UK Student Visa Maintenance Funds & Financial Proof Guide 2026

1. UK Student Visa Maintenance Funds Calculation

For applicants who are required to demonstrate the Student visa financial requirement, the amount normally consists of applicable outstanding course fees plus the required living-cost funds. For current 2026 rules, the living-cost requirement is: • £1,529 per month for study in London, for up to 9 months. • £1,171 per month for study outside London, for up to 9 months. London means the City of London and the 32 London boroughs. The basic calculation is therefore: Required funds = applicable outstanding course fees + required living costs For a full 9-month living-cost period, this produces: • London: £1,529 × 9 = £13,761 • Outside London: £1,171 × 9 = £10,539 The course-fee amount should be taken from the Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS), including any payments already recorded there.

2. What Counts as London for the Student Visa Calculation?

For Student visa financial purposes, GOV.UK defines London as the City of London and the 32 London boroughs. The £1,529 monthly rate applies where the course is in London under this definition. The £1,171 rate applies outside London. The page should therefore not describe the categories as 'Inner London' versus 'Outer London and Regional UK'. Outer London boroughs are still London for Student visa financial purposes and use the £1,529 rate.

3. How Much Is the Maximum Living-Cost Requirement?

The Student route caps the living-cost calculation at 9 months. For a student who needs the full 9 months of maintenance funds: London: £1,529 × 9 = £13,761 Outside London: £1,171 × 9 = £10,539 If the course is shorter, the required number of months is based on the course length under the Immigration Rules. If the course length contains part of a month, the period is rounded up to the next full month.

4. How Are Outstanding Tuition Fees Calculated?

The Student route requires sufficient funds for applicable outstanding course fees stated on the CAS, together with the required living-cost amount where personal funds are being used. If you have already paid part of your course fees to your student sponsor, the payment should be recorded on the CAS. If it is not recorded there, the rules allow the applicant to provide a receipt from the student sponsor confirming the amount paid. Do not automatically calculate the requirement from the full advertised tuition fee. The relevant amount is the applicable outstanding fee under the Student route and the evidence available for the application.

5. Accommodation Deposit Deduction

If you have paid a deposit to your student sponsor for accommodation arranged by the sponsor, the deposit can be offset against the required maintenance funds. The current maximum accommodation offset is £1,529. This replaces the older £1,334 figure that appeared in previous versions of the Student financial rules. The accommodation must be accommodation arranged by the student sponsor, and the payment must be evidenced appropriately, normally through the CAS or other permitted evidence.

6. Worked Calculation Example – London

Assume: • Outstanding eligible course fees: £18,000 • Study location: London • Required living period: 9 months • Eligible sponsor-arranged accommodation deposit already paid: £1,000 Living requirement: £1,529 × 9 = £13,761 Accommodation offset: £13,761 − £1,000 = £12,761 Total financial requirement: £18,000 + £12,761 = £30,761 This example assumes the full £18,000 remains outstanding and all payments are recognised under the applicable Student rules.

7. Worked Calculation Example – Outside London

Assume: • Outstanding eligible course fees: £15,000 • Study location: outside London • Required living period: 9 months • Eligible sponsor-arranged accommodation deposit: £1,500 Living requirement: £1,171 × 9 = £10,539 Accommodation offset: £10,539 − £1,500 = £9,039 Total financial requirement: £15,000 + £9,039 = £24,039 The accommodation deposit is below the £1,529 maximum, so the full £1,500 can be offset in this example, assuming it satisfies the accommodation rules.

8. The 28-Day Financial Holding Requirement

Where the applicant is relying on personal funds, the required level of funds must normally have been held for at least 28 consecutive days. The 28-day period is calculated backwards from the closing balance date on the most recent financial evidence. The end date of the 28-day period must be within 31 days of the date the Student visa application is made. This means two separate dates must be checked: 1. The funds must cover the complete 28-day holding period. 2. The closing date of the evidence must fall within the 31-day window before application. Qualifying student loans and official financial sponsorship are subject to different evidence arrangements.

