New Delhi: Indian students planning to pursue higher education in the United Kingdom will need to demonstrate higher funds for living expenses when applying for a Student visa from November 30, 2026. The UK government is increasing the minimum financial maintenance requirement, raising the amount applicants must show they can access during their studies.
Under the revised rules, students studying in London will need to demonstrate £1,570 per month, compared with the existing £1,529. For students studying outside London, the monthly requirement will increase from £1,171 to £1,203.
The revised amounts apply for a maximum of nine months. This means students applying for courses lasting nine months or longer will need to show up to £14,130 for living expenses in London and £10,827 outside the capital.
The change is relevant to Indian applicants preparing for upcoming university intakes, particularly those planning to submit their visa applications on or after November 30. The financial requirement is separate from tuition fees and other costs associated with studying in the UK.
How much money will students need to show?
The revised maintenance requirement varies according to the location of the institution. Students whose main place of study is in London face a higher threshold than those studying elsewhere in the UK.
The revised figures are:
| Study location | Existing monthly requirement | New monthly requirement | New maximum for nine months |
|---|---|---|---|
| London | £1,529 | £1,570 | £14,130 |
| Outside London | £1,171 | £1,203 | £10,827 |
For students studying in London, the monthly increase is £41. Over nine months, this raises the maximum amount they must demonstrate by £369, from £13,761 to £14,130.
For students outside London, the monthly increase is £32. The nine-month requirement will rise by £288, from £10,539 to £10,827.
These figures represent the minimum funds applicants must demonstrate for living expenses under the Student visa rules. They are not payments made to the UK government or additional visa charges.
Tuition fees must be accounted for separately
Students should not treat the maintenance requirement as the complete amount needed for their visa application or