If you’re planning to study in the UK, understanding the UK student visa financial requirements is one of the most important things to sort out before submitting your application. You need to show that you can pay your outstanding course fees and support yourself while you’re in the UK.
For most students, the amount depends mainly on where they will study and how much tuition they still owe.
The current maintenance requirement is:
- £1,529 per month for students studying in London
- £1,171 per month for students studying outside London
The calculation is capped at 9 months.
That means the maximum living-cost amount is:
- London: £13,761
- Outside London: £10,539
But that’s not necessarily the total amount you need in your account.
Let’s break it down.
How Much Money Do You Actually Need?
For most new Student visa applicants, think of the financial requirement as two main parts:
Outstanding course fees + required living costs
Your outstanding course fees are based on the amount shown on your Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS).
Before worrying about your visa finances, you also need to make sure you’ve chosen the right university and course. If you’re still comparing your options, our guide to Best Universities in the UK for International Students 2026/2027 can help you understand what to look for before making your final decision.
UK Student Visa Financial Requirements for London
If your course is in London, the maintenance requirement is £1,529 for each month, up to 9 months.
The maximum is therefore:
£1,529 × 9 = £13,761
Suppose your CAS shows that you still owe £15,000 in tuition.
Your calculation would be:
£15,000 + £13,761 = £28,761
So, in this example, you would need to demonstrate £28,761 for outstanding tuition and living costs.
London means the City of London and the 32 London boroughs under the Student visa rules.
UK Student Visa Financial Requirements Outside London
For courses outside London, the maintenance requirement is £1,171 per month, again for a maximum of 9 months.
The maximum maintenance amount is:
£1,171 × 9 = £10,539
For example, if you have £15,000 in outstanding tuition:
£15,000 + £10,539 = £25,539
That’s the basic calculation for this example.
Do You Have to Show Your Full Tuition Fees?
Not necessarily.
The key figure is your outstanding course fees, not automatically the entire original tuition bill.
Your CAS should show the relevant course-fee information, including amounts already paid. If you have paid tuition before receiving your CAS, your education provider should reflect this appropriately on the CAS. A receipt from the sponsor can also be used where permitted.
For example:
Total tuition: £18,000
Already paid: £6,000
Outstanding: £12,000
You would generally work with the £12,000 outstanding amount, rather than £18,000, when calculating the course-fee portion of your financial requirement.
University guidance gives the same type of calculation for students using their CAS and tuition already paid.
The UK Student Visa 28-Day Rule Explained
This is where many applicants make mistakes.
If you’re relying on money in a bank account to meet the financial requirement, you generally need to show that you have held the required amount for 28 consecutive days.
The end of that 28-day period must also be within 31 days of the date you submit your visa application.
In simple terms, don’t wait until you’re ready to submit your application before putting the money into your account.
The required balance needs to be maintained throughout the relevant 28-day period.
What does “28 consecutive days” mean?
The funds must cover the whole required period.
If your most recent bank evidence shows a closing balance on a particular date, UKVI counts backwards from that closing balance to establish the 28-day period.
And your financial evidence must generally be dated no more than 31 days before your visa application.
Can You Use Your Parents’ Bank Account?
Yes.
The UK rules allow applicants to rely on qualifying funds held by a parent, provided the requirements are met.
You can potentially use:
- Your own money
- Your parent’s money
- Your partner’s money in qualifying circumstances
- An eligible student loan
- Official financial sponsorship
If you’re relying on your parent’s money, you’ll also need the appropriate evidence showing that your parent agrees to you using the funds.
So you don’t necessarily need to have the entire amount sitting in your own personal account.
What Bank Account Can You Use?
The money can generally be held in a qualifying personal bank or building society account, including a current or savings account. The account must allow immediate access to the money.
UKVI does not accept every type of financial asset as evidence.
For example, you cannot rely on:
- Overdrafts
- Cryptocurrency
- Stocks and shares
- Pensions
- Certain unregulated financial institutions
- Accounts that don’t use electronic record keeping
So having assets worth enough money isn’t automatically the same as meeting the Student visa financial requirement.
Can You Use Money in a Foreign Currency?
Yes.
Your funds don’t necessarily have to be held in pounds.
If they’re held in another currency, UKVI converts the amount into pounds using the OANDA spot exchange rate on the date of your visa application.
This is worth remembering if you’re calculating your required balance in your local currency.
Don’t simply convert today’s GBP figure once and assume it will remain exactly the same when you apply.
What Financial Evidence Can You Provide?
If you’re relying on your own, your parent’s or your partner’s money, acceptable evidence can include:
- Bank statements
- Building society passbooks
- Certificates of deposit
- A letter from your bank or building society
The evidence needs to contain the relevant information, including the account holder’s name, financial institution and balance.
UKVI may also verify financial evidence with the bank.
If the evidence cannot be verified, your application can be refused.
What if you’re using a student loan?
A qualifying student loan can also be used to meet the financial requirement.
The loan must come from an eligible government, government-sponsored loan company or qualifying regulated student-loan scheme.
What if you have official sponsorship?
Official financial sponsorship is another recognised route.
This can include sponsorship from organisations such as a national government, the British Council, an international organisation or an eligible university or school.
