Understanding how much money you need for a UK Student visa is one of the most important parts of preparing your application.

Having enough money is not always enough. The rules about how the money must be held, evidenced and timed are strict, and applications can fail on a technicality even when the funds are genuinely there.

This guide explains how the Student visa financial requirement is calculated, what evidence is accepted and the mistakes that catch applicants out.

For wider guidance, visit our Student Visa Support page.

Why Money Matters in a Student Visa Application

A UK Student visa application usually requires you to show that you have enough money to cover your course fees and support yourself while you study in the UK.

Not every applicant needs to submit financial evidence upfront – but you must still meet the requirement, and UKVI may ask for it before making a decision. Having the evidence ready from the start is always the safer approach.

The financial requirement is designed to demonstrate that you have sufficient funds to cover:

  • Course fees
  • Living costs
  • Additional money for dependants, where relevant
  • Boarding fees if you are at a residential independent school
  • Other costs linked to your circumstances

How Much Money Do You Need for Course Fees?

You typically need enough money to pay for your course for one academic year, up to 9 months.

The amount you need for course fees should be shown on your Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies, often called your CAS.

Your CAS may show:

  • The total course fee
  • How much you have already paid
  • Any accommodation payments made to your sponsor, where relevant
  • The amount still outstanding

If you have already paid some or all of your course fees, this may reduce the amount you need to show, provided it is recorded correctly.

Check your CAS carefully before applying. If payments are missing or incorrect, speak to your education provider before submitting your visa application.

How Much Money Do You Need for Living Costs?

The amount you need for living costs depends on where you will study.

At the time of writing, Student visa applicants need to show:

  • £1,529 per month for courses in London, for up to 9 months
  • £1,171 per month for courses outside London, for up to 9 months

This means the maximum living cost amount may be:

  • £13,761 for London, based on 9 months
  • £10,539 outside London, based on 9 months

The amount may be lower if your course is shorter than 9 months.

One deduction is available: if you have paid an accommodation deposit directly to your student sponsor – not to a private landlord or letting agency – and this is recorded on your CAS, you may be able to deduct up to £1,529 from the London living cost requirement. This deduction does not apply to deposits paid outside your institution.

Because financial requirements can change, always check the latest GOV.UK guidance before applying.

What Counts as London for Student Visa Living Costs?

For Student visa financial requirements, London means the City of London and the 32 London boroughs.

If your course is outside London, the lower living cost rate may apply.

Check the location of your education provider and the study location shown on your CAS. Do not assume the London rate applies only because your university has “London” in the name, or that the non-London rate applies because you live outside London.

The study location and sponsor information matter.

Example Student Visa Money Calculation for London

A student studying in London for a one-year course may need to show:

  • Outstanding course fees for the first academic year
  • Living costs of £1,529 per month, for up to 9 months

Example

If your course fee for the first academic year is £18,000 and you have already paid £5,000, you may need to show the remaining £13,000 for course fees.

You may also need to show £13,761 for living costs if the 9-month London rate applies.

In this example, the total amount to evidence could be £26,761.

This is an illustration only. Your actual amount depends on your course fees, payments already made, study location and personal circumstances. Always calculate your own figure using the current GOV.UK guidance before applying.

Example Student Visa Money Calculation Outside London

A student studying outside London for a one-year course may need to show:

  • Outstanding course fees for the first academic year
  • Living costs of £1,171 per month, for up to 9 months

Example

If your course fee for the first academic year is £15,000 and you have already paid £4,000, you may need to show the remaining £11,000 for course fees.

You may also need to show £10,539 for living costs if the 9-month non-London rate applies.

In this example, the total amount to evidence could be £21,539.

This is an illustration only. Always calculate your own figure using the current GOV.UK guidance before applying.

How Long Must You Hold the Money?

Where you need to prove funds using money in a bank or building society account, you need to show that the required money has been held for at least 28 consecutive days.

To put that in practical terms: if you submit your application on 1 February, your bank statement must show that the required funds were held continuously for 28 days, with the closing balance dated no more than 31 days before the date you apply – in this example, no earlier than 1 January. A closing balance dated 31 December would fall outside the permitted window.

The date of application means the date you submit and pay for your online visa application – not the date of any biometrics appointment or the date UKVI subsequently asks for your financial documents.

This is one of the most common areas where applicants make mistakes.

Problems can happen if:

  • The funds drop below the required amount during the 28-day period, even briefly
  • The bank statement is too old
  • The closing balance date is outside the permitted period
  • The account does not allow immediate access to the money
  • The evidence does not show the required details clearly

Check the dates carefully before applying.

What Evidence Can You Use to Prove Funds?

You may be able to prove you have enough money using:

  • Your own money
  • Your parent’s money, with supporting consent
  • Your partner’s money, if your partner is in the UK or applying at the same time
  • A student loan
  • Official financial sponsorship

The type of evidence you need depends on the source of the money.

If using your own money, the account should be in your control.

If using a parent’s or partner’s money, the account should be in their control and you may need supporting evidence.

If using official financial sponsorship or a student loan, you will typically need evidence from the loan provider or sponsor.

What Types of Money Cannot Usually Be Used?

Some forms of money are not usually accepted for Student visa financial evidence.

Examples include:

  • Overdrafts
  • Cryptocurrency
  • Stocks and shares
  • Pensions
  • Cash ISAs or savings accounts that require notice before withdrawal
  • Bank accounts that are not properly regulated
  • Accounts that do not use electronic record keeping

The account should allow immediate access to the money. You should avoid relying on funds that cannot clearly be accessed or verified at the point of application.

Can You Use Your Parents’ Money?

Some applicants can use a parent’s money to meet the financial requirement.