9. Who Does Not Need to Show the Personal Financial Funds?

There are important exceptions to the ordinary personal-funds evidence requirement. A Student applying for permission to stay who has been living in the UK with permission for at least 12 months on the date of application meets the financial requirement without needing to show the funds. A Student Union Sabbatical Officer also has a specific financial exemption under the Student rules. In addition, qualifying student loans and official financial sponsorship can satisfy the financial requirement under separate rules.

10. Differential Evidence Requirement for Certain Nationalities

The Student route has a differential evidence requirement for specified nationalities and passport holders. Applicants who qualify under this arrangement still have to meet the financial requirement. The difference is that they do not normally have to submit the financial evidence with the application unless the decision maker asks for it. UKVI can request the evidence during processing. If requested, the applicant must demonstrate that they actually met the financial requirement. The arrangement therefore should not be described as an exemption from holding or having the required funds.

11. Acceptable Ways to Prove Student Visa Funds

Depending on the applicant's circumstances, the financial requirement can be demonstrated using: • The applicant's own money; • A qualifying parent or legal guardian's money; • A qualifying partner's money where permitted; • A qualifying student loan; or • Official financial sponsorship. Personal funds must generally be held in an eligible personal bank or building society account and the account must allow immediate access to the money. The Home Office guidance expressly identifies current accounts, savings accounts, bank statements, building-society passbooks, certificates of deposit and qualifying bank/building-society letters as possible evidence.

12. Financial Evidence That Cannot Be Used

Current GOV.UK guidance specifically states that the following cannot be used as the required financial evidence: • Overdrafts; • Cryptocurrency; • Stocks and shares; • Pensions; • Bank accounts that are not regulated by the relevant financial regulator; and • Bank accounts that do not use electronic record keeping. Applicants should therefore use a permitted bank/building-society account or another recognised source such as an eligible student loan or official financial sponsorship.

13. Foreign Currency Conversion

If funds are held in a foreign currency, UKVI converts the amount into pounds sterling using the OANDA spot exchange rate for the date of the visa application. Applicants should calculate their foreign-currency balance conservatively because the GBP equivalent can change with exchange rates. The relevant exchange-rate date is the application date, not an arbitrary earlier date chosen by the applicant.

14. Parent or Legal Guardian Funds

A Student applicant can rely on qualifying parent or legal-guardian funds where the Immigration Rules permit this. The parent or legal guardian must control the account and the applicant must provide the required evidence of the relationship and consent to use the funds. The rules also allow partner-held funds in specified circumstances, so the financial calculator should not imply that only the applicant's own bank account can ever be used.

15. Practical 2026 Student Visa Funds Checklist

Before submitting a Student visa application, check: 1. Your study location: London or outside London. 2. Your required maintenance months, capped at 9 months. 3. Current rate: £1,529/month London or £1,171/month outside London. 4. Applicable outstanding course fees shown on your CAS. 5. Any eligible sponsor-arranged accommodation deposit that can be offset, up to £1,529. 6. Whether you qualify for the 12-month UK permission exemption. 7. Whether you are relying on a qualifying student loan or official sponsorship. 8. Whether the 28-day personal-funds period is complete. 9. Whether the evidence closing date is within 31 days of application. 10. Whether your bank/account evidence satisfies the current rules. 11. Whether you qualify for differential evidence and understand that UKVI can still request the evidence.

Key Takeaways & Summary

• Inner London requires £1,483/month; Regional UK requires £1,136/month for up to 9 months.
• Calculate: Outstanding Year 1 Tuition + Living Maintenance = Total Required Balance.
• Pre-paid university accommodation allows up to a maximum £1,334 deduction from maintenance.
• Funds must be maintained continuously for 28 consecutive days before application.
• Differential evidence arrangement applies to select low-risk nationality passport holders.

Official References & Related UK Hubs

Frequently Asked Questions (6 Interlinked FAQs)