financial Requirements
Students are required to show 1 year of tuition fees mentioned in the CAS, plus 9 months of living costs.
Living Cost Requirement
Acceptable Sources of Funds
Acceptable sources of funds include:
- Education Loan Letter in the student’s name or jointly with parents
- Savings Account Statement / Passbook with Bank Balance Certificate showing 28-day-old funds
- Fixed / Term Deposits
- Funds held in the student’s account
- Funds held jointly with parents
- Funds held in parents’ accounts, subject to the required supporting documents
Important Sponsorship Information
For UK Student Visa applications, funds belonging to other relatives such as grandparents, uncles, brothers or sisters are not accepted as direct sponsorship funds. Such funds should be transferred to the student’s account.
Important UK Visa Guidelines
Tuition Fees
The tuition fee stated in the Visa Application Form should match the amount stated in the CAS.
For courses longer than one year, the CAS should clearly mention the applicable first-year tuition fee.
Birth Certificate
A Birth Certificate should be provided where funds are held in the parent’s name.
If the document is not in English, it should be translated by an approved translator.
Parent Consent
A Letter of Consent should be provided where funds are held in a joint account of the parents and student.
For students under 18, additional consent requirements may apply.
Maintaining Funds
The required funds should be maintained in UKVI-approved bank accounts.
Visa fees and the NHS Health Surcharge should be paid using an eligible debit or credit card.
Bank Statement Timing
Where savings are used as evidence of funds, the period between the last transaction and the visa application date should not exceed 30 days.
Fixed / Term Deposits
Where the student’s name has recently been added to a Fixed Deposit or Term Deposit, the documentation should show when the name was added and the deposit should satisfy the applicable 28-day requirement.
Education Loans
Loans against Fixed Deposits, mortgage loans and other forms of loans are not accepted according to the provided material.
Education loans offered by banks for education purposes are accepted. An education loan secured against a fixed deposit may also be acceptable in the circumstances described in the source material.
UK Visa Application & NHS Health Surcharge
The online visa application and visa fee payment should be completed after obtaining the required Bank Balance Certificate for the applicable 28-day funds period.
Immigration Health Surcharge
The provided material states that the Immigration Health Surcharge is mandatory for student visa applications and starts at £776 per year, payable upfront for the visa duration.
Ready to Study in the UK?
YC Overseas can help you with:
- University Selection
- Course Selection
- Application Processing
- Scholarship Guidance
- Student Visa Assistance
- Pre-Departure Guidance