If you are using your parent’s funds, you may need to provide evidence that:

  • The account is controlled by your parent
  • The required money has been held for the required period
  • Your parent agrees to you using the money for your studies
  • Your relationship to your parent is evidenced

This may involve bank statements, a consent letter and a birth certificate or other relationship evidence.

Check the exact requirements before applying.

Can You Use Your Partner’s Money?

In some circumstances, a Student visa applicant can rely on a partner’s money.

This may apply where the partner is in the UK or applying at the same time.

The account should be controlled by your partner, and the evidence should show that the required funds are available and meet the timing rules.

If you are unsure whether your partner’s funds can be used, check carefully before applying.

Can You Use a Student Loan?

A student loan may be used as financial evidence if it meets the requirements.

The loan should generally come from:

  • A government
  • A government-sponsored student loan company
  • A regulated student loan scheme

The evidence should confirm the amount, that the loan is for you specifically, that there are no conditions on the release of funds, and that the money will be available before your course begins or paid directly to your sponsor.

If your loan evidence is incomplete, your application may run into problems.

Can You Use Official Financial Sponsorship?

Some students are funded by an official financial sponsor, such as a government, university or international organisation.

If your sponsorship is shown on your CAS, this may help evidence your funding position.

If it is not shown on your CAS, you may need a separate sponsorship letter confirming key details such as:

  • The sponsor’s name
  • Contact details
  • Date of the letter
  • How long the sponsorship lasts
  • The amount covered
  • Whether tuition fees, living costs or both are covered

Check that the sponsorship evidence matches your course and application details.

Do You Always Need to Provide Financial Evidence?

Not always.

Some applicants do not need to provide financial evidence upfront. If you have held a valid UK visa for at least 12 months before the date of your Student visa application, you do not need to submit financial evidence with your application.

The differential evidence requirement covers nationals of around 60 countries and territories, including the United States, Australia, Canada, most EU countries, China, Japan, Singapore and the UAE. The full list is on GOV.UK. If your country is on it, you also do not need to submit financial evidence with your application.

In both cases, this does not mean the financial requirement does not apply. You may still be asked to provide the evidence before a decision is made. Have it ready in case UKVI requests it.

What If You Are Bringing Dependants?

If you are hoping to bring your partner or children to the UK as dependants, the first question is not how much money you need – it is whether you are eligible to bring them at all.

Since 1 January 2024, the rules on student dependants changed significantly. You can only bring dependants if you are:

  • A government-sponsored student on a course lasting more than 6 months, where your government sponsor covers both tuition fees and living costs in full
  • A full-time student on a postgraduate research-based course lasting 9 months or more – and if that course starts on or after 1 January 2024, it must be a PhD, other doctorate or research-based higher degree

This means undergraduate students cannot bring dependants. Students on taught master’s courses – including one-year MSc, MA and MBA programmes – cannot bring dependants unless they are government-sponsored. If you are unsure whether your course qualifies, check with your education provider before making any plans based on bringing family members.

If you do meet the eligibility conditions, each dependant will typically need:

  • £845 per month, for up to 9 months, if your course is in London
  • £680 per month, for up to 9 months, if your course is outside London

This is in addition to the money you need for your own course fees and living costs.

Because these rules have changed significantly in recent years and can affect major life decisions, always check the current GOV.UK guidance before applying.

Common Student Visa Financial Evidence Mistakes

Common mistakes include:

  • Not showing enough money for course fees
  • Forgetting to include living costs
  • Using the wrong London or non-London rate
  • Funds dropping below the required amount during the 28-day period, even briefly
  • Bank statements being too old
  • Relying on an account that does not allow immediate access, including notice accounts and cash ISAs
  • Using unsupported parent or partner funds
  • Assuming paid course fees are recorded on the CAS when they are not
  • Using an unacceptable form of money, such as cryptocurrency or stocks
  • Not preparing evidence because you think you do not need to submit it upfront
  • Forgetting dependant funds
  • Providing documents that are unclear or inconsistent
  • Planning to bring dependants without checking whether your course qualifies under the current rules – most students are no longer eligible
  • Paying an accommodation deposit to a private landlord and assuming it can be deducted from the living cost requirement – the deduction only applies to deposits paid directly to your student sponsor and recorded on your CAS
  • Counting the 31-day window from your biometrics appointment date or the date UKVI requests your documents, rather than from the date you submit and pay for your online application – these are not the same date
  • Making a large deposit into your account immediately before or at the start of the 28-day period – caseworkers may question sudden deposits that closely match the required amount, even if the closing balance is correct

Careful preparation can significantly reduce the risk of avoidable delay or refusal.

What Happens If You Do Not Meet the Financial Requirement?

If you need to meet the financial requirement and your evidence does not show the required funds clearly, your Student visa application may be delayed or refused.

Financial refusals can happen even where the applicant has money available, if the evidence does not meet the rules. This is why preparation matters as much as having the funds themselves.

If you are unsure whether your financial evidence is suitable, seek further support before applying.

How LawNeeds Can Help

LawNeeds is designed to make immigration support easier to understand.

For Student visa users, LawNeeds can help you:

  • Understand common financial requirement questions
  • Organise questions about course fees and living costs
  • Identify possible issues with bank statements or funding evidence
  • Prepare questions for your university or financial sponsor
  • Understand when further professional support may be needed and connect with an experienced lawyer on the platform
  • Access AI-powered legal support tools

LawNeeds is not a law firm and does not replace regulated legal advice. If your situation is urgent, complex or involves a possible refusal risk, you should seek advice from an appropriate immigration professional.

Need Help Understanding Student Visa Funds?

If you are preparing a UK Student visa application and are unsure how much money you need to show, LawNeeds can help you organise your questions and understand your next step more clearly.

Visit our Student Visa Support page to get started.

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