Quick answer: how much money do you need?

The official visa figure is not the same as your complete study-abroad budget. Students should also plan separately for the visa application fee, healthcare surcharge, accommodation deposit, first rent instalment, travel, initial groceries, local transport and emergency expenses.

This guide explains the official rule first, then shows how to build a realistic accommodation and arrival budget without confusing additional planning costs with the UKVI financial requirement.

UK Student visa financial requirement for 2026

The amount you need depends on two core items:

1. Outstanding course fees for one academic year, up to nine months, as shown on your Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies.
2. Money to support yourself while studying in the United Kingdom.

For this rule, London means the City of London and the 32 London boroughs. A university name containing “London” does not automatically determine the calculation; students should confirm where the course is taught and how the CAS categorises the study location.

Use the correct calculation formula

The amount already paid towards tuition may be reflected on the CAS. Students should calculate from the official figures recorded by the university rather than relying on an offer letter, payment screenshot or informal estimate.

Illustrative London example

Illustrative outside-London example

These are examples only. Your amount depends on your CAS, course location, payments already recorded and individual circumstances.

How the 28-day bank balance rule works

The required amount normally has to remain available for at least 28 consecutive days. The balance should not fall below the required figure during that period, even for one day. The final day of the 28-day period must be within 31 days of the date you submit the visa application.

Simple timeline example

1. Identify the exact required amount from the CAS and current UKVI maintenance rule.
2. Place a safety buffer above the minimum amount.
3. Start the 28-day period only when the full amount is available.
4. Check the balance for every day in the period.
5. Ensure the evidence closing date is no more than 31 days before the application date.
6. Do not submit until all dates and amounts align.

Whose money can be used?

Depending on the evidence and circumstances, students may rely on their own funds, qualifying parent funds, an eligible student loan or official financial sponsorship. Parent-funded applications generally require the supporting relationship and consent evidence specified by the rules.

Do not assume every financial product is acceptable. Cryptocurrency, shares, informal lending screenshots, unregulated accounts and money that cannot be accessed immediately may not satisfy the requirement. Students should verify the current financial-evidence guidance before relying on any account.

Evidence preparation checklist

• Applicant name or eligible parent/account holder name is clear.
• Account number and financial institution are identifiable.
• The required amount is continuously available.
• The evidence covers the correct 28-day period.
• The statement or evidence date fits the 31-day application window.
• Foreign-currency funds leave enough room for exchange-rate movement.
• Any parent consent and relationship evidence is prepared.
• Loan or sponsorship letters meet the official conditions.

Foreign currency and exchange-rate risk

International students often hold funds in Indian rupees, Nigerian naira, Pakistani rupees, Bangladeshi taka, Chinese yuan or another local currency. A balance that is only just enough on one day may fall below the sterling requirement when the exchange rate changes.

A sensible planning approach is to retain a buffer above the converted minimum. The buffer is not an official fixed percentage; it is a risk-management decision. The correct amount should be checked close to the application date using the conversion method specified in the current immigration guidance.

Visa fee and healthcare surcharge

The Student visa application fee is currently £558 for an application from outside the UK. Applicants also pay the immigration healthcare surcharge. The surcharge depends on the length of permission granted, which may include time before and after the course.

Do not add the visa fee or healthcare surcharge to the 28-day maintenance calculation unless the official rule or your circumstances specifically require it. Instead, hold these costs in a separate accessible budget so paying them does not reduce your qualifying financial balance.

Keep two separate money pots

Can an accommodation payment reduce the financial requirement?

Students should be extremely careful here. An accommodation payment does not automatically reduce the amount that must be shown. The immigration rules contain limited conditions for payments made to a Student sponsor for accommodation arranged by that sponsor, and the amount that can be offset is restricted.

A payment to a private landlord, letting agent, marketplace or independent PBSA provider should not be assumed to reduce the visa financial requirement. Before relying on an accommodation payment, confirm the position with the university and ensure the qualifying payment is recorded in the required way.

Visa funds are not your complete living budget

The maintenance figure is an immigration threshold. It is not a promise that every student can comfortably cover rent, food, transport and personal expenses with that amount.

Accommodation can consume the largest share of the monthly budget. A student choosing a high-priced studio may technically satisfy the visa requirement but still experience financial pressure after arrival.

Real preparation budget

How to calculate the true accommodation cost

Do not compare properties using weekly rent alone. A lower weekly price can become more expensive when the tenancy is longer or when bills, transport and extra charges are excluded.

Questions to ask before booking

• How many weeks does the tenancy cover?
• Are electricity, water, heating and internet included?
• Is laundry charged separately?
• Is a booking fee or advance rent required?
• Is a UK guarantor required?
• Does paying in instalments change the price?
• What happens if the visa is refused?
• What evidence and deadlines apply to a cancellation claim?
• How much will the student spend commuting to campus?

London versus outside London: practical budget difference

London has a higher maintenance threshold because living costs are generally higher. However, accommodation cost varies significantly within London and across other UK cities. A centrally located London studio can create a very different budget from an ensuite room farther from the centre.

Outside London, cities such as Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Nottingham and Bristol also have high-demand student areas. “Outside London” does not mean accommodation will always be cheap or readily available.

