To get a UK Student visa you usually need to show you can pay your first year’s course fees and your living costs. Enter your course details to see exactly how much needs to be in your account, and for how long.
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How the amount is worked out
- Course fees: the unpaid part of your first year’s fees, as shown on your Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS). Fees you’ve already paid to the university are taken off.
- Living costs: £1,529 a month if you study in London (the City of London and the 32 London boroughs) or £1,171 a month anywhere else, for the length of your course up to a maximum of 9 months.
- Dependants: an extra £845 a month in London or £680 a month elsewhere for each partner or child, again for up to 9 months.
The money must be in your account for at least 28 consecutive days, and the 28-day period must end no more than 31 days before you apply.
Worked examples
1. A one-year master’s in Manchester
Fees on the CAS are £24,000, and the student paid a £6,000 deposit. They need £18,000 for fees plus 9 × £1,171 = £10,539 for living costs, a total of £28,539. Paying more of the fee upfront reduces the amount they need to hold in their bank account by the same amount.
2. A London course with a partner
A PhD student in London with £8,000 of unpaid fees, bringing a partner: £8,000 + 9 × £1,529 (£13,761) + 9 × £845 (£7,605) = £29,366.
3. A six-month course
Living costs count only for the length of the course. A 6-month course outside London needs 6 × £1,171 = £7,026 in living costs, plus any unpaid fees.
Common mistakes that get applications refused
- The balance dips below the amount for even one day in the 28-day period.
- The statement is too old. The 28 days must end within 31 days of your application date.
- Money in someone else’s name without the right evidence. Funds can be in a parent’s or legal guardian’s account, but you need their written consent and proof of your relationship.
- Using a bank UKVI doesn’t accept for financial evidence. Check the list for your country.
Frequently asked questions
How much money do I need for a UK Student visa?
Your unpaid first-year fees plus £1,529 a month in London or £1,171 a month elsewhere, for up to 9 months. That’s up to £13,761 in London or £10,539 outside London for living costs.
How long does the money need to be in my account?
At least 28 days in a row, ending no more than 31 days before you apply.
Do I need to show funds if I'm already in the UK?
Not if you’ve been living in the UK with a visa for at least 12 months on the date you apply.
Can I bring my family on a Student visa?
Most new students can only bring dependants if they’re on a postgraduate research course, such as a PhD, or are government-sponsored on a course longer than 6 months. Each dependant needs extra funds.
Some countries don't need to show funds. Which?
Nationals of countries on the “differential evidence requirement” list, and BN(O) passport holders, don’t need to submit financial evidence upfront, but UKVI can still ask for it.
Sources
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