Yes, in some circumstances you can obtain another Student visa to study at the same academic level, but this depends on how and where you apply. The rules turn on the academic progression requirement in Appendix Student, and the position is different depending on whether you are applying from inside the UK to extend or switch, or applying from outside the UK.
The academic progression requirement
The academic progression rule applies when you already have, or previously had, permission on the Student route (including the old Tier 4 (General) route) and you are applying for permission to stay in the UK. It is set out in Appendix Student at ST 14.1 to 14.5. In broad terms, if this requirement applies, your new course must normally be at a higher academic level than the course for which your last Student permission was granted.
Crucially, this requirement generally only bites on in-country extension or switching applications. If you apply for a Student visa from outside the UK, the academic progression requirement does not apply in the same way, so studying at the same level as a previous qualification is usually possible from overseas, subject to the genuine student requirement and the caps on time spent studying.
When study at the same level is permitted
Even where the academic progression requirement applies to an in-country application, the rules expressly allow study at the same academic level in defined situations. Your new course can be at the same level as your current or previous course if it is at degree level or above at a Higher Education Provider and it is either related to your previous course, or related to your career aspirations. The sponsor is expected to confirm this connection.
Study at the same level is also permitted in a number of specific exception situations, including:
1. Resitting exams or repeating modules on a course you are already doing.
2. Moving to a new institution to complete a course you began at a provider that lost its student sponsorship licence.
3. Completing a qualification after a period working as a student union sabbatical officer.
4. Completing a PhD or other doctorate started under your last Student permission.
5. Continuing a medicine, dentistry or medical science degree after an intercalated course, or doing an intercalated course as part of such a degree.
6. Extending to complete studies where you have done or will do a work placement or study abroad programme.
The genuine student and study time limits
Even if you satisfy the academic progression rule, two further points matter. First, you must meet the genuine student requirement, meaning you genuinely intend and are able to undertake the course. Applying to study at the same level can attract greater scrutiny, so the connection to your previous study or career plans should be clearly evidenced on the Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies.
Second, there are limits on the total time you can spend studying in the UK on the Student route. There is a general cap of around six years of study at postgraduate level below degree level and at degree level, with limited exceptions for longer courses such as certain undergraduate degrees, medicine, and postgraduate study following a qualifying degree. Repeating study at the same level can bring you closer to these limits, so it is worth checking how much time you have already used.
Missing facts that affect the answer
The correct answer for your situation depends on details you have not yet given. The key questions are:
1. Are you applying from inside the UK or from overseas? If overseas, the academic progression rule is generally not an obstacle.
2. What level was your previous or current course, and what level is the new one? “Same level” could mean, for example, two master’s degrees or two bachelor’s degrees.
3. Is the new course degree level or above at a Higher Education Provider? The related-course or career-aspiration route only works at that level and at that type of institution.
4. Is the new course related to your previous studies or to a genuine career aim, and can your sponsor confirm this?
5. How much time have you already spent studying in the UK on the Student route?
Practical next steps
1. Confirm whether you will apply in-country or from abroad, as this determines whether the progression rule applies at all.
2. Speak to the international student advisers or compliance team at the prospective sponsoring institution. They assess academic progression before issuing a CAS and can tell you whether they consider your new course to satisfy the rule.
3. If relying on the related-course or career-aspiration route, prepare a clear explanation and supporting evidence linking the new course to your previous study or career plans, so the sponsor can reflect this on the CAS.
4. Check your total study time to ensure you remain within the study time limits for your level.
5. Review the current Appendix Student rules and the caseworker guidance on GOV.UK before submitting, as the Student route rules change frequently and the precise wording of the exceptions can be updated.
If you tell me whether you are applying from inside or outside the UK, the exact levels of the old and new courses, and the type of institution, I can give you a much more precise answer on whether your specific plan will meet the rules.
This answer draws on broad legal knowledge and checks current law, guidance and procedure against relevant sources.
Student and Child Student (accessible) - GOV.UKgov.ukStudent visa : Extend your visa - GOV.UKgov.ukStudent and Child Studentassets.publishing.service.gov.ukImmigration Rules: Appendix Student - Guidancegov.ukKNOW WHERE YOU STAND
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