by Quick answer: The UK student visa financial requirements ask you to show two amounts: your unpaid course fees for the first year, as stated on your CAS, and living costs of £1,529 a month in London or £1,171 a month outside London, for up to 9 months. The money must sit in an eligible account for 28 days in a row, and that period must end within 31 days of your application.
This guide explains how much money you need for a UK student visa, who is exempt, how the 28-day rule works, what financial evidence UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) accepts and how much show money each dependant needs.
Last verified: 28 September 2026 against GOV.UK.
What the UK student visa financial requirements cover
The money test has two parts.
- Course fees: enough to pay for one academic year, up to 9 months. Your university states this figure on your Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS), so check that document before you do any sums. Fees you have already paid should show on your CAS and reduce the amount.
- Living costs: a fixed monthly amount set by the Home Office. If you are boarding at a residential independent school, you show the boarding fees on your CAS instead.
Money is only one condition. You also need an unconditional offer from a licensed student sponsor and must meet the English language requirement.
How much money do I need for a UK student visa?
The monthly living cost figure depends on where your course takes place. GOV.UK sets these rates, each for up to 9 months:
- Courses in London: £1,529 (one thousand, five hundred and twenty-nine pounds) a month.
- Courses outside London: £1,171 (one thousand, one hundred and seventy-one pounds) a month.
For this rule, London means the City of London and the 32 London boroughs. A campus just outside that area uses the lower rate, even if people call it London. If your university has more than one campus, use the study address shown on your CAS.
A course longer than 9 months still needs no more than 9 months of living costs. A shorter course needs the monthly rate multiplied by the number of months it runs.
UK student visa show money: worked examples
These totals cover living costs only. Add any course fees still unpaid on your CAS to get your full show money figure.
| Who is applying | London (9 months) | Outside London (9 months) |
|---|---|---|
| Student alone | £13,761 | £10,539 |
| Each dependant | £7,605 | £6,120 |
| Student plus partner | £21,366 | £16,659 |
| Student plus partner and one child | £28,971 | £22,779 |
Take a student on a one-year master’s in London. They need £1,529 × 9 = £13,761 (thirteen thousand, seven hundred and sixty-one pounds) for living costs. Outside London, the same student needs £1,171 × 9 = £10,539 (ten thousand, five hundred and thirty-nine pounds).
A 6-month course in London works out at £1,529 × 6 = £9,174 (nine thousand, one hundred and seventy-four pounds).
Now add fees. If your CAS shows £8,000 of tuition still unpaid, a single student studying outside London needs £10,539 + £8,000 = £18,539 in the bank.
How long must the money stay in your bank account?
Having the right total on one day is not enough. You must hold the money for at least 28 days in a row, and the end of that 28-day period must fall within 31 days of the date you apply.
GOV.UK gives a simple example: if you apply on 1 January, your funds must have been in the account for at least the 28-day period ending on 1 December.
If your balance drops below the required amount on any single day, the 28 days start again. The safest approach:
- Move the full amount, plus a margin, into one eligible account.
- Leave it untouched for at least 28 days.
- Get your statement and apply soon after, while it is still inside the 31-day window.
Who does not need to show money for a UK student visa?
You do not need to prove the living cost money if either of these applies:
- you have been living in the UK with a valid visa for at least 12 months on the date you apply.
- you are applying as a student union sabbatical officer.
The 12-month rule also removes the need to prove your course fees. It mainly helps students already in the UK, for example someone moving from a bachelor’s to a master’s.
The differential evidence requirement
British nationals overseas and citizens of listed countries and territories do not need to upload financial evidence with the application. The list includes Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore and the United States of America. Check the full list on GOV.UK, because it changes.
This is not a full exemption. You must still meet the UK student visa financial requirements, and UKVI can contact you for evidence before it decides. Keep your statements ready.
UK student visa financial evidence: what UKVI accepts
The Home Office financial evidence guidance accepts:
- paper or downloaded bank statements.
- a building society passbook.
- a certificate of deposit.
- a letter from your bank or building society.
