When You Need to Extend or Switch Your Visa
You need to apply for a new Student Route visa from inside the UK if you are progressing to a new course — for example, from a bachelor's degree to a master's, or from a foundation year into the main degree at a different institution. You do not simply 'renew' the same visa; each new course requires a fresh CAS and a new visa application.
The Academic Progression Rule
UKVI requires that your new course represents genuine academic progression — broadly, the new qualification level should be higher than, or a logical continuation of, your previous UK qualification (UKVI Immigration Rules, Appendix Student, 2026). Moving from a bachelor's to a master's satisfies this. Repeating a qualification at the same level generally does not, except in specific permitted circumstances such as failing and being permitted to resit.
How the In-Country Application Works
- Receive your new CAS from your next university before your current visa expires
- Apply online at gov.uk while still in the UK on a valid visa
- Attend a UKVI appointment at a UK Service and Support Centre (not VFS Kathmandu) to update your biometrics
- You can generally continue studying and working under your current visa conditions while the new application is decided
What Happens If Your Current Visa Expires First
If you submit your extension application before your current visa expires, your permission to stay, study, and work is automatically extended under '3C leave' while UKVI processes the decision — even if the original expiry date passes during processing. If you let your visa expire before applying, you become an overstayer, which carries serious consequences for future UK immigration applications.
Keep reading: Step-by-step UK Student visa guide · 28-day bank statement rule