Studying in the UK from Nepal: visa, IELTS and TB-test rules

A real visitor asked this site whether a Nepali applicant with IELTS 6.0 can study a master's in the UK — the short answer is yes, IELTS 6.0 meets the UK's own student-visa minimum, though most university programmes ask for more. This guide covers the points that are specific to a Nepali passport: the English-test requirement, the TB test, funds, and the dependants rule. Rules change, so check each official source before you pay anything.

A year costs from: ~US$30,000 all-in
Next intakes you can make: May 2027, September 2027
Published visa figure, Nepali applicants: About 4% of Nepali applicants were refused (2026). Source
Work after graduating: Graduate visa: 18 months if you apply from 1 January 2027 (2 years if you apply by 31 December 2026; 3 years after a PhD)

What is different from Nepal

IELTS 6.0 clears the visa minimum, but check the course page too

GOV.UK requires a Student visa applicant at degree level or above to prove English to CEFR level B2. For IELTS for UKVI, the test's own publisher states B2 means a minimum of 5.5 in each of the four components. IELTS 6.0 comfortably clears that visa floor — but it is not the university's bar: many master's programmes ask for 6.5 or higher, so the course page, not the visa rule, decides whether 6.0 alone gets you an offer. Source

Nepal is not on the English-test exemption list

GOV.UK lists the countries whose nationals do not need to prove English for a Student visa; Nepal is not among them. A Nepali applicant proves English with an approved SELT, a UK qualification, or an Ecctis-assessed degree taught in English. Source

A TB test is required for Nepali residents coming for 6 months or more

Nepal is on the GOV.UK list of countries where applicants need a tuberculosis test before a UK visa. If you've lived in Nepal for 6 months or more and are coming for 6 months or more, you need a chest x-ray at an approved clinic; the certificate is valid for 6 months from the x-ray date. Source

Nepali applicants have among the UK's lowest student-visa refusal rates

Times Higher Education's 2026 reporting on UK student-visa refusal rates put the refusal rate for Nepali applicants at about 4% — among the lowest of any major nationality it tracked, well below the rates reported for Pakistan (around 40%) or Nigeria (around 21%). That is a published rate for the group, not a prediction for any individual application. Source

Funds must sit in your account for 28 days in a row

GOV.UK currently states maintenance funds of 1,529 pounds a month (up to 9 months) for courses in London and 1,171 pounds a month outside London, on top of tuition. The money must be held for at least 28 days in a row, and the 28-day period must end within 31 days of your application date. Source

Most students on taught courses cannot bring dependants

Since the January 2024 policy change, most international students on taught courses cannot bring dependants to the UK — only postgraduate research students and government-sponsored students generally still can. Factor this in before you apply if you were planning to travel with a spouse or children. Source

Your steps, in order

Check the exact course page for its own English-score minimum — 6.0 clears the visa floor but not every programme.
Book an approved SELT (IELTS UKVI Academic is the simplest, since it satisfies both the university and the visa requirement in one test).
Get an offer and the Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) from a licensed UK sponsor.
Plan your funds so the required amount is held for 28 days in a row, ending within 31 days of the application.
Book the TB x-ray at an approved clinic in Nepal shortly before applying; the certificate lasts 6 months.
Decide before you apply whether you'll travel alone, since most taught-course students cannot bring dependants.
Apply online on GOV.UK and complete biometrics at the visa application centre.

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Questions Nepali students ask

Can I study a UK master's with IELTS 6.0 from Nepal?

For the visa itself, yes — GOV.UK requires CEFR level B2 at degree level, and IELTS for UKVI treats a minimum of 5.5 in each component as B2, so 6.0 clears that floor comfortably. Whether it's enough for the master's itself depends entirely on the programme — many ask for 6.5 or higher, so check the specific course page before assuming 6.0 is sufficient.

Do Nepali students need a TB test for the UK?

Yes, if you've lived in Nepal for 6 months or more and are coming to the UK for 6 months or more. It's a chest x-ray at a Home Office-approved clinic, valid for 6 months.

Are Nepali students likely to get a UK student visa?

Times Higher Education's 2026 reporting put the Nepali refusal rate at around 4%, among the lowest of any major nationality — but that's a group figure, not a guarantee for any one application. A complete, consistent file still matters most.

Can my spouse come with me?

Most taught-course students cannot bring dependants since the January 2024 rule change. Postgraduate research and some government-sponsored routes are the main exceptions — check GOV.UK for your exact course type.

Facts checked 19 October 2026. Rules change often — the official source linked beside each fact always wins over this page. We never promise admission or a visa.