# What happens if I change course or university on a UK student visa?

> It depends: changing course may not need a new visa, but changing sponsor usually does.

Whether changing course or university affects your UK Student visa depends on the change. Moving to a different course at the same university can sometimes be done without a new visa if it meets the rules, while changing to a new university (a new sponsor) normally requires a new CAS and a fresh visa application. Your sponsor must report relevant changes to UKVI. Never start a new course or move sponsor without checking the position first, as it can affect your visa. Confirm on GOV.UK.

## Quick facts
- **Same uni, new course:** Sometimes no new visa — check rules
- **New university:** Usually new CAS + new visa
- **Sponsor duty:** Must report changes to UKVI
- **Source:** Confirm on GOV.UK

## Key takeaways
- Changing course at the same university may not always need a new visa — check the rules.
- Changing university (a new sponsor) usually requires a new CAS and a new visa application.
- Your sponsor must report relevant changes to UKVI.
- Never switch course or sponsor without checking the position first.

## Changing course at the same university
If you want to change to a different course at your current university, whether you need a new visa depends on the nature of the change — for example, whether it is at the same level, finishes within your current visa, and meets the academic-progression and other rules. Your university's international team and the rules determine this, and your sponsor must update UKVI. Some changes can proceed on your existing visa; others require a new application.

## Changing university or sponsor
Moving to a new university means moving to a new sponsor, which normally requires a new CAS from the new institution and a fresh Student visa application — you generally cannot simply transfer. Both the old and new sponsors have reporting duties to UKVI. The key rule is never to start studying a new course or with a new sponsor before the position is confirmed, as getting it wrong can affect your visa. Study UK Now guides you through any change so your status stays secure. Confirm on GOV.UK.

## Frequently asked questions
### What happens if I change course or university on a UK student visa?
It depends on the change. A different course at the same university can sometimes continue on your existing visa if it meets the rules, while moving to a new university (a new sponsor) normally needs a new CAS and a fresh visa application. Your sponsor must report changes to UKVI. Always check the position before changing — confirm on GOV.UK.

### Can I transfer my student visa to a different UK university?
You generally cannot simply transfer a Student visa between universities, because each university is a separate sponsor. Moving usually requires a new CAS from the new university and a fresh visa application. Never start at a new sponsor before this is confirmed. Study UK Now manages the change so your status is never at risk.

## Sources
- [GOV.UK — Student visa](https://www.gov.uk/student-visa) — GOV.UK

Canonical: https://studyuknow.com/questions/change-course-or-university-uk-student-visa
Verified: 2026-06-16