Do Scholarships Count Toward the Financial Requirement?
They can, depending on the nature of the funding.
If you’re receiving official financial sponsorship that covers your tuition or living expenses, you can provide the appropriate sponsorship evidence rather than relying entirely on personal savings.
The important thing is to understand exactly what your sponsorship covers.
A scholarship that covers only tuition isn’t automatically the same as a scholarship that covers both tuition and living costs.
If you’re at the beginning of your scholarship search and don’t yet know where to start, our guide on how to get a fully funded scholarship to study abroad is a useful starting point. It explains how to approach scholarship searches and what students should prepare before applying.
What If You’ve Already Paid for Accommodation?
There is a useful exception here.
Under the Immigration Rules, if you’ve paid a deposit to your Student sponsor for accommodation arranged by the sponsor, up to £1,529 can be offset against the funds required.
For example, if you’re studying in London and you’ve paid a qualifying £1,000 accommodation deposit:
£13,761 − £1,000 = £12,761
So your required maintenance funds could be reduced to £12,761, assuming the payment qualifies under the rules.
This is a detail many general visa articles leave out.
Who Does Not Need to Show Financial Evidence?
Not every Student visa applicant has to provide financial evidence.
For example, if you’re applying to stay in the UK and you’ve already been living there with valid permission for at least 12 months when you apply, you meet the financial requirement without needing to show the funds. There are also other specific exemptions.
There are also differentiation arrangements for nationals of certain countries.
But there’s an important distinction:
Not having to provide the evidence upfront does not necessarily mean you don’t need to have the money.
UKVI can still request evidence from applicants covered by these arrangements.
How to Calculate Your UK Student Visa Financial Requirement
Here’s the easiest way to work it out.
Step 1: Check your CAS
Find out how much tuition you still owe.
Step 2: Check where you’ll study
Is your course in London or outside London?
Step 3: Calculate your living costs
London:
£1,529 × up to 9 months = £13,761
Outside London:
£1,171 × up to 9 months = £10,539
Step 4: Add outstanding tuition
For example:
London
£11,500 outstanding tuition
- £13,761 maintenance
= £25,261
Outside London
£11,500 outstanding tuition
- £10,539 maintenance
= £22,039
Step 5: Check the 28-day period
If you’re using bank funds, make sure the required amount has been maintained for the required consecutive 28 days.
Common UK Student Visa Financial Mistakes
1. Using old figures
Older websites may still show previous maintenance amounts.
For current applications, the figures are £1,529 per month in London and £1,171 outside London.
2. Forgetting outstanding tuition
The maintenance amount isn’t necessarily your entire financial requirement.
You may also need to demonstrate your outstanding course fees.
3. Depositing the money too late
Putting the required money into your account a few days before applying can create a problem because of the 28-day requirement.
4. Assuming every asset counts
Cryptocurrency, stocks and shares, pensions and overdrafts aren’t acceptable substitutes for qualifying funds.
5. Ignoring the CAS
Your CAS is important because it tells you the relevant tuition information used in your calculation.
Check it carefully before applying.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much money do I need for a UK Student visa in 2026/2027?
For most students, you need to show your outstanding course fees plus living costs of up to £13,761 in London or £10,539 outside London.
The UK isn’t the only destination worth considering if cost is a concern. Germany, for example, can have a very different cost structure for international students. Our guide to the cheapest universities in Germany for international students looks at tuition and other costs students should consider.
How much bank balance is required for a UK Student visa?
There isn’t one universal bank balance. Your required amount depends on your outstanding tuition fees and whether you study in London or outside London.
What is the 28-day rule for a UK Student visa?
If you’re relying on qualifying bank funds, you generally need to have held the required amount for 28 consecutive days, with the end of that period within 31 days of your application.
Can I use my parents’ bank account?
Yes. Parents’ funds can be used when the relevant requirements and supporting evidence are satisfied.
Can I use a savings account?
Yes. A qualifying savings account can generally be used, provided the account meets the UKVI requirements and the money is immediately accessible.
Can I use cryptocurrency as proof of funds?
No. Cryptocurrency is specifically excluded from the acceptable funds listed by UKVI.
Do I need to show the money if I have a scholarship?
It depends on the scholarship. Official financial sponsorship can be used as evidence where it meets the requirements and covers the relevant costs.
Final Takeaway
The UK student visa financial requirements are much easier to understand when you break them into two questions:
How much tuition do I still owe?
and
How much do I need for living costs?
For most students applying under the current rules, the maximum maintenance requirement is £13,761 in London or £10,539 outside London.
If you’re relying on bank funds, don’t forget the 28-day rule and the requirement for recent financial evidence.
And before submitting your application, always check the latest GOV.UK guidance. Immigration rules can change, so an article published today should not be treated as a permanent replacement for the official rules.
Official Educational Websites For You
GOV.UK — Student visa: Money you need — Official guidance on the financial requirement for Student visa applicants.
GOV.UK — Financial evidence for Student and Child Student visa applicants — Official guidance on acceptable financial evidence, bank accounts, parental funds and the 28-day requirement.
GOV.UK — Immigration Rules: Appendix Finance — The official rules covering financial requirements and acceptable evidence.