UK student visa 2026: New fees, maintenance requirements and dependant rules
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The UK Student visa has changed more than once in the past two years — and older articles still quote outdated figures. This guide gives you the current numbers on fees, maintenance funds, and dependa
Applying for a UK Student visa in 2026 means budgeting for more than tuition. The application fee, the amount you need to show in savings, and the rules on bringing a partner or children have all shifted in the past couple of years. Here's exactly what to plan for, with figures straight from GOV.UK.
The application fee: £558
From 8 April 2026, the UK Student visa application fee rose from £524 to £558, confirmed on the official GOV.UK Student visa page and by UKCISA. This applies per person, so if you're bringing a partner or child, budget the fee for each of them too.
The Immigration Health Surcharge is separate and payable for the length of your course, factor it in alongside the visa fee rather than as a later surprise.
The maintenance requirement: How much you need to show
This is the number that catches people out, because it's changed more than once recently and older articles (including some circulating online) still quote outdated figures. As of the current rules on GOV.UK's Student visa: money you need page, updated 22 July 2026, you need to show:
£1,529 per month if you're studying in London
£1,171 per month if you're studying outside London
You need to show this for up to 9 months of your course, and the funds must be held in your account for at least 28 consecutive days before you apply. That works out to a maximum of £13,761 for London or £10,539 outside London, on top of any tuition fees not already paid.
Where these numbers came from
The current £1,529 / £1,171 figures took effect on 11 November 2025, following a rise to £1,483 / £1,136 in January 2025, which itself followed the long-standing £1,334 / £1,023 figures used for several years before that. In other words, this has risen in two steps over the past 18 months or so, if you've seen a figure lower than £1,529 / £1,171 quoted anywhere, it's out of date. Always check GOV.UK directly for the number that applies when you apply.
Where these numbers came from
The current £1,529 / £1,171 figures took effect on 11 November 2025, following a rise to £1,483 / £1,136 in January 2025, which itself followed the long-standing £1,334 / £1,023 figures used for several years before that. In other words, this has risen in two steps over the past 18 months or so, if you've seen a figure lower than £1,529 / £1,171 quoted anywhere, it's out of date. Always check GOV.UK directly for the number that applies when you apply.
Bringing a partner or children: What's actually allowed
This is a genuinely important rule to understand before you plan your move, because it changed significantly in 2024 and continues to shape 2026 applications. Under the GOV.UK Student visa: your partner and children page, only two groups of Student visa holders can currently bring dependants:
Students on a government-sponsored course lasting more than 6 months, or
Full-time postgraduate students on a course at RQF level 7 or above lasting 9 months or more, but if that course started on or after 1 January 2024, it must specifically be a PhD, doctorate, or another research-based higher degree.
In practice, this means a standard taught master's (the most common route for international students) no longer qualifies you to bring a partner or children; only PhD and equivalent research degrees do. If your study plans depend on bringing family with you, this distinction is worth confirming early, ideally before you commit to a specific programme.
If you do qualify to bring dependants, each one has their own financial requirement: £845 per month in London or £680 per month outside London, for up to 9 months, on top of your own maintenance funds.
Putting the numbers together
For a single student outside London on a standard master's, a realistic proof-of-funds picture looks like:
£558 visa application fee
Immigration Health Surcharge for your course length
Up to £10,539 in maintenance funds (£1,171 × 9 months), held for 28 days
Any first-year tuition not already paid, shown on your CAS
Add together your own numbers using the current GOV.UK figures for your city and course length, since London and non-London rates differ meaningfully.
How to plan around this
Check the current figures close to your application date. Don't rely on a number you saw months ago, GOV.UK updates these periodically.
Hold your funds for the full 28 days before applying. Funds that haven't been held long enough can lead to a refusal, regardless of the total amount.
Confirm your dependant eligibility early if bringing family is part of your plan, check whether your specific programme qualifies before you commit.
Build a buffer. Between the visa fee, health surcharge, and maintenance funds, it's worth having a little more than the strict minimum.
Financing the gap
Between tuition, visa costs, and the maintenance funds you need to show, the total can add up quickly. If a loan is part of how you'll cover this, Prodigy Finance offers loans with no cosigner and no collateral, assessed on your future earning potential. Rates carry a representative APR of 13.38%*, and we send funds for tuition directly to your school, an approved loan can also help you demonstrate the financial capacity UK visa rules ask for.
The bottom line
Three numbers matter most for a 2026 UK Student visa application: £558 for the visa itself, £1,529 or £1,171 a month in maintenance funds depending on your city, and a clear-eyed check on whether your course qualifies you to bring dependants. Confirm all three directly on GOV.UK close to your application date, hold your funds for the full 28 days, and you'll avoid the most common (and avoidable) reasons for delay.
Working out your UK budget? WhatsApp* us to check your eligibility with Prodigy Finance in a few minutes.
