US & UK International Postgraduate Student Visa Costs

International student visa fees

Studying abroad is a dream come true for many, allowing students to sample new foods, traditions and social situations as they pursue their postgraduate dreams.

The US and the UK are popular destinations for students looking to advance their studies, and for good reasons, including highly ranked institutions and world-class research. But what are the postgraduate student visa costs for these two countries? Read on to find out.

US postgraduate student visa costs

To get a visa to travel to the United States as an international student for your postgraduate studies, you must have Form I-20. This form lists your PG program start date, and includes 30 days when you are allowed to get into the country for preparations. It will give you access to the F1 Student Visa.

Besides stipulating the start dates for your program, this form also states the amount of money you need to finance your education and life in the US. The application fee stated on the Form I-20 is $160 and you will need to pay this fee to get a receipt for interview documents. Depending on your country of origin or the embassy you are applying from, you may need to pay additional fees.

Once you are admitted by the SEVP (Student Exchange Visitor Program) institution, the US university will register you in the SEVIS (Student and Exchange Visitor Information System) – for this, you will need to pay a SEVIS I-901 fee of $200.

After all the fees are paid, you can schedule your interview. You will get an interview appointment letter, which is vital in the application process, and after submitting the required documents, you will have your visa interview and then your visa. The validity of your visa is stated in your Form I-20, and this will be given to you upon entering the US.

US health insurance costs

When it comes to health insurance in the US, the cost will depend on the duration of your study and the kind of coverage you want. However, you are likely to be required to pay between $500 and $1,000 annually for your health insurance.

UK postgraduate student visa costs

The rates for international students in the UK were revised by the UK government and implemented at the start of October 2023, at this time the cost of applying for a student visa in the UK rose by £127, bringing the total to £490. This amount will be charged in local currency, depending on the country of your application.

While there are no additional charges for a standard appointment for biometrics enrolment, some application centres may charge you an additional fee, for example premium optional services which may attract an extra cost outside the £490.

UK Immigration Healthcare Surcharge

Besides the visa application fees international students in the UK will also need to pay an immigration healthcare surcharge, the cost of which is dependent on the period you will be studying. Here is a breakdown of the healthcare surcharges.

£470 annually (for students on Youth Mobility Scheme and all other immigration applicants under the age of 18).
£624 annually for all other visa and immigration applications, including postgraduate students.