UK Student Visa Financial Requirement 2026: How Much Money You Need

The UK Student visa financial requirement is the single most litigated part of the application because refusal on maintenance grounds is a technical failure rather than a merits judgment, which means a small error on a bank statement translates into a wasted application fee, a lost Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies, and a rushed reapplication window before a course start date. The current monthly living cost figures, set by the Home Office on 1 October 2020 and unchanged through 2026, are £1,483 per month inside Greater London and £1,136 per month outside. The maintenance funds must sit in an accepted account for 28 consecutive days, the statement must show the applicant as the account holder, and the balance must never dip below the required total during that window. The 28-day rule, the 9-month cap, the accepted-account list in Appendix Finance, and the financial sponsor letter alternative between them account for the vast majority of Student visa refusals, which is why close reading of the rule text published on gov.uk matters.

What are the Home Office monthly maintenance figures?

Student visa applicants must evidence £1,483 per month for a course at an institution inside the London boroughs and the City of London, and £1,136 per month for a course outside Greater London, per paragraph FIN 3.1 of Appendix Finance in the Immigration Rules on gov.uk. These rates were set on 1 October 2020 and have not been uprated for inflation in any subsequent Immigration Rules change, a point confirmed in the Appendix Finance version current at the start of 2026.

Greater London for visa purposes mirrors the 33 London boroughs and the City. An institution whose main teaching site sits outside those boundaries uses the lower £1,136 rate, even where students may occasionally attend a London satellite. The decisive factor is the registered address of the Student route sponsor on the Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies.

How is the 9-month cap calculated?

Maintenance is required for up to nine months, even where a course runs longer, per paragraph FIN 3.2 of Appendix Finance. An applicant for a 12-month master's in Manchester must show 9 × £1,136 = £10,224 in living costs, plus the outstanding portion of course fees payable in the first year, not 12 months of maintenance. The 9-month cap is a ceiling, so shorter courses prorate down, with a 4-month course in London requiring 4 × £1,483 = £5,932.

Where the applicant has already been in the UK for more than 12 months under an earlier Student leave, paragraph FIN 3.3 removes the maintenance requirement entirely for any application made while that leave is current, the so-called established presence exemption. The exemption is narrow, applies only to in-country switches and extensions, and closes the moment existing leave expires.

What does the 28-day rule actually require?

Funds must sit at or above the required total for 28 consecutive days, with the last day of that 28-day window falling no more than 31 days before the visa application is submitted, per paragraph FIN 2.1 of Appendix Finance. A single day when the account balance drops below the threshold, even by a few pence, breaks the 28-day run and forces a restart.

The statement must show the applicant's name, the account number, the financial institution's name, and a transaction-by-transaction balance column. Print-outs from internet banking are acceptable only where stamped or certified by the bank. Screenshots without bank certification are routinely rejected, a point flagged in the modernised guidance to caseworkers published on gov.uk.

Which bank accounts does UKVI accept?

Appendix Finance accepts statements from regulated banks and financial institutions, excluding certain categories published by UKVI as unacceptable. The Home Office maintains a list of unacceptable financial institutions on gov.uk, updated periodically, which covers banks where statements cannot be verified or where regulatory oversight does not meet UKVI criteria.

Joint accounts are acceptable only where the applicant is named on the account, and the statement must show both names. Third-party accounts such as a parent's personal account cannot be used as direct evidence, though a parent can act as a financial sponsor via a written declaration plus their own 28-day evidence, per paragraph FIN 2.4 of Appendix Finance.

How does a financial sponsor letter work?

A parent or legal guardian may sponsor the applicant financially, in which case the sponsor's account evidences the 28-day balance and a signed letter confirms sponsorship consent, per paragraph FIN 2.4 of Appendix Finance. The letter must be dated, identify the applicant by name and passport number, confirm relationship, and confirm that funds are available for use by the applicant for study and living costs in the UK.

The sponsor letter route does not extend to siblings, friends, or employers beyond the Student route sponsor's own bursary or scholarship. Official financial sponsors under paragraph ST 22.1 of Appendix Student, such as recognised governments, universities, or international scholarship bodies, may also provide an official letter in lieu of bank evidence.

What about London versus regional study costs?

The London premium on maintenance is £347 per month, or £3,123 across a 9-month window, a meaningful swing for applicants choosing between a London university and a regional Russell Group alternative. The figure is lower than true cost-of-living gaps between London and regional cities, which the National Union of Students has observed in submissions to the Migration Advisory Committee, but it is fixed by the Rules and not by actual private rental data.

Frequently asked questions

Does the maintenance include course fees?

No. The £1,483 or £1,136 monthly figure is living cost only. Applicants must additionally evidence the outstanding year-one course fee balance, or confirm through the CAS that the first year has been paid in full.

Can fixed deposits count as maintenance funds?

Yes, provided the funds can be withdrawn immediately without penalty. Fixed deposits with a break clause that returns principal on demand are acceptable. A 28-day balance must still be evidenced.

What if the balance drops below the threshold for one day?

The 28-day clock restarts. The applicant must wait until a fresh 28 consecutive days above threshold is complete before applying, per paragraph FIN 2.1 of Appendix Finance on gov.uk.

Are nationals of certain countries exempt from financial evidence?

Yes. Applicants from countries on the differentiation list in Appendix ST are not required to submit financial documents with the application, though UKVI can request them, so funds must still meet the underlying requirement.

Can the funds be in a currency other than GBP?

Yes. UKVI converts using the OANDA spot rate on the date of the application, per Home Office maintenance caseworker guidance on gov.uk. Applicants should hold a buffer above the minimum to absorb exchange-rate movement.

Does a scholarship letter replace bank evidence?

A recognised official financial sponsor letter, under paragraph ST 22.1 of Appendix Student, replaces bank evidence. Private company scholarships do not qualify unless the company is an approved Student route sponsor.

What is the total cost of a UK Student visa in 2026?

At a minimum, £524 application fee plus £776 per year IHS, per the UKVI fee schedule effective 9 April 2025 on gov.uk/government/publications/visa-regulations-revised-table, plus 9 months of living costs and first-year course fees. A one-year master's in London needs roughly £13,347 maintenance plus fees and statutory charges.

Sources

• Home Office, Appendix Finance, Immigration Rules, gov.uk — current version accessed April 2026.
• Home Office, Appendix Student, Immigration Rules, gov.uk — current version accessed April 2026.
• UKVI, Student route: caseworker guidance, gov.uk — current version accessed April 2026.
• UKVI, Visa regulations revised table, gov.uk/government/publications/visa-regulations-revised-table — fee schedule effective 9 April 2025.
• Home Office, Immigration Health Surcharge rates, gov.uk — effective 6 February 2024.
• UKCISA, International student guidance, ukcisa.org.uk — secondary source on practical application.

Related reading on kaeltripton.com: UK Student visa, UK visa fees, IHS Immigration Health Surcharge.