Your financial documents for a UK student visa need three details: your name, the bank or building society that holds the account, and the balance. UKVI converts foreign currency using the OANDA spot rate on the date you apply. Exchange rates move, so keep a buffer above the minimum.
Money that does not count
Overdrafts, cryptocurrency, stocks and shares, pensions and accounts without electronic records do not count. The account must also be regulated by the financial regulator in the country where the bank operates.
Using a parent’s or partner’s money
You can use your own money or a parent’s money. A parent must write a letter saying they agree you can use the money, and you may also need proof of your relationship, such as a birth certificate. A partner’s money counts if they are in the UK or applying with you. Money from other relatives or friends is not on the list of accepted sources.
Student loans and an official financial sponsor
A student loan must come from a government, a government-sponsored loan company or a regulated student loan scheme, and the money must be available before your course starts. You need a letter from the loan provider as evidence.
Official financial sponsorship comes from bodies such as a national government or a university. You need the sponsorship reference number shown on your CAS. Where the CAS does not record it, add a confirmation letter from the sponsor. If a sponsor paid your course fees and living costs in the last 12 months, you need their written consent to apply.
Show money for a UK student dependent visa
Not every student can bring family. You must be either a government-sponsored student on a course longer than 6 months, or a full-time postgraduate on a course of 9 months or more. For postgraduate courses starting on or after 1 January 2024, the course must be a PhD, another doctorate or a research-based degree.
If you qualify, each partner and child needs their own funds on top of yours, for up to 9 months:
- London: £845 (eight hundred and forty-five pounds) a month.
- Outside London: £680 (six hundred and eighty pounds) a month.
The same 28-day and 31-day rules apply. Dependants who have held a valid UK visa for at least 12 months are exempt.
Other costs to budget for
The financial requirement does not include visa costs. The Student visa application fee is £558 (five hundred and fifty-eight pounds), whether you apply from outside or inside the UK. You also pay the Immigration Health Surcharge, and each dependant pays their own visa fee and surcharge.
From outside the UK you can apply up to 6 months before your course starts and usually get a decision within 3 weeks. From inside the UK the usual wait is 8 weeks. Plan your 28-day window around your application date.
Common mistakes that lead to refusal
- Using the outside London rate for a campus inside the 32 boroughs or the City of London.
- Letting the balance dip below the required total during the 28 days.
- Submitting a statement dated more than 31 days before the application.
- Counting an overdraft, shares or crypto as available money.
- Using a parent’s account without their consent letter and proof of relationship.
- Forgetting that each dependant needs separate funds on top of yours.
Frequently asked questions
How much money do I need to show for a UK student visa?
You need your unpaid first-year fees from your CAS plus £1,529 a month in London or £1,171 a month outside London, for up to 9 months. For a 9-month course, that is £13,761 in London or £10,539 elsewhere, before fees.
How much money should be in my bank account for a UK student visa?
The full amount, fees plus living costs, must stay in the account for 28 consecutive days. The 28-day period must end no more than 31 days before you apply.
Can someone else sponsor my UK student visa funds?
Yes. A parent can, with a letter confirming they agree. A partner in the UK or applying with you can too, and so can an official financial sponsor such as a national government or university. Money from friends or other relatives is not an accepted source.
Do I need show money if I have a full scholarship?
If an official financial sponsor covers all your fees and living costs, the sponsorship evidence on your CAS or the sponsor’s letter can meet the requirement. If it covers only part, you show the remaining amount yourself.
Funding your studies
A scholarship reduces the fees you need to show, because your CAS reflects what is still unpaid. Browse current scholarships in the UK, USA, Europe and Canada, or see all guides on studying in the UK. Applying to Bristol? Read our guide to GREAT Scholarships at the University of Bristol.
Official sources
- GOV.UK: Student visa, money you need
- GOV.UK: Student visa overview
- GOV.UK: Student visa, your partner and children
- GOV.UK: Financial evidence for Student and Child Student route applicants
- GOV.UK: Student visa, documents you must provide
This is general information, not legal or immigration advice. Check GOV.UK before you apply, because figures and rules change.
