What are the requirements for applying for a master's in the UK? What to prepare for the two separate hurdles of university admission and the student visa.
Applying for a UK master's requires clearing two independent hurdles: ① admission requirements at the university level, set by each institution without a national standard; ② the UK government's Student visa, which is uniform across the country and has explicit figures. The verifiable hard thresholds for the visa are: in addition to tuition, you must prove living expenses — £1,529 per month in London, £1,171 per month outside London, counted for up to 9 months; the funds must have been held continuously for 28 days; the visa application fee is £558. Being admitted by a university does not mean the visa stage is automatically passed.
First distinguish the two hurdles: university admission and visa issuance are two separate standards
Many people treat 'UK master's application requirements' as one thing, but in fact they are two independent matters. The first hurdle is the **university side**: set by each department of each university, including undergraduate grades (expressed in the UK as degree classifications such as 2:1/2:2), language scores, relevant background or portfolio. The thresholds may even differ between departments of the same university — **there is no national standard and no single official page where you can check everything at once**. The second hurdle is the **visa side**: the UK government's Student visa, which is uniform across the country and its conditions are set out on GOV.UK, including holding a CAS (Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies) issued by a school with licensed student sponsor status, sufficient funds to cover tuition and living expenses, and English proficiency. **The reasons for failing the two hurdles are different: failure at the university side means your qualifications are insufficient; failure at the visa side is usually a matter of form in your documents and financial evidence.**
Official source：GOV.UK — Student visa
Hard figures on the visa side: living expenses, deposit duration, and fees
These are the uniform standards published by the UK government and can be verified directly: **Living expense proof** — for courses in London, £1,529 per month; outside London, £1,171 per month, **counted for up to 9 months** (the cap is approximately £13,761 for London and £10,539 for non-London); this is money you need to prove **in addition to tuition**. **Deposit duration** — the funds must have been held in your account for a 'continuous 28 days', and the end date of that 28-day period must fall within 31 days of the date you submit your visa application. **Visa application fee** — £558 (same whether applying from outside or inside the UK), plus an Immigration Health Surcharge (amount depends on the length of the visa). If you have already lived in the UK for 12 months on a valid UK visa before submitting your application, the living expense proof requirement may differ.
Official source：GOV.UK — Student visa: money you need
The two most common mistakes in financial proof are both related to 'time'
From the above rules, we can derive the two most error-prone points in practice. First, **'28 days' is continuous, not cumulative**: if the account balance drops below the amount to be proven for even one day during the period, the 28 days must restart. Second, **after the 28 days end, there is only a 31-day validity window**: if you prepare the funds too early but do not submit your application for a long time, the proof will expire and you will have to prepare it again. Together, these mean — **financial proof is not 'the earlier you prepare, the better'; it must be aligned with your submission date**. It is recommended to determine your intended submission date first, then work backward to the interval during which the funds need to be in place in your account.
Official source：GOV.UK — Student visa: money you need
Why you can't find a uniform answer for 'university-side requirements' (this is not a lack of information)
The UK does not have a central admission standard similar to Taiwan's joint college entrance. Master's admission is **independent admission by each university**: for the same subject, different universities may require undergraduate degree classifications ranging from 2:2 to First; language test thresholds and sub-score requirements are also set by each department, and may even differ among groups within the same university. Therefore, any single number claiming 'a UK master's requires X score' should be questioned — **the correct approach is to directly check the entry requirements page of the target department for the current year**, rather than relying on general rules. This site does not list university-specific thresholds because such figures are adjusted annually and vary by department; any compilation would quickly become outdated and mislead.
How to plan the timeline backward: work back from the start date
Most UK master's programs start in September or January. On the visa side, there are two clear time points to anchor: **overseas applications can be submitted as early as 6 months before the course start date**, and **overseas applications usually get a result within 3 weeks** (for in-country applications, it is 8 weeks). Working backward, you must first receive an unconditional offer from the university and have the school issue a CAS; the CAS is usually issued only after you confirm your place (including paying a deposit). Further back, the funds must have been held continuously for 28 days. So the practical sequence is: apply to universities → receive an offer and confirm your place → school issues CAS → funds are in place for 28 days → submit the visa application. **Any delay in one step will compress the time for the following steps, and the 28-day funds requirement is the only one that cannot be solved by expediting.**
Official source：GOV.UK — Student visa
FAQ
What are the requirements for applying for a UK master's?
Two hurdles. The university side is set by each institution and department (degree classification, language scores, relevant background) with no national standard; the visa side is the UK government's Student visa, uniform nationwide, requiring a CAS issued by a school with licensed student sponsor status, sufficient financial evidence, and English proficiency. University admission does not mean the visa will be granted.
How much money do you need to prove for a UK study visa?
Besides tuition, you must prove living expenses of £1,529 per month in London or £1,171 per month outside London, counted for up to 9 months (capped at approximately £13,761 for London and £10,539 outside London). These are the standards published on GOV.UK.
How long must the funds be held?
The funds must be held continuously for 28 days, and the end date of that 28-day period must be within 31 days of submitting your visa application. Note that it must be 'continuous' — if the balance drops below the required amount on any single day during the period, the 28 days start over.
How much does a UK student visa cost?
The visa application fee is £558 (same for applications from outside or inside the UK), plus the Immigration Health Surcharge, the amount of which depends on the length of the visa.
When is the earliest I can apply for a visa? How long does it take?
For applications from outside the UK, you can apply as early as 6 months before the course starts, and you usually get a decision within 3 weeks; for in-country applications, the earliest is 3 months before the course starts, and it usually takes 8 weeks.
Why can't I find a unified score threshold for UK master's?
Because UK master's courses are independently recruited by each university and have no central standard: the degree classification and language sub-scores required for the same subject can vary between universities and are adjusted year by year. Any single number is unreliable; you should directly check the entry requirements for the target department for the current year.
What is not covered on this page?
This page only covers the 'requirements for applying' itself. **It does not include**: the specific threshold figures for each university and department (which vary by institution and year, and any compilation would quickly become outdated), scholarships and grants, the post-study work visa (Graduate route) and residence transition, the actual fee bands for the Immigration Health Surcharge, or regulations for non-master's programmes (undergraduate, language courses, PhD). For these, please refer to the latest announcements on GOV.UK and the official pages of each university.
Official source：GOV.UK — Student visa、GOV.UK — Student visa: money you need
This page is a neutral compilation of information for reference only, not admission advice, and does not constitute any admission or enrollment promise.