UK Student Visa Financial Requirements 2026: 28-Day Rule

For a UK Student visa you must show living costs of £1,529 a month in London or £1,171 a month elsewhere, for up to nine months, plus any unpaid first-year tuition on your CAS. The money must stay in your or your parent's account for 28 consecutive days. Higher figures apply from 30 November 2026.

How much money do you need for a UK student visa?

The Home Office sets a monthly living-cost figure and asks you to show it for each month of your course, up to a maximum of nine months. Where you study decides which figure applies:

• Studying in London, now: £1,529 a month, so £13,761 for nine months.
• Studying elsewhere in the UK, now: £1,171 a month, so £10,539 for nine months.
• Studying in London, from 30 November 2026: £1,570 a month, so £14,130.
• Studying elsewhere, from 30 November 2026: £1,203 a month, so £10,827.

If your course is shorter than nine months, you show the monthly figure for each month of the course instead. For a standard one-year master's, you show the full nine months.

The London figure depends on where you'll study, not where you plan to live. If your campus is in London, use the London amount, and check gov.uk if your university teaches across more than one site. If you're unsure, ask your university's international team which figure it expects you to show.

Which figure applies: now or from 30 November 2026?

The higher figures apply from 30 November 2026. If your application goes in on or after that date, plan on the new amounts. If you'll apply in the weeks just before it, the simplest move is to hold the higher amount anyway. Over nine months the difference is £369 for London and £288 elsewhere, and holding it removes any doubt.

If you're starting in January 2027, you'll probably apply after 30 November, so budget on the new figures from the start. And don't top up halfway through the 28 days: the run only counts from the day the full amount is in the account.

How do you add the tuition on your CAS?

On top of living costs, you must show any first-year tuition you haven't paid yet. Your CAS lists the first-year fee and what you've already paid, and the difference is what you add.

Deposits count. If you pay part of your fees before your CAS is issued and the university records it, the amount you have to show drops by the same sum. If you pay after the CAS is issued, ask the university to update the record and keep the official receipt. If a scholarship covers part of your tuition, ask your university how it's recorded on the CAS and keep the award letter with your documents.

Here is how it works in practice. Say you'll study outside London and apply now. You'd show £10,539 for living costs plus the unpaid tuition on your CAS. Apply on or after 30 November 2026 and the living-cost part becomes £10,827.

What is the 28-day rule?

The money has to be in the account for 28 consecutive days, and the balance must never fall below the total you need on any single day of that period. It isn't an average. One day below the line breaks the run.

The period also has to end close to your application date. Your bank statement or letter must be dated no more than a set number of days before you apply, so check the current figure on gov.uk and time your statement to match. Use an official statement or a letter from the bank rather than screenshots from a banking app.

In practice, put the full amount in, add a buffer for bank charges, don't touch the account and apply soon after the 28 days are up. If your money is held in rupees or taka, exchange-rate movements can push the pound value below the line, so keep a larger buffer and convert at the current rate before you decide how much is enough.

Whose account can the money be in?

Your own account or your parent's (a legal guardian also counts, with proof of guardianship). Money in a sibling's, uncle's or family friend's account doesn't count, even if they have promised it to you. If you use a parent's account, you'll usually need:

• A bank statement or letter covering the full 28 days.
• Proof that you're their child, such as your birth certificate.
• A letter from your parent confirming you can use the money for your studies.

Education loans and official sponsorship can also count if they meet the Home Office's conditions. The money has to be funds you can actually access, so property, shares and similar assets don't count. gov.uk sets out what's accepted, and it's worth reading before you move anything.

What gets applications refused?

Most funds problems are avoidable. These are the ones to watch:

• The balance dipped below the required total for even one day of the 28.
• The statement was dated too early, so the 28-day period ended too long before the application.
• The wrong figure was used, such as the elsewhere amount for a London course, or the unpaid tuition was left out.
• The money was in a parent's account without the birth certificate and consent letter.
• The statement didn't clearly show the account holder, account number, bank and balance across the whole period.

Each of these comes down to dates and paperwork. Set a calendar reminder for day 1 and day 28, get the statement printed after day 28 rather than before it, and check the figures against your CAS one last time.

Next steps

Work out your total, living costs plus unpaid tuition plus a buffer, in the study-abroad cost calculator, and read our UK study guide for the rest of the visa process. If you're comparing destinations, Germany uses a blocked account instead, so see how Germany's costs compare.

FAQ

How much bank balance is required for a UK student visa?

£13,761 for London or £10,539 elsewhere for a course of nine months or more, plus unpaid first-year tuition. From 30 November 2026 the figures are £14,130 and £10,827.

Can I use my parent's account for a UK student visa?

Yes, with proof of your relationship and your parent's written consent. An account in another relative's name doesn't count.

What happens if my balance drops for one day?

The 28-day run is broken, and the Home Office can refuse the application on that basis. Restart the 28 days with the full amount before you apply.

Does money held in rupees or taka count?

Yes, it's valued in pounds. Keep a buffer so exchange-rate movement doesn't push you under the required amount, and check the pound value again just before you apply.