For a UK Student visa in 2026, the bank balance you need is usually made up of two parts: any unpaid course fees shown on your Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies, known as a CAS, plus your required living costs. Under the current official guidance, living costs are calculated at £1,529 per month for study in London and £1,171 per month for study outside London, normally for up to nine months.
This means the maximum living-cost figure is currently £13,761 for London and £10,539 outside London before any unpaid tuition fees are added. However, 2026 is not quite a one-figure year. Student route maintenance figures may change from 30 November 2026, so if you apply on or after that date, check the Immigration Rules and GOV.UK close to the application date for the updated amounts rather than relying on the pre-change figures below.
If you are preparing your Student visa application and want help checking the calculation, documents or timing, Immigration UK can assist with clear guidance before you submit. It is far easier to correct financial evidence before an application than to explain a shortfall afterwards.
The Basic Student Visa Bank Balance Formula
The simplest way to calculate your Student visa financial requirement is:
Required funds = unpaid course fees + required maintenance funds
Your CAS is important because it usually confirms your course details, tuition fees and any payments already made to your education provider. If your CAS says you still owe tuition fees, those unpaid fees normally need to be covered in addition to your living-cost requirement.
For living costs, the current monthly rate depends on whether your course is in London or outside London. London means the City of London and the 32 London boroughs. It does not mean every university in the south of England, and it does not depend on whether London appears in the institution's marketing name. The study location connected to your CAS is what matters.
You can find the current official Student visa money rules on the GOV.UK Student visa money guidance, but always check the guidance close to your application date because financial requirements can change.
Current 2026 Maintenance Amounts Before 30 November 2026
For applications made before any scheduled 30 November 2026 change, the current maintenance figures are:
- London: £1,529 per month, usually up to a maximum of nine months.
- Outside London: £1,171 per month, usually up to a maximum of nine months.
- Maximum London maintenance: £13,761, before unpaid tuition fees are added.
- Maximum outside London maintenance: £10,539, before unpaid tuition fees are added.
So, if your course is in London for nine months or more and you have £6,000 of unpaid tuition fees, your required funds would normally be £6,000 plus £13,761, making £19,761. If your course is outside London and you have already paid all tuition fees, your required balance may be the maintenance figure only, provided all other conditions are met.
Not every course automatically requires a full nine months of maintenance. Shorter courses may require a shorter calculation period. If you are unsure how your course length affects the figure, it is sensible to check the CAS and the rules before relying on a bank statement.
What Changes From 30 November 2026?
Current GOV.UK guidance and the Immigration Rules should be checked before applying because Student route maintenance figures may change from 30 November 2026. At the time of writing, this article sets out the current published figures for applications before that scheduled change. If confirmed post-change amounts are not shown in the official guidance you are using, do not estimate them or rely on older figures.
The practical point is simple: your application date matters. If your funds are only just enough under the older requirement, delaying your application until after a rule change could create a problem. Equally, if you are gathering bank statements in advance, you should plan around the rate likely to apply when you actually submit the visa application.
Because the Immigration Rules can be amended, avoid relying on old screenshots, university handouts or unofficial online calculators unless they are clearly up to date. A small difference in the required figure can make a big difference to the outcome.
Do Tuition Fees Count Separately?
Yes. The maintenance requirement is for living costs. It is separate from tuition fees that remain unpaid. This is one of the most common areas of confusion, especially where students focus only on the monthly London or outside-London rate.
If you have paid some or all of your tuition fees, check whether your CAS correctly records the payment. If the CAS has not been updated, you may need additional evidence or you may need to ask your education provider to correct the CAS before applying. The Home Office will assess the evidence available, not what you intended your CAS to say.
The visa application fee and Immigration Health Surcharge are also separate costs. Paying them does not reduce the maintenance funds you need to show. In the same way, travel money, general spending money and private accommodation deposits are not usually a substitute for the required Student visa funds.
The 28-Day Bank Statement Rule
For most applicants using bank savings, the required funds must be held for 28 consecutive days. The final day of that 28-day period must normally be within 31 days of the date of your visa application. In plain English, you need to show that the money was there continuously, not just on the day you downloaded the statement.
A one-day drop below the required amount can cause problems, even if the closing balance looks perfect. For example, if you needed £13,761 but your balance dropped to £13,700 halfway through the 28-day period, the financial evidence may fail. It can feel frustrating, but the rule is strict.
Your evidence should clearly show the account holder, bank or building society, account details, dates and balances. Electronic statements can be acceptable if they contain the required information. Screenshots are risky where they do not show enough detail, so use proper statements whenever possible.
Which Funds Can Be Used?
