Student visa process

[partnership]

I understand that you need to have been accepted by a college before you apply for the student visa. Do you have to pay the college fees in advance of getting the visa and if so is it one term or the full year? If you didn't get the visa would you get a refund of fees? Just trying to understand the whole process. How long does it take to get the student visa - I read a couple of posts that suggests it could be five months.