UK Student Visa Financial Requirement 2026: New Maintenance Funds From November 30 — What Indian Students Need to Know
Planning to study in the UK in 2026 or 2027? There is a new financial requirement you should know about before preparing your Student visa application.
The UK government has announced an increase in the Student visa maintenance requirement, meaning international students will need to show more money for living costs when applying for a UK Student visa from 30 November 2026.
For Indian students, this matters because showing the required funds is an important part of preparing a Student visa application.
Here is what is changing, how much students will need, and what you should do if you are planning to study in the UK.
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What Is Changing in the UK Student Visa Financial Requirement?
Under the current UK Student visa rules, students applying from outside the UK generally need to demonstrate enough money to cover their outstanding tuition fees plus living costs.
From 30 November 2026, the maintenance requirement will increase.
Study locationCurrent monthly requirementFrom 30 Nov 2026London£1,529£1,570Outside London£1,171£1,203
The new figures are specifically included in the UK’s latest amendments to Appendix Student.
The requirement applies for a maximum of 9 months for the main Student visa applicant.
That means the maximum maintenance amount a student may need to demonstrate will become:
London: £1,570 × 9 = £14,130
Outside London: £1,203 × 9 = £10,827
These amounts are for living-cost evidence and are separate from any outstanding tuition fees that may also need to be demonstrated.
Why Is the UK Increasing the Student Visa Funds?
The UK government says the Student Route maintenance requirement is linked to the maintenance loans available to eligible home students.
The latest increase aligns the international student maintenance requirement with the maintenance loans available for the 2026/27 academic year. The government also says this requirement is reviewed annually.
In simple terms, the UK wants the amount international students are expected to demonstrate for living costs to keep pace with domestic student maintenance support.
This is not a completely new concept. The UK has previously increased the Student Route maintenance requirement as part of its annual review process.
How Much Money Will an Indian Student Need?
Suppose you are planning to study for a one-year master’s programme outside London.
If your course is long enough for the maximum nine months of maintenance evidence to apply, you would need to demonstrate:
£10,827 for living costs
You would also need to account for any outstanding tuition fees that must be covered under the visa rules.
For a course in London, the corresponding maximum maintenance amount would be:
£14,130
This is why students should not think of the UK Student visa financial requirement as simply “having £10,827 or £14,130 in the bank.”
Your actual financial planning needs to consider:
Remaining tuition fees
Required living-cost funds
Accommodation
Travel
Visa-related costs
Immigration Health Surcharge
Other study and personal expenses
The official UK rules state that applicants generally need funds for outstanding course fees plus the required monthly maintenance amount.
What About the 28-Day Bank Balance Rule?
This is one of the most important details students should understand.
Meeting the required amount on the day of your visa application is not necessarily enough.
The Student visa financial rules generally require applicants to demonstrate that the required funds have been held for a 28-day period, subject to the applicable exceptions and evidence rules.
This means students should avoid arranging their finances at the last minute.
If you know you will be applying for a UK Student visa, start preparing your financial documentation well in advance.
A sudden large deposit can also create additional questions if you cannot properly document the source or availability of the funds.
Does the New Requirement Apply to Every Student?
Not necessarily.
The Immigration Rules contain exceptions to the financial evidence requirement.
For example, certain students applying for permission to stay who have already been living in the UK with valid permission for at least 12 months may meet the financial requirement without having to show these funds.
There are also specific exemptions for certain categories of applicants.
Therefore, students should not assume that the same financial evidence requirements apply to every applicant.
Your individual circumstances, visa history and course details matter.
What About Students Bringing Dependants?
The UK has separate financial requirements for dependants of Student visa holders.
The latest September 2026 changes specifically amend the main Student Route maintenance amounts from £1,529 to £1,570 per month in London and from £1,171 to £1,203 outside London.
Students bringing a partner or eligible children should therefore assess the dependant requirements separately rather than simply adding the main applicant’s maintenance figure.
The current rules specify separate monthly amounts for eligible dependants, depending on whether the student studies in London or outside London.
Because immigration rules can change, applicants should always check the latest official requirements applicable to their application date.
What Happens If You Apply Before 30 November 2026?
This is an important timing question.
The new figures are part of the Immigration Rules changes taking effect from 30 November 2026.
Therefore, students planning their applications around this date should pay close attention to which version of the rules applies to their application.
If you are financially ready and otherwise prepared to apply before the new rules take effect, the timing of your application may become particularly important.
However, students should never rush a visa application simply to avoid a financial threshold increase. Your CAS, financial documents and other application requirements must still be properly prepared.
Does This Mean Studying in the UK Is Becoming Unaffordable?
Not necessarily, but students should budget more realistically.
The increase itself is relatively modest on a monthly basis:
London: £41 more per month
Outside London: £32 more per month
Over the maximum nine months, that represents an increase of:
£369 for London
£288 outside London
The bigger lesson is that students should plan their complete study-abroad budget rather than focusing only on tuition fees.
For an Indian student, exchange-rate fluctuations can also affect the final amount in Indian rupees.
