your roadmap
The whole journey from Nepal to the UK, end to end — from first research to your first week on the ground. Each step links to the guide that covers it in full.
Seven stages. The UK's sequence has two Nepal-specific steps — the NOC and the TB test — that must land before you lodge, and one financial step whose clock starts a month earlier than people expect.
Research & shortlist
Pick licensed, compliant sponsors. Decide London or outside London early — it changes the maintenance figure you must prove.
Settle English
Sit a UKVI-approved SELT, or get written confirmation your university accepts Grade-12 English or an MOI letter.
Apply
UCAS for undergraduate, direct for postgraduate. Multiple applications are normal.
Offer → conditions → CAS
Meet the conditions, pay the deposit, receive the Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies.
The 28-day clock
Outstanding tuition plus maintenance, held for 28 consecutive days, with a closing balance dated within 31 days of applying.
NOC, TB test, then lodge
MoEST approval before remitting fees; TB test at a UK-approved Kathmandu clinic; then apply online, pay the IHS, and give biometrics.
Arrival & first week
eGates, university registration, bank account, SIM, GP registration and your National Insurance number.
Where you will sleep, and what you carry. Accommodation in the UK follows a fairly predictable pattern.
University halls
The common first-year choice — simplest to arrange from Nepal, and a fast way to meet people.
Purpose-built student housing
Furnished and predictable, usually more expensive than a flatshare.
Private flatshare
The most common option after first year, and normally the cheapest per room.
Your document pack: passport and UKVI account details, CAS, financial documents, the NOC, your TB certificate, academic originals, and accommodation details. Note there is no visa sticker or card to carry — your permission is digital.
At the border: a digital eVisa linked to your UKVI account; ePassport gates or Border Force clearance
Healthcare: register with a GP — NHS access is already covered by the IHS you paid upfront
To work legally: apply for a National Insurance number
Then register with your university, open a UK bank account, get a SIM, and sort local transport. Registering with a GP early matters more than it sounds — you have already paid for the NHS through the IHS, and it is far easier to register before you need it.
Term-time: up to 20 hours per week, and full-time during official vacations.
Common work is retail, hospitality, care and campus roles. Treat the term-time cap as absolute — breaching it puts your visa at risk, and that is a far worse outcome than the extra hours are worth. Your rights and your hours are identical whether you proved English by test or by MOI.