Decision rule

Choose accommodation based on the amount left after total rent, not on the maximum room price a provider is willing to accept. The strongest budget gives the student enough remaining money for groceries, transport, course materials, social adjustment and emergencies.

Illustrative student budget situations

The following examples are educational scenarios, not real customer cases.

Scenario 1: London postgraduate student

The student has the correct visa funds but selects a premium studio with a long tenancy. After rent, very little remains for transport and everyday costs. A lower-priced ensuite with a reasonable commute may create a healthier monthly budget without affecting study quality.

Scenario 2: Birmingham undergraduate student

The family maintains the exact outside-London visa amount but pays an accommodation deposit from the same account during the 28-day period. The balance falls below the threshold. The safer approach is to hold application spending in a separate account or wait until the financial-evidence period is complete.

Scenario 3: Student using parent funds in India

The converted amount is only slightly above the sterling requirement. Currency movement and transfer charges create a shortfall risk. The family retains an additional buffer and checks the evidence dates before submitting the application.

Common financial-evidence and accommodation mistakes

1. Calculating from the offer letter instead of the CAS.
2. Allowing the balance to fall below the required amount during the 28 days.
3. Using evidence that is too old on the application date.
4. Ignoring currency-conversion risk.
5. Paying the accommodation deposit from the protected balance.
6. Assuming every accommodation payment can reduce the visa requirement.
7. Forgetting the visa fee and healthcare surcharge.
8. Comparing rooms only by weekly rent.
9. Ignoring guarantor and advance-payment requirements.
10. Booking a long tenancy without checking the course and arrival dates.
11. Depending on a provider badge without reading the cancellation policy.
12. Submitting the application without checking every date and amount.

Parent financial planning framework

Parents should divide the total preparation budget into four protected categories:

Final checklist before applying

• CAS received and checked for course-fee information.
• London or outside-London category confirmed.
• Exact maintenance amount calculated.
• Full required amount held continuously for 28 days where required.
• Evidence closing date fits the 31-day rule.
• Currency buffer checked.
• Parent, loan or sponsorship evidence prepared where applicable.
• Visa fee and healthcare surcharge budgeted separately.
• Accommodation deposit will not reduce the protected balance.
• Provider, room, tenancy dates and cancellation policy verified.
• Travel and first-month costs budgeted.
• Official guidance rechecked immediately before submission.

How Admistay can support accommodation budgeting

Admistay can help students compare accommodation using the confirmed university, campus, weekly budget, tenancy length, room type and move-in date. The comparison should focus on total cost, bills, commute, payment schedule, guarantor requirements and written cancellation terms.

Accommodation guidance is separate from immigration advice. Students should rely on GOV.UK, their university and a suitably qualified adviser for visa decisions.

Methodology and editorial standards

This article follows an official-first research model. Current visa maintenance figures, the 28-day evidence period, the 31-day evidence window and the application fee are based on GOV.UK guidance available in July 2026. Accommodation analysis, checklists and budget frameworks are original Admistay editorial guidance.

No live property prices, room counts, customer stories or guaranteed visa outcomes have been invented. All illustrative calculations are clearly identified as examples.

Admistay expert verdict

The safest approach is to treat the UKVI financial requirement as protected money and create a separate budget for the visa application, healthcare surcharge, accommodation and arrival. Students should avoid choosing a room that uses nearly all of their monthly capacity, even when the booking is technically possible.

Calculate from the CAS, protect the 28-day balance, leave a currency buffer, compare total accommodation cost and verify every policy in writing before paying.

Frequently asked questions

How much bank balance is required for a UK Student visa in 2026?

You normally need outstanding course fees shown on the CAS plus maintenance funds of £1,529 per month in London or £1,171 per month outside London, for up to nine months.

What is the maximum maintenance amount for London?

The maximum for nine months is £13,761.

What is the maximum maintenance amount outside London?

The maximum for nine months is £10,539.

What is the 28-day rule?

The required amount normally has to remain available for at least 28 consecutive days, and the final day of that period must be within 31 days before the visa application date.

Can I use my parents' bank account?

Parent funds may be acceptable when the required relationship, consent and financial evidence conditions are met. Check the current official guidance.

Can I pay my accommodation deposit during the 28 days?

Not safely from the protected balance if doing so causes the funds to fall below the required amount.

Does private accommodation payment reduce the visa funds?

Do not assume it does. Only limited qualifying accommodation payments under the immigration rules may be offset. Verify the position with official guidance and the university.

Is the visa application fee included in the maintenance funds?

The application fee is a separate cost. The current Student visa fee is £558.

Do I also have to pay the healthcare surcharge?

Yes. The amount depends on the visa duration.

Should I keep an exchange-rate buffer?

It is prudent when funds are held in another currency, because conversion rates and bank charges can change the sterling value.

Is the official maintenance amount enough for actual living costs?

Not necessarily. Actual spending depends on accommodation, city, lifestyle, transport and contract length.

What should I check before booking student accommodation?

Check the exact room, property, total rent, tenancy dates, bills, deposit, payment schedule, guarantor conditions, cancellation terms and commute.