UK Student Visa Financial Requirement to Rise From November 30, 2026
2 minute read
• Updated on 11 Sep, 2026, 4:04 PM, • 55 minutes ago by Simran
UK Student visa applicants will face higher financial proof requirements from November 30, 2026, with the maintenance threshold rising to £1,570 a month in London and £1,203 outside London.
The UK is increasing the financial requirement for international students applying under the Student Route, with the new thresholds taking effect for applications made on or after November 30, 2026.
Students studying in London will need to demonstrate £1,570 per month, while those studying outside London will need £1,203 per month. The requirement applies for a maximum of nine months, meaning the maximum maintenance funds that may need to be demonstrated will rise to £14,130 for London students and £10,827 for students outside London.
The change forms part of the latest Statement of Changes to the UK Immigration Rules, published by the Home Office on September 3, 2026. The government describes the increase as an annual uplift to the Student Route maintenance requirement, aligning it with maintenance loans available to home students for the 2026/27 academic year.
UK Student Visa Financial Requirement 2026: New Amounts
The new maintenance thresholds represent an increase from the amounts currently applicable to Student visa applications.
| Study location | Current monthly requirement | From Nov. 30, 2026 | Increase | Maximum for 9 months |
| London | £1,529 | £1,570 | £41/month | £14,130 |
| Outside London | £1,171 | £1,203 | £32/month | £10,827 |
For a student required to demonstrate the full nine months of maintenance funds, the change means an additional £369 for London and £288 outside London compared with the current thresholds.
The financial requirement is separate from tuition fees. Students must also demonstrate sufficient funds for their course fees, as stated on their Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS).
Who Will Be Affected by the New UK Student Visa Funds Requirement?
The new amounts apply to Student Route applications made on or after November 30, 2026.
The Home Office rules require students to demonstrate funds for each month of their course, subject to the nine-month maximum. The maintenance requirement is intended to cover living costs rather than tuition.
Students who submit applications before November 30 will therefore fall under the existing financial thresholds, provided their application is otherwise valid.
This makes the application date important for students preparing for upcoming UK intakes, particularly those who are arranging education loans, fixed deposits or other financial evidence specifically for their visa application.
How Much Money Will a UK Student Need to Show?
At the new rates, a student required to demonstrate the full nine months of maintenance funds will need:
- London: £1,570 × 9 = £14,130
- Outside London: £1,203 × 9 = £10,827
These amounts cover the maintenance component only. Students may also need to show funds for unpaid tuition fees listed on their CAS.
The UK government states that students normally need to hold the required funds for 28 consecutive days, with the end of that 28-day period falling within 31 days of the visa application date.
Accommodation Payments Can Reduce the Amount Students Need to Show
The rules continue to allow students who have already paid money to their Student sponsor for accommodation to deduct an amount from the required maintenance funds.
However, the maximum accommodation deduction is also being increased from £1,529 to £1,570 under the September 2026 changes.
This means students who have paid qualifying accommodation costs directly to their university or college may be able to reduce the amount of maintenance funds they need to demonstrate, subject to the applicable rules.
India Remains One of the UK's Largest Student Markets
The financial requirement increase is particularly relevant to Indian applicants because India remains one of the UK's largest sources of sponsored students.
UK Home Office statistics show that 82,523 sponsored study visas were granted to Indian main applicants in the year ending June 2026, representing 23% of all sponsored study visas issued to main applicants. China ranked first with 86,368 grants, or 24%.
Together, Indian and Chinese nationals accounted for 168,891 sponsored study visa grants, or approximately 46% of all grants to main applicants during the period.
However, the number of Indian student visa grants itself declined 16% year-on-year in the latest period, according to the Home Office.
The change therefore comes as the UK continues to see substantial student demand from India while overall sponsored study visa grants are falling.
UK Issued 383,000 Sponsored Study Visas in Year Ending June 2026
The wider UK student market has also contracted from its recent peak.
The Home Office reported 383,000 sponsored study visas in the year ending June 2026, down 11% from the previous year and 41% below the peak recorded in the year ending June 2023. Main-applicant grants fell 12% to 366,000.
