Thinking about another master’s degree?
Second Master’s in the UK: Visa Rules, PSW and Costs Explained
You can do a second master’s in the UK. What you need to show depends on where you apply from, and the biggest trade-off is the Graduate visa: you only ever get one. Here are the rules, the costs and how to decide.
Admissions guidance only. HOA does not give advice on individual immigration cases, and no university offer guarantees a visa.
A second master’s, in one ledger
If you have already had a Graduate visa and apply from inside the UK for a one-year course.
- You gain
- A new specialism, and permission for the course plus 4 months after it
- You give up
- Any Graduate visa time left, and full-time work in term time: the limit becomes 20 hours a week
- You cannot get
- A second Graduate visa. The rules allow one per person (GR 1.4)
- You pay
- £558 plus a £1,164 health surcharge, before tuition
Never had a Graduate visa? You may still get one after the second master’s: 18 months if you apply on or after 1 January 2027.
Can You Do a Second Master’s in the UK?
Yes. You can study a second master’s in the UK, and there is no Student visa time limit on master’s-level study. What you must show depends on where you apply from. If you apply from inside the UK and have held a Student visa before, the course must count as academic progress: because it is at the same level as your first master’s, it must be related to your previous course or to your career aspirations (Appendix Student, ST 14).
The biggest trade-off is the Graduate visa. The Immigration Rules allow one per person (Appendix Graduate, GR 1.4). If you have already had one, you will not get another after the second master’s. If you have not, you may get one after it, at 18 months for applications made on or after 1 January 2027.
The facts at a glance
Checked against the sources cited on 13 October 2026.
- Allowed?
- Yes. A same-level course is accepted when it is related to your previous studies or career plans, at degree level or above.GOV.UK, Student visa: extend
- From inside the UK
- It must count as academic progress if you have held a Student visa before. The university checks this before issuing your CAS.Appendix Student, ST 14
- From Nepal
- The academic progression rule does not apply to applications made from outside the UK.Appendix Student, ST 14.1
- Time limit
- None at master’s level or above. Caps apply to bachelor’s-level study (5 years) and study below degree level (2 years).University of Sheffield, time limits
- Graduate visa
- Granted once only. If you have had one, you cannot get another.Appendix Graduate, GR 1.4
- Family
- For courses starting from 1 January 2024, only postgraduate research students and government-sponsored students can bring dependants.Appendix Student, ST 31.1
- Visa cost
- £558 plus the health surcharge: £1,164 for a typical one-year course, £1,722 in total.GOV.UK, healthcare surcharge
- Money to show
- None if you have been in the UK with a valid visa for 12 months or more when you apply.GOV.UK, Student visa: extend
Applying From Inside the UK or From Nepal
The rules for a second master’s differ depending on where you make the visa application.
| Requirement | From inside the UK | From Nepal |
|---|---|---|
| Academic progression | Yes. The course must be related to your previous course or career aspirations | No |
| Money to show | None if you have been in the UK with a valid visa for 12 months or more | Up to 9 months of living costs, held for 28 days: £1,171 a month outside London or £1,529 in London, rising to £1,203 and £1,570 for applications on or after 30 November 2026 |
| When the course can start | No more than 28 days after your current visa expires | Apply up to 6 months before it starts |
| While you wait | You can stay in the UK until you get a decision | You wait in Nepal and travel once the visa is granted |
| Usual decision time | Within 8 weeks | Within 3 weeks |
Applying from Nepal avoids the progression rule, but it means leaving the UK first, and every other requirement still applies, including the genuine student test. Either way, be ready to explain why you want a second master’s. If your visa ends soon, check your dates first.
Will a Second Master’s Count as Academic Progress?
A second master’s is a same-level course, so from inside the UK it counts only if the university is satisfied that it is related to your previous course or to your career aspirations, at degree level or above with a higher education provider. The university makes that judgement before it issues your CAS.
| First master’s | Second master’s | Likely view |
|---|---|---|
| MSc Finance | MSc Financial Technology | Related course. It builds directly on the first degree |
| MSc Computing | MBA | Career case. Related if you can show a clear move into technology management |
| MA Marketing | MSc Data Analytics | Career case. Needs a specific link, such as marketing analytics roles |
| MBA | An unrelated MA with no career link | Hard to justify. Related neither to the course nor to a stated plan |
Most universities ask for a short academic progression statement for a same-level course: why this course, how it connects to your first master’s or your career, and what you will do afterwards. How the academic progression rule works, and what to put in the statement.
