UK student visa maintenance requirement 2026
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The money you must show for a UK Student visa depends on your course location and the date you apply. Here are the current figures and the change coming on 30 November 2026.
Preparing a UK Student visa application can feel like a maths exam you never revised for. The amount of money you must show, and when you must hold it, depends on your course location and, right now, on the date you apply. This guide sets out the current figures, the change coming on 30 November 2026, and the evidence rules that matter most.
How much money do I need to show for a UK student visa in 2026?
The Home Office asks you to show two things: money for your course fees and money to support yourself, called the financial requirement. According to GOV.UK, the living costs part is:
Courses in London: £1,529 per month, for up to 9 months.
Courses outside London: £1,171 per month, for up to 9 months.
London means the City of London and the 32 London boroughs. For a nine-month calculation, that is £13,761 for London or £10,539 outside London, before course fees. Your course fee amount appears on your Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS), and you need enough to cover one academic year of fees (up to 9 months), according to GOV.UK.
The change on 30 November 2026
The Home Office has published a Statement of Changes to the Immigration Rules (HC 584, 3 September 2026) that raises the monthly figures from £1,529 to £1,570 for London and from £1,171 to £1,203 outside London. Immigration solicitors' commentary, such as this note from OTS Solicitors, reports that the new amounts apply from 30 November 2026 and that the date you apply, rather than your CAS or course start date, decides which rate you meet. For a nine-month course that means £14,130 in London or £10,827 outside London.
As of recent checks, GOV.UK still shows the current figures, so confirm which amounts apply on your planned application date before you start saving or moving money. If your application date could drift past 29 November, planning for the higher figure is a sensible precaution.
How long must the money be in my account?
GOV.UK says you must hold the required money for at least 28 days in a row. The end date of that 28-day period must be within 31 days of the date you apply. For example, if you apply on 1 January, the 28-day period must end no earlier than 1 December.
That detail matters because a bank statement that covers the right amount but ends too early can fail the test. A few practical habits help:
Pick your application date first: Work backwards from it so the 28 days finish inside the 31-day window.
Check every daily balance: A dip below the required amount can restart your count.
Keep a currency buffer: If your funds are in another currency, they are converted to pounds at the OANDA spot rate for your application date, so exchange-rate movement can change the sterling value.
The currency conversion rule comes from the guidance, while the point about balance dips reflects common advice from immigration advisers rather than a quoted rule, so read the full financial evidence guidance for the detail on accepted accounts and documents.
Can a student loan count as proof of funds?
It can, if it meets the rules. GOV.UK says that if you have a student loan or financial sponsorship, you need to provide evidence of it from your loan or sponsorship company. The financial evidence guidance sets out which loan providers are accepted and what the letter must show, including its date, the loan amount, and that the money will be available to you before your course starts. Check your lender's letter against that guidance, or ask your school's international office, before you apply.
If you are funding your degree with a Prodigy Finance loan, you receive a loan letter confirming your loan details, which your school may ask for. Prodigy Finance has one loan product, with no collateral and no co-signer, and it is assessed on your future earning potential, based on your school, programme, and academic and professional background.* Funds are paid directly to your school. Loans go up to USD 220,000* and up to 100% of cost of attendance, subject to your school's limits, with a USD 500 processing fee*. You make a mandatory USD 100 monthly in-school payment, and full repayments start after graduation. The representative APR is 13.48%* variable and includes interest and mandatory fees, including that monthly payment.
UK Visas and Immigration decides what counts as acceptable evidence, so treat any lender letter as one input and confirm it meets the published requirements.
Do I always have to prove my funds?
Not always. GOV.UK lists two situations where you do not need to prove the financial requirement: if you have been living in the UK with a visa for at least 12 months before your application, or if you are a student union sabbatical officer. There is also a list of nationalities under the "differential evidence requirement", for which you may not need to submit evidence with your application, although UKVI can still ask for it before deciding. Check the GOV.UK money page for the current list, and keep your funds ready either way.
What about dependants?
Since 1 January 2024, GOV.UK says postgraduate students can bring dependants only if they are on a PhD or other doctorate or a research-based higher degree, or if they are government-sponsored on a course longer than 6 months. That means most students on taught master's courses cannot bring a partner or children. Where dependants are allowed, each needs an extra £845 per month for London courses or £680 per month outside London, for up to 9 months, held for the same 28 days. See the GOV.UK dependants page for the full rules.
Mistakes that can trigger problems
Using last year's figure: Amounts change, so check the date you apply against the current rules.
Ending the 28 days too early: The end date must sit within 31 days of your application date.
Forgetting course fees: The monthly figure covers living costs. Fees shown on your CAS sit on top.
Choosing the wrong location rate: The rate depends on where you study, not where you intend to live.
Relying on an unclear lender letter: Compare it with the guidance before you submit.
Other figures worth knowing
GOV.UK states that a Student visa application from outside the UK costs £558, that you can apply up to 6 months before your course starts, and that you usually get a decision within 3 weeks. It also says the Graduate visa lasts 2 years if you apply on or before 31 December 2026, and 18 months if you apply on or after 1 January 2027. Your timing at the end of your studies can therefore matter as much as your timing at the start.
If you are still choosing where to study, the United Kingdom study destination page collects guidance for UK applicants, and the visa prep tool can help you organise your documents.
Plan the numbers, then plan the funding
Visa maths is only one part of the budget, but it is the part with a hard deadline. Knowing the figure for your course location, the 28-day window and the evidence you need puts you in a calm position. Once your visa plan is clear, see whether your school is supported, because eligibility by nationality, school and destination varies by intake.
FAQs
How early can I apply for a UK student visa?
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