The latest figures show that the UK is simultaneously adjusting its immigration system and increasing the financial evidence required from students.
For international applicants, this makes early financial planning increasingly important, particularly where visa applications are being prepared close to the November 30 implementation date.
Most UK Students Are Coming for Master's Degrees
The financial requirement is especially relevant to postgraduate applicants because master's programmes account for the majority of UK student visa grants.
The Home Office reported that 62% of students come to the UK to study master's programmes. In the year ending March 2026, master's-level visa grants stood at 234,992, down 3% from the previous year and 25% below the level recorded in the year ending March 2023.
The trend is particularly relevant for Indian applicants: 81% of Indian students coming to the UK were studying at master's level in the year ending March 2025.
UK Also Updates Student Rules for Erasmus+ Return
The September Immigration Rules changes also prepare the Student and Visitor routes for the UK's planned return to the Erasmus+ programme from 2027.
The updated Student Route rules create provisions for Erasmus+ participants studying at participating sponsors. For England, Wales and Northern Ireland, the relevant courses must be at Regulated Qualifications Framework Level 2 or above; for Scotland, they must be at Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework Level 5 or above.
The rules also modify provisions relating to courses containing work placements for Erasmus+ participants.
The UK government has confirmed that the Erasmus+ changes are connected to the UK's agreement with the European Commission to rejoin the programme from 2027.
What UK-Bound Students Should Do Before November 30
Students planning to apply for a UK Student visa should account for the November 30 threshold when preparing their financial evidence.
For applications made from that date, the maintenance calculation rises to:
- £14,130 maximum for nine months in London
- £10,827 maximum for nine months outside London
Students should also account for tuition fees shown on their CAS and ensure qualifying funds satisfy the required holding-period rules.
The new thresholds do not mean every student will necessarily need to show the full nine-month amount. The applicable maintenance calculation depends on the student's circumstances and course, while certain applicants may be exempt from demonstrating financial evidence under the Student Route rules.
Key UK Student Visa Financial Figures
| Indicator | 2026 figure |
| London maintenance requirement from Nov. 30 | £1,570/month |
| London maximum for 9 months | £14,130 |
| Outside London from Nov. 30 | £1,203/month |
| Outside London maximum for 9 months | £10,827 |
| Current London requirement | £1,529/month |
| Current outside-London requirement | £1,171/month |
| Increase in London requirement | £41/month |
| Increase outside London | £32/month |
| Indian sponsored study visa grants, YE June 2026 | 82,523 |
| Indian share of main-applicant study visa grants | 23% |
| Total sponsored study visas, YE June 2026 | 383,000 |
FAQs
When will the UK Student visa financial requirement increase in 2026?
The new financial requirements will apply to Student Route applications made on or after November 30, 2026.
How much money will students need for a UK Student visa in London from November 2026?
Students studying in London will need to show £1,570 per month, for up to nine months, meaning a maximum maintenance requirement of £14,130.
How much money is required for a UK Student visa outside London from November 2026?
Students studying outside London will need to demonstrate £1,203 per month, for up to nine months, or a maximum of £10,827.
How much has the UK Student visa financial requirement increased?
The London requirement rises by £41 per month, from £1,529 to £1,570. Outside London, it rises by £32 per month, from £1,171 to £1,203.
Do UK Student visa applicants also need to show money for tuition fees?
Yes. The maintenance requirement covers living costs, while students may also need to demonstrate funds for outstanding course fees shown on their CAS.
How long must UK Student visa funds be held?
Where financial evidence is required, the funds generally need to have been held for 28 consecutive days, with the end of that period falling within 31 days of the visa application.
How many Indian students received UK Student visas in the latest year?
The UK granted 82,523 sponsored study visas to Indian main applicants in the year ending June 2026. Indian nationals accounted for 23% of sponsored study visas granted to main applicants.
Is the UK rejoining Erasmus+ in 2027?
Yes. The UK has reached an agreement with the European Commission to rejoin Erasmus+ from 2027, and the September 2026 Immigration Rules include changes to accommodate Erasmus+ participants under the Student and Visitor routes.
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