# Student visa: the mistakes that get Indian files refused

The mistakes the desk sees most in Indian Student visa files, what each one costs and the fix, beside the refusal paragraphs officers cite.

Source: https://ukvisadesk.com/visas/student-visa/mistakes · Updated 2026-10-08 · Reviewed by UK Visa Desk counselling team, licence 849/DC/PTA/PLA/LC-3/2024 · UK Visa Desk, a brand of Pro Lifeset Overseas Private Limited, Patiala, India. WhatsApp +91 91155 80911, Mon to Sat, 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM IST.

## Mistakes we see
| The mistake | What it costs | The fix |
|---|---|---|
| The balance dipped below the required sum for one or two days inside the 28, usually a transfer out for a wedding or a property instalment. | Refusal under ST 12.3 and ST 12.6, the £558 fee lost, and the university may decline a second CAS because the refusal counts against its Basic Compliance Assessment. | Ring-fence the money in one account with no debits, and if any dip happens restart the 28-day clock from the day the balance recovers. |
| The bank statement was more than 31 days old on the date the online form was submitted. | The funds are treated as not shown and the application is refused even if the money is still there. | Download or collect the statement after the 28 days end and submit the form within the same week, keeping the 31-day limit in view. |
| The education loan letter came from a lender the Home Office does not recognise, or said the applicant was eligible rather than sanctioned. | The loan is ignored, the funds fall short, and the file is refused under ST 12.3. | Get a sanction letter on the bank's letterhead from a bank regulated by the Reserve Bank of India, naming you, the course, the amount and the disbursement terms. |
| The CAS course has no link to the previous degree or work, and the file does not explain why. | A credibility interview, then a refusal under ST 5.1 as not a genuine student, and the university's own pre-CAS screen may now reject the same profile. | Write a study plan that connects the old subject, any work since, the new course and the job it leads to, and be ready to say it aloud at interview. |
| A template statement of purpose copied from an agent, often the same text seen on other files from the same town. | The interviewer asks a question the template does not cover, the answers collapse, and ST 5.1 is cited. | Write it yourself in plain English with specifics: module names, the fee, the city, the accommodation cost and who is paying. |
| A standard IELTS or an online test was used when the sponsor is not a track-record Higher Education Provider and a SELT was required. | Refusal under ST 13.1 even with a high score, because the test is not on the Home Office approved list. | Read the English line on the CAS first; if it does not say the university assessed you, book IELTS for UKVI, PTE Academic UKVI, LanguageCert SELT or Skills for English UKVI. |
| A previous refusal, from the UK or another country, was not declared on the form. | A false representation finding under Part 9, which can carry a 10-year ban and ends the study plan. | Declare every refusal with the date and country, attach the letter, and add two sentences on what has changed since. |
| The 28-day hold was done at the £1,171 rate but the form was submitted on or after 30 November 2026, when £1,203 applies. | The funds are £288 short for a 9-month course and the file is refused on arithmetic alone. | Run the maintenance calculator with your intended application date, not your course start date, and hold the higher figure if you are near the line. |

## The grounds officers cite
- Maintenance not held for 28 days or statement older than 31 days on the application date (Appendix Finance, 28-day rule)
- Loan sanction letter that only shows eligibility, has conditions attached, or comes from a lender the Home Office does not accept
- Large unexplained deposits shortly before the statement period, treated as borrowed money
- Credibility interview failed: the applicant could not describe the course, the university, the cost or why the UK rather than India (Appendix Student, genuine student requirement)
- CAS withdrawn by the sponsor after the university's own checks, or CAS used for a course the applicant does not progress to academically
- English evidence not at the level on the CAS, or a test not taken at a UKVI-approved centre when a SELT was required
- False document or false statement found in the academic or financial papers, which brings a 10-year ban under Part 9 of the Immigration Rules

## Refusal paragraphs decoded (verified 2026-10-08)
### ST 5.1: Genuine student requirement
The credibility refusal. After the interview or on paper, the officer doubts you really intend to study this course: weak knowledge of the course or university, a course that does not fit your background, a gap you cannot explain, or signs that work or settlement is the real aim.
What to fix: prepare a one-page study plan: why the course, why the UK, why this university, what job after, and how it connects to your previous study and work; know the course modules, fee, city, accommodation and how the money is arranged; explain gaps with employment letters or evidence; practise the credibility interview questions in English

### ST 12.3 / ST 12.6: Financial requirement: funds, 28 days, London and outside London
Your bank evidence did not show the full amount for 28 consecutive days, or the statement was older than 31 days, or the amount was short (tuition balance plus living costs). A single dip below the required sum on any day of the 28 fails the rule. From 30 November 2026 the monthly figures rise.
What to fix: calculate the exact sum: tuition still owed per the CAS plus 9 months x the monthly rate for your city; hold it untouched for 28 days, then download the statement within 31 days before applying; parent's funds: parent's statement, your birth certificate, and a signed consent letter; loan: sanction letter from a bank or regulated NBFC naming you, the amount and the disbursement terms

### ST 7.1 to ST 7.6: Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) requirement
The CAS was expired, already used, withdrawn by the university, or its details (course, fees paid, English) did not match your documents. Universities withdraw a CAS when a refusal looks likely, to protect their compliance score.
What to fix: ask the university to reissue or update the CAS before you apply; match every figure on the CAS with your receipts and statements

### ST 13.1: English language requirement (B2 degree level, B1 below)
Your English evidence was the wrong test (a standard IELTS instead of IELTS for UKVI where a SELT was needed), below the level in one component, expired, or the CAS did not state that the university assessed your English itself.
What to fix: ask the university to confirm on the CAS that it assessed English (HEI route) or book a SELT at the right level; check every component, not the overall band

### ST 14.1 to ST 14.5: Academic progression requirement (permission to stay)
In-UK refusal: the new course is not a step up or is not connected to what you studied before, or you did not finish the previous course. Applies when extending or switching inside the UK, not to first applications from India.
What to fix: get the sponsor to confirm on the CAS why the course represents progression; evidence of completion of the previous course (transcript, award letter)

### ST 8.1 to ST 8.4: Course requirement (level, hours, ATAS)
The course does not qualify (part-time, too few hours, wrong level) or you did not include the ATAS certificate for a sensitive science or engineering subject.
What to fix: apply for ATAS early (allow 4 to 6 weeks) if the CAS says it is needed; confirm the course level and hours with the university

## FAQ
**How much money do I need to show for a UK student visa from India in 2026?**
Tuition still owed for the first year, as shown on the CAS, plus £1,529 a month in London or £1,171 a month outside London, for up to 9 months. That is £13,761 in London and £10,539 outside London for a 9-month course, on top of unpaid tuition. From 30 November 2026 the monthly figures are expected to be £1,570 and £1,203. Our maintenance calculator applies the right figure for your application date.

**What is the 28-day rule?**
The closing balance must stay at or above the required amount for every one of the 28 days before the final balance date. One day below the line resets the clock. The statement must also be no more than 31 days old when you submit the online form.

**Does an education loan sanction letter from an Indian bank count?**
Yes, if the loan is sanctioned, not just approved in principle, and the letter is from a bank regulated by the Reserve Bank of India. The letter should state your name, the amount, the course and that funds will be released. NBFC loans are accepted only where the lender meets the Home Office's definition of a regulated financial institution, so ask us before you rely on one.

Full guide: https://ukvisadesk.com/visas/student-visa.md

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