A budget that looks manageable today may change because of currency movements, accommodation prices or other expenses.
London vs Outside London: Which Is Better for Indian Students?
The new financial requirement also highlights an important decision students face when choosing a UK university.
Studying in London can offer access to a huge employment market, global companies, cultural diversity and extensive professional networks.
However, living costs can also be significantly higher.
Studying outside London can provide access to universities in cities such as Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds, Bristol, Sheffield, Nottingham and others, while potentially offering a different cost-of-living profile.
The right decision should not be based solely on the visa maintenance figure.
Students should compare:
University reputation
Course curriculum
Tuition fees
Accommodation costs
Employment opportunities
Industry connections
Graduate outcomes
Location
Career goals
A university outside London is not automatically a better financial choice, and a London university is not automatically the better career choice.
The course and the student’s long-term goals should drive the decision.
A Simple UK Student Visa Financial Checklist for Indian Students
Before applying, consider the following checklist:
1. Check your tuition fees
Look at your CAS and determine how much tuition you have already paid and what remains outstanding.
2. Identify your maintenance requirement
Check whether your university is in London or outside London and determine the applicable amount under the rules in force when you apply.
3. Prepare your funds early
Do not wait until the last few weeks to arrange the required financial evidence.
4. Check the 28-day requirement
Make sure your financial evidence satisfies the applicable holding-period requirements.
5. Keep documentation consistent
Your bank statements, financial evidence and other documents should clearly demonstrate that the required funds are available.
6. Budget beyond the visa requirement
Visa maintenance funds are not necessarily the same as your real-world cost of living.
Consider accommodation, food, transport, study materials, insurance and other personal expenses.
7. Check the latest UK rules
Immigration requirements can change. Always verify the rules applicable to your application date using official UK government sources.
How ACHIVIA Can Help Students Planning to Study in the UK
Understanding the financial requirement is only one part of a successful UK study-abroad application.
ACHIVIA can support students through different stages of the process, from choosing a suitable university to preparing for their visa application.
The process can include:
Profile Evaluation: Understanding your academic background, interests, budget and career goals.
University and Course Selection: Shortlisting universities and courses based on your profile rather than choosing a university solely because of its ranking or location.
Test Preparation: Support for IELTS, TOEFL, PTE, Duolingo and other relevant English-language tests, depending on university requirements.
Application and Profile Building: Assistance with documents such as SOPs, LORs and CV/profile development.
Financial Planning Guidance: Helping students understand the different financial components involved in studying abroad, including tuition, living expenses and education-loan considerations.
Visa Guidance: Helping students organise and review their visa documentation and understand the relevant requirements.
Pre-Departure Support: Assistance with practical preparations such as accommodation, forex, insurance and other pre-departure requirements.
The objective should not simply be to get admission to a UK university. It should be to build a study plan that makes academic, financial and career sense.
What Should Indian Students Do Now?
If you are targeting a UK intake in late 2026 or 2027, this is a good time to review your financial plan.
Don’t wait until your university sends your CAS to start thinking about your visa finances.
Instead:
Choose your course → estimate total costs → plan your finances → prepare your documents → apply at the right time.
And remember that the visa maintenance amount is a minimum financial requirement, not necessarily a complete estimate of what you will spend in the UK.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the UK Student visa maintenance requirement in 2026?
From 30 November 2026, the requirement for most students will be £1,570 per month in London and £1,203 per month outside London, for up to nine months.
How much money is required for a UK Student visa outside London?
From 30 November 2026, the maximum maintenance amount for a student studying outside London will be £10,827, calculated at £1,203 per month for nine months.
How much money is required for a UK Student visa in London?
From 30 November 2026, the maximum maintenance amount will be £14,130, calculated at £1,570 per month for nine months.
Do UK Student visa funds include tuition fees?
No. The maintenance requirement covers living costs. Students may also need to demonstrate funds for outstanding tuition fees according to the Student Route rules.
Do I need to keep the money in my bank account for 28 days?
Generally, applicants relying on personal funds must demonstrate that the required funds have been held for the required 28-day period, subject to the relevant rules and exemptions.
Is the UK still a good option for Indian students in 2026?
The answer depends on your course, university, budget and career objectives. The increase in the maintenance requirement does not by itself make the UK an unsuitable destination, but students should factor the new financial requirement into their overall study-abroad budget.
Final Takeaway
From 30 November 2026, students will need to demonstrate higher maintenance funds:
London: £1,529 → £1,570 per month
Outside London: £1,171 → £1,203 per month
The key is preparation.
If you’re an Indian student planning to study in the UK, don’t look at tuition fees alone. Build a complete financial plan, understand the visa requirements applicable to your application date, prepare your documents early and choose your university with both academic and career outcomes in mind.
A well-prepared UK application starts long before the visa form is submitted.
Planning to study in the UK? ACHIVIA can help you navigate university selection, test preparation, application and profile building, financial planning guidance, visa documentation and pre-departure support.
Immigration rules can change. Students should verify the latest requirements on the official UK government website before submitting a visa application.
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