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Questions we answer every week
Rules change often — sometimes mid-intake. Everything below is general guidance; we confirm the current requirement for your case before you spend money on anything.
General
Before you apply
How early should I start?
Nine to twelve months before your intake is comfortable. Six months is workable. Under three months usually means paying rush fees, missing scholarship deadlines, or deferring to the next intake. English test booking is often the first bottleneck, so start there.
What are the minimum academic requirements?
For a master's you generally need a 16-year education (four-year bachelor's, or a two-year bachelor's plus a master's) with roughly 55–60% or a 2.5+ CGPA, though many universities accept less with relevant work experience. For undergraduate study, intermediate or A-levels with good grades. A weak transcript is not automatically fatal — the explanation matters more than the number.
Does a study gap ruin my chances?
No, but it has to be explained with evidence. Employment letters, a family business, caring responsibilities, further certifications — anything documented. Unexplained years are what cause problems, not the gap itself. Bring the proof to the first meeting.
Can I apply without IELTS?
Often yes for admission. Universities may accept PTE, TOEFL, Duolingo, their own internal test, or a Medium of Instruction letter. The visa may still have its own English requirement, and some countries treat non-IELTS routes more strictly, so we check both rules before promising a waiver.
Can I work while studying?
All three countries allow limited part-time work during term with more hours in holidays, but the exact cap changes and is tied to your course level. Plan your budget as if you will not earn anything in the first three months — that is the honest version.
Can I bring my spouse or children?
Dependant rules have tightened in all three countries and now depend heavily on course level and provider. Research degrees and doctoral programmes generally have more room than taught master's or diploma programmes. Tell us about your family before we shortlist courses, because it changes which options are worth applying to.
Money
Funds, fees and sponsors
How much money do I need to show?
Broadly: the UK expects tuition plus a fixed monthly living amount, held for 28 consecutive days ending no more than 31 days before you apply. Canada usually expects a GIC plus first-year tuition, with the living-cost figure updated periodically. Australia expects evidence covering tuition, travel and living costs for the required period. We give you the exact figure in writing at your assessment, based on the rule in force that week.
Whose bank account can the money sit in?
Yours, your parents', your spouse's, or a legal guardian's, depending on the country. Money in an uncle's or friend's account is generally not accepted. If a relative is funding you, we prepare a sponsor affidavit, relationship proof and income evidence to match.
Can I use an education loan?
Yes in most cases, provided the sanction letter comes from a recognised financial institution and is dated correctly relative to your application. Some posts want disbursement evidence rather than just a sanction. We sequence the loan so the paperwork arrives before the visa deadline, not after.
What does the whole thing cost?
Beyond tuition, budget for: English test, university application or deposit, visa application fee, health surcharge or insurance, medical examination, police or attestation charges, courier fees, airfare and your first month abroad. We hand you a single itemised sheet with our service fee at the top so there are no later surprises.
Do you take payment in instalments?
Our service fee is normally split across stages — assessment, admission, visa filing — so you pay as the work is done. The written fee agreement sets out each instalment and what it covers before anything is charged.
By country
United Kingdom
What is a CAS and when do I get it?
A Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies is the reference number your university issues once you have accepted an unconditional offer and usually paid a deposit. You cannot lodge the visa application without it. Universities issue CAS in batches close to the intake, which is why deposit timing matters so much.
How long does the UK student visa take?
Standard processing from Pakistan is typically a few weeks, with priority services sometimes available at extra cost. Peak season before a September intake is slower. We build the timeline backwards from your course start date and tell you the last safe submission day.
Can I stay and work after graduating?
The Graduate Route allows eligible graduates to stay for a period of unsponsored work after completing a UK degree. Duration depends on your qualification level, and the policy is reviewed periodically — we confirm the current position before you choose a course on that basis.
Canada
What is a PAL and do I need one?
A Provincial or Territorial Attestation Letter is issued by the province where your institution sits, and most study permit applications now require one. Institutions request it on your behalf after you accept the offer. Some categories are exempt. We confirm your route before you pay a deposit.
What is a GIC?
A Guaranteed Investment Certificate is an account you open with a Canadian bank and fund before applying. It shows you can cover your first year of living costs, and the money is released to you in instalments after arrival. The required amount is revised periodically.
Will my course qualify for a post-graduation work permit?
Not every programme does — eligibility depends on the institution type, programme length and, for some categories, the field of study. This is the single most common mistake we see in files prepared elsewhere. We check PGWP eligibility before shortlisting, not after you have paid.
Australia
What is the Genuine Student requirement?
Since 2024 Australia assesses applicants against a Genuine Student requirement in place of the old GTE statement. You answer set questions about your circumstances, your reasons for choosing this course and provider, and how it fits your plans. It is a written answer with documents behind it, and it should match everything else in your file.
What is a CoE?
A Confirmation of Enrolment is issued by your provider once you accept the offer and pay the required deposit. Your subclass 500 application depends on it, along with Overseas Student Health Cover arranged for the length of your stay.
Which intake should I target?
February and July are the main semesters, with some providers running November or trimester starts. February fills earliest, so applications from Pakistan realistically need to be moving by the previous September or October.
If things go wrong
Refusals and re-applications
Why do student visas get refused?
The recurring reasons are: funds that don't meet the rule or can't be traced to a credible source, a course that doesn't follow logically from your background, weak or contradictory interview answers, incomplete documents, and anything that looks fabricated. Almost all of these are preventable before submission.
I was refused once. Can I apply again?
Usually yes, and a previous refusal does not automatically block you — but it must be declared, and the new application has to answer the exact grounds given in the refusal notice. Send us the notice and we will tell you honestly whether a fresh application is worth the fee.
Do you guarantee a visa?
No, and nobody honestly can. The decision belongs to the visa officer. What we control is the quality of the file: complete documents, a coherent study plan, verified finances and a student who is ready for the interview. If a refusal results from an error on our side, we prepare the re-application without charging our service fee again.
Still not sure where you stand?
One free assessment answers most of this for your specific profile.