If you are planning to study in the UK, here is something worth knowing early: the amount of money you must show for your Student visa is going up from 30 November 2026. This guide explains what is changing, who it affects, and who does not need to show this money at all.
On 3 September 2026, the Home Office confirmed that the Student visa maintenance requirement will rise from 30 November 2026. This is set out in a Statement of Changes to the Immigration Rules, HC 584, along with its Explanatory Memorandum.
What is the maintenance requirement?
When you apply for a UK Student visa, you need to show you have enough money for two things: your course fees, and your everyday living costs. Together, this is called the maintenance requirement, or the financial requirement.
- Course fees – any tuition fees you still owe. You will find this figure on your Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS).
- Living costs – a set amount for each month of your course, up to a maximum of nine months, to help cover food, transport, and daily life.
What is changing
It is your living costs amount that is changing. Here are the new figures, confirmed in the Statement of Changes:
Where you study | Now (until 29 Nov 2026) | From 30 Nov 2026 |
In London | £1,529 a month | £1,570 a month |
Outside London | £1,171 a month | £1,203 a month |
Over a full nine-month course, this comes to £14,130 if you study in London (up from £13,761), or £10,827 if you study outside London (up from £10,539).
What matters is your application date, not your course start date. If you apply before 30 November 2026, you will be assessed under the current, lower amounts. If you apply on or after that date, the new amounts will apply.
Who does not need to show this money
According to GOV.UK, you may not need to provide financial evidence if:
- You have been living in the UK with a valid visa for at least 12 months before you apply.
- You are applying as a Student Union Sabbatical Officer.
- You are applying to study as a doctor or dentist in training.
- You hold a passport from a country on the Home Office's list, which currently includes the USA, Canada, Australia, Japan, most EU countries, and several others. You will still need to meet the requirement, but you may not need to send documents unless UKVI asks for them.
The 28-day rule
This rule is not changing. It is worth reading carefully, because it is one of the most common reasons Student visa applications are refused.
You need to hold the full required amount in your account for at least 28 days in a row, and your evidence must be dated no more than 31 days before you apply. If your balance drops below the required amount on even one day during that period, GOV.UK guidance says this evidence will not meet the rule, even if you top it back up straight away.
If you are bringing a partner or children
If you are eligible to bring dependants, you will need to show extra funds for each one. These figures were not part of the 3 September announcement, so they stay the same:
Where you study | Amount per dependant, per month |
In London | £845 |
Outside London | £680 |
Under current rules, most undergraduate and taught master's students are not able to bring dependants. This is generally limited to research-based postgraduate courses of nine months or more, and government-sponsored students on courses longer than six months.
What money you can use as proof
GOV.UK guidance sets out where your funds can come from:
- Your own money, in an account you control.
- Your parent's money, with a letter confirming they agree to this, plus evidence of your relationship.
- Your partner's money, if they are applying with you or already living in the UK.
- An official financial sponsor, such as a government or a university.
- A student loan from a government, a government-sponsored loan company, or a regulated student loan scheme.
A few things cannot be used: overdrafts, cryptocurrency, stocks and shares, pensions, accounts that are not regulated in the country where the bank operates, and accounts that do not keep electronic records.
How Atava can help
We know that visa paperwork can feel overwhelming, especially alongside everything else involved in planning to study abroad. At Atava Education & Training, we are happy to talk you through what this change means for your own plans, and to help you prepare documents that meet UKVI's requirements. Contact our team any time you would like support.
Official sources:
- UK – Statement of changes to the Immigration Rules: HC 584, 3 September 2026
- UK – Explanatory Memorandum to the Statement of Changes in Immigration Rules: HC 584, 3 September 2026
- UK – Student visa: Money you need
- UK – Financial evidence for Student and Child Student visa applicants
This article is for general guidance only. Rules and figures can change, so always check the latest information on GOV.UK before you apply, or speak to our advisors for personal support.