Many students use personal savings, but that is not the only possible option. Depending on your circumstances and the current Immigration Rules, acceptable financial evidence may include personal bank funds, permitted family funds, official financial sponsorship or a qualifying student loan.
If you use a parent's bank account, you will normally need evidence of the relationship and evidence that the funds meet the financial rules. A birth certificate or other official document may be needed. Informal family support can work only if it is documented properly. A friendly message saying “don't worry, Mum and Dad have the money” will not do the job, however reassuring it may be.
Official financial sponsorship, scholarships and student loans are assessed differently from ordinary savings. The letter or evidence should usually identify the applicant, the amount available, what costs are covered and any release arrangements. If the sponsorship does not cover everything, you may still need to show additional funds for the shortfall.
Can Accommodation Payments Reduce the Balance?
Some accommodation payments may reduce the amount you need to show, but this is not a general rent deduction. The accommodation offset is subject to specific conditions and usually relates to payments made to the education sponsor, not just any landlord or private accommodation provider.
This area becomes especially important around the 30 November 2026 rule change because the accommodation offset may also be updated. If you intend to rely on accommodation payments to reduce the bank balance requirement, check the exact rule applying on your application date and make sure your evidence matches it.
How Much Extra Is Needed for Dependants?
Not every Student visa holder can bring dependants to the UK. The rules are restricted, including for many students below postgraduate research level. If your partner or children are eligible to apply as dependants, their financial requirement is additional to your own Student visa funds.
Before the scheduled 30 November 2026 change, current guidance gives dependant maintenance figures of £845 per month in London and £680 per month outside London, usually for up to nine months. This is per dependant. So if you are studying in London and bringing one eligible partner, the dependant maintenance amount may be added to your own maintenance and any unpaid tuition fees.
If family members are part of your plan, it is worth checking eligibility and the current dependant maintenance rates early, especially if you will apply on or after 30 November 2026.
Documents to Prepare for Proof of Funds
Your exact documents will depend on how you are proving the money, but most applicants should think about the financial evidence alongside the CAS, not as an afterthought. A helpful checklist includes:
- Your CAS from a licensed student sponsor.
- Bank statements covering the full required 28-day period, where relying on savings.
- Evidence of tuition fees already paid, if not clearly shown on the CAS.
- Relationship evidence, where relying on permitted family funds.
- An official sponsorship letter, if you are sponsored.
- A compliant student loan letter, if using a qualifying loan.
- Accommodation payment evidence, if relying on a permitted offset.
- Certified translations where documents are not in English or Welsh.
The Student route is not only about money. You also need a valid CAS, a qualifying course, a licensed sponsor and any other evidence required for your circumstances. You can review support for the route on our UK study visa guidance page, and for help with the wider submission process, see our UK visa application support.
Common Mistakes That Cause Financial Evidence Problems
Most Student visa financial issues are avoidable. The difficulty is that applicants often spot the problem only after they have submitted the application. Common mistakes include using the wrong London or outside-London rate, forgetting unpaid tuition fees, relying on funds that were not held for a full 28 days, or submitting evidence dated too far before the application.
Other problems include missing account-holder details, unexplained large deposits, incomplete screenshots, sponsorship letters that do not confirm what costs are covered, and accommodation deductions that do not meet the rules. If timing is tight, also remember that visa processing times vary and extra checks can take longer. For wider timing context, see our guide to UK visa processing times.
A strong application is one where the caseworker can understand the calculation quickly. Your evidence should tell a clear story: how much you need, where the funds are, how long they have been held, and how any tuition payments, sponsorship or loans fit into the calculation.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much bank balance do I need for a UK Student visa in 2026?
Before the scheduled 30 November 2026 change, the current living-cost requirement is £1,529 per month in London or £1,171 per month outside London, usually for up to nine months. You must add any unpaid tuition fees shown on your CAS. If you apply on or after 30 November 2026, check GOV.UK and the Immigration Rules for the updated figures before submitting.
Do I need to keep the money for 28 days?
In most cases, yes. The required funds must usually be held for 28 consecutive days, and the final day of that period must normally be within 31 days of your application date.
Can I use my parents' bank account for a UK Student visa?
It may be possible to rely on permitted family funds, but you must provide compliant bank evidence and proof of your relationship. The documents must clearly satisfy the Immigration Rules.
Does paying university accommodation reduce the bank balance requirement?
Only certain qualifying accommodation payments can reduce the amount you need to show. A private rent payment or deposit will not automatically reduce the Student visa maintenance requirement.
Does having enough money guarantee a Student visa?
No. Financial evidence is only one requirement. You also need to meet the wider Student route rules, including having a valid CAS, a qualifying course and all required supporting documents.
