UK Student Visa Financial Requirements 2026
The financial requirement is worth 10 of your 70 points, and it causes more refusals than any other part of the UK Student visa application. The rules are strict and applied literally: being £5 short on a single day is enough to fail. This guide sets out exactly what you must show for 2026.
How much money do you need?
You must show one academic year of tuition fees (the figure stated on your CAS) plus living costs:
| Where you study | Per month | Maximum (9 months) |
|---|---|---|
| Inside London | £1,529 | £13,761 |
| Outside London | £1,171 | £10,539 |
Living costs are counted for the length of your course up to a maximum of nine months. A three-year degree still only requires nine months of maintenance, not three years' worth.
"London" means the institution you will study at is inside one of the London boroughs. If your campus is just outside the boundary the lower figure applies, even if you plan to live in London.
The 28-day rule
The money must be held for 28 consecutive days, and the balance must never drop below the required total on any day in that window — not even briefly.
The closing date of your evidence must fall within 31 days of the date you submit your online application. In practice this gives you a narrow window: hold the funds for 28 days, then apply promptly.
Worked example
You need £13,761 maintenance plus £4,000 of unpaid tuition, so £17,761 in total. Your balance stays at or above £17,761 from 1 March to 28 March — a full 28 days. Your statement closes on 28 March, so you must apply on or before 28 April. If your balance fell to £17,700 on 14 March, the 28-day clock restarts from 15 March.
What you can deduct
Money already paid to your institution reduces what you have to show, provided it is recorded on your CAS:
- Tuition fee deposits you have already paid
- Up to £1,865 of accommodation payments, if you are staying in the institution's own accommodation
Make sure your sponsor records these payments on the CAS before it is issued — the Home Office works from the CAS, not from your receipts.
Which accounts and documents qualify
Acceptable: current accounts, savings accounts, and accounts held by your parents or legal guardians (with their written consent plus your birth certificate proving the relationship). Cash or electronic funds must be freely available and withdrawable.
Not acceptable: shares, bonds, pension funds, credit cards, overdraft facilities, and accounts belonging to any third party other than a parent or legal guardian.
Your evidence must clearly show your name (or your parent's), the account number, the date, the financial institution's name and logo, and the balance for the whole 28-day period. Online statements are fine if they contain all of these details; some banks will stamp them on request.
Official financial sponsors
If your studies are funded by a government, an international scholarship agency, a university or a company, you provide a letter from that sponsor instead of bank statements. The letter must confirm the sponsor's name and contact details, the date, your name, your course and exactly what the funding covers. If it covers your fees and living costs in full, you do not need to show any personal funds.
Do you have to submit evidence at all?
Depending on your nationality and your institution's status, you may be able to apply without submitting financial documents up front. This is an evidential concession only — you must still genuinely hold the money for the full 28 days, and the Home Office can request the documents at any stage. Applicants who cannot produce them when asked are refused, and a refusal on these grounds is far harder to fix than a delay. Always prepare the paperwork.
You are also exempt from the maintenance requirement entirely if you have been living lawfully in the UK with a valid visa for 12 months or more on the date you apply.
Budgeting beyond the visa requirement
The maintenance figure is a Home Office minimum, not a realistic budget. In practice London students commonly spend well above £1,529 per month once rent, transport and food are included. Remember also that the money you must show is separate from what you must pay: the visa fee (£558) and the healthcare surcharge (£776 per year) come on top. Use the fee calculator to work out your total upfront cost.
Frequently asked questions
How much money do I need to show for a UK Student visa in 2026?
One academic year of tuition fees as stated on your CAS, plus living costs of £1,529 per month for study in London or £1,171 per month outside London, for up to nine months (a maximum of £13,761 or £10,539).
What is the 28-day rule for a UK Student visa?
Your funds must stay at or above the required total for 28 consecutive days without dipping below it on any single day. The closing balance date of your evidence must be within 31 days of the date you submit your application.
Can I use my parents' bank account for the financial requirement?
Yes. Accounts held by a parent or legal guardian are accepted if you provide their written consent confirming they will fund your studies, plus your birth certificate or another document proving your relationship. Accounts belonging to other relatives, friends or partners are not accepted.
Does money in shares or a fixed deposit count?
No. Shares, bonds, pension funds, credit cards and overdrafts do not count. The funds must be cash held in an account you can freely withdraw from, such as a current or savings account.
Do I need to show maintenance money if I already live in the UK?
No. If you have been living in the UK lawfully with a valid visa for 12 months or more on the date you apply, you are exempt from the maintenance requirement.
Related guides
Check your institution first
Only a licensed sponsor can issue the CAS your visa depends on.
Figures on this page are taken from official GOV.UK guidance and were last reviewed on 31 July 2026. This is general information, not immigration advice — always confirm details on GOV.UK or with a regulated immigration adviser before applying.