Not sure your second master’s will count? A counsellor can check the link to your first degree before you apply, free.
Check my study optionsYou Only Get One Graduate Visa
The Graduate visa, often called PSW, is granted once per person (Appendix Graduate, GR 1.4). That makes the order of your choices matter.
| Your situation | After the second master’s |
|---|---|
| You have already had a Graduate visa | No Graduate visa. To stay and work you would need another route, such as a Skilled Worker visa with a job offer. |
| You are on a Graduate visa now | No Graduate visa, and the time left on your current one ends when the Student visa is granted. |
| You are on a Student visa and have never had a Graduate visa | One Graduate visa, if you complete the course and meet the requirements: 18 months for applications made on or after 1 January 2027. |
On a Graduate visa now? It cannot be extended either, so plan the next step before it ends: your options before a Graduate visa ends.
Still on your first Student visa? A Graduate visa applied for on or before 31 December 2026 lasts 2 years, if your university has reported your completion by then, but it is your only one. Taking the second master’s first moves your one Graduate visa to after that course, at 18 months. How the order affects you.
Second Master’s or Double Master’s: What Is the Difference?
People use ‘double master’s’ in two ways. Some mean a second, separate master’s taken after the first, which is what this page covers. Others mean a dual-degree programme: one course, often run by two universities, that leads to two master’s awards. For a dual-degree programme, you need a Student visa for the part you study in the UK.
A two-year master’s is different again. It is a single master’s with a work placement or an extra year of advanced practice, so one Student visa covers both years. The health surcharge for a two-year course is £1,940, because the visa runs for 2 years and 4 months.
Spelling: ‘second masters’, ‘second master’s degree’ and ‘double masters’ are all used for the same search. This page uses the possessive, master’s, as UK universities do.
How Much Does a Second Master’s Cost?
The visa costs are set by the Home Office and are the same for a first or second master’s. Tuition is set by each university.
| Cost | One-year master’s | Two-year master’s |
|---|---|---|
| Application fee | £558 | £558 |
| Health surcharge | £1,164 (16 months) | £1,940 (2 years 4 months) |
| Visa total | £1,722 | £2,498 |
| Tuition and deposit | Set by the university | Set by the university |
The surcharge is worked out from your course dates when you apply, so treat these as typical figures. Work out your own figure with the calculator.
Scholarships for a second master’s exist, but many awards are aimed at people taking their first postgraduate degree, so check each scheme’s eligibility before you count on one. HOA’s guide to UK scholarships.
Returning to the university you graduated from? Some universities offer a tuition discount to their own graduates, so ask the admissions team before you apply.
Is a Second Master’s Worth It?
It depends on what the second degree does for you. These are the questions to settle first.
- Does it fill a specific gap?It makes most sense when a role you are aiming for asks for something your first master’s does not give you, such as a technical or accredited specialism.
- Is it a step towards research?A research master’s (MRes) can prepare you for a PhD. There is no Student visa time limit on master’s or doctoral study.
- Is the main reason more time in the UK?Then think again. A statement that reads that way is the kind UKVI questions, and a second master’s will not bring a second Graduate visa.
- Do you rely on full-time income?On a Student visa at degree level you can work up to 20 hours a week in term time. Plan for the change before you commit.
How to Apply for a Second Master’s From Inside the UK
Start at least three months before your current visa expires. Getting a CAS takes time.
-
Check your visa history
Note your visa expiry date and whether you have already had a Graduate visa. Both shape your options.
-
Choose a course you can link to your plans
Pick a master’s related to your previous course, or to a specific career aim you can explain.
-
Check the start date
The course must start no more than 28 days after your current visa expires.
-
Apply with a progression statement
Explain specifically how the new course connects to your first master’s or your career.
-
Accept your offer and check the terms
Confirm the deposit, tuition fee and refund terms in writing before you pay.
-
Get your CAS
The university issues it once it is satisfied the course counts as academic progress.
-
Apply for your Student visa before your visa expires
Apply online from inside the UK, within 6 months of getting your CAS and no earlier than 3 months before the course starts. Pay £558 plus the health surcharge.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. There is no rule against a second master’s and no Student visa time limit at master’s level. If you apply from inside the UK after a previous Student visa, the course must be related to your previous course or to your career aspirations, because it is at the same level as your first.
Yes, if you meet the in-UK rules: you apply before your current visa expires, the course starts no more than 28 days after it expires, and the university confirms the course counts as academic progress before issuing your CAS. You can stay in the UK while the application is decided.
No, not if you meet the in-UK rules. Applying from Nepal is an option if they do not fit, for example when the course starts more than 28 days after your visa expires, because applications made from outside the UK do not have to meet the academic progression rule.
No. Appendix Graduate (GR 1.4) allows one Graduate visa per person. If you have never had one, you may get one after the second master’s: 18 months for applications made on or after 1 January 2027.
Possibly. From inside the UK, a different subject can count if it is related to your career aspirations and the university accepts your case. Explain the link specifically: UKVI may ask about it at a credibility interview.
No. The 5-year limit applies to study at bachelor’s level, and study below degree level is capped at 2 years. Master’s and doctoral study have no limit, so a second master’s does not run into a cap.
It usually means a dual-degree programme that leads to two master’s awards, often from two universities. Some people also use it to mean a second, separate master’s. A two-year master’s with a placement is neither: it is one master’s course.
For a typical one-year master’s, £1,722: the £558 application fee plus a £1,164 health surcharge, because the visa runs for about 16 months. A two-year master’s comes to £2,498. Tuition is separate.
Generally not as new dependants. For courses starting from 1 January 2024, only postgraduate research students, such as PhD students, and government-sponsored students can bring dependants (Appendix Student, ST 31.1). If your family is already here as your dependants, take regulated advice before you choose a course.
Not if you have been in the UK with a valid visa for 12 months or more on the date you apply. Otherwise you must show up to 9 months of living costs, held for 28 consecutive days.
Not if your reasons are genuine and specific. UKVI may interview you about why you are studying two courses at the same level, so be ready to explain how the second course serves a clear academic or career aim.
No. HOA’s course shortlisting, application support and guidance are free to students at every stage. For questions about your own immigration position, we will point you to a solicitor or an adviser regulated by the Immigration Advice Authority.
Guides for Students Already in the UK
Each guide answers one question. The first one is where you can ask a counsellor to check your options.
- Graduate visa to Student visaSwitch inside the UK, and check your options
- Academic progressionWill your next course count?
- Second master’s in the UKVisa rules, PSW and costs
- Dependant visa to Student visaSwitch, or study as you are
- Can you extend a Graduate visa?And what to do before it ends
- Student visa expiringYour options before it ends
- Student visa extension costFees, surcharge and a calculator
- February 2027 intakeUniversities we could confirm
Key Terms
- Second master’s
- A separate master’s degree taken after a first one. It is at the same RQF level (7), so an in-UK Student visa application needs it to be related to the previous course or to the applicant’s career aspirations.
- Double (dual) master’s
- A single programme, often run by two universities, that leads to two master’s awards.
- Academic progress
- The Appendix Student requirement (ST 14) that a current or former Student applying from inside the UK moves to a higher-level course, or to a same-level course related to their previous course or career aspirations.
- Graduate visa
- UK permission to stay and work after an eligible UK course, granted once per person: 2 years for applications made on or before 31 December 2026, 18 months for bachelor’s and master’s graduates applying on or after 1 January 2027, and 3 years after a PhD.
Sources
Every rule and figure on this page was checked against these sources on 13 October 2026. If GOV.UK and this page ever disagree, GOV.UK is right.
- Home Office, Immigration Rules, Appendix Student (ST 12, ST 14, ST 31)
- Home Office, Immigration Rules, Appendix Graduate (GR 1.4, GR 8.1)
- GOV.UK, Student visa: extend your visa
- GOV.UK, Student visa
- GOV.UK, Student visa: apply
- GOV.UK, Healthcare surcharge: how much you pay
- GOV.UK, Statement of changes to the Immigration Rules: HC 584
- University of Sheffield, Student visa time limits
- Immigration Advice Authority, About us
About This Guide
Who wrote it. House of Admissions (HOA), a UK-only education consultancy founded in 2016, with offices in Kathmandu and Pokhara. All 20+ HOA counsellors hold the British Council’s UK counsellor certification, and HOA’s guidance is free to students.
Who checked it. Reviewed by Rahul Chhetri, Director. Every rule and figure was checked against the sources above on , and each one links to its source.
What it is not. Admissions guidance, not immigration advice. For advice on your own case, speak to a solicitor or an adviser regulated by the Immigration Advice Authority. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.
Related Guides
Make the Second Master’s Count
Tell us your first degree, your visa dates and your plans. A counsellor will shortlist second master’s courses that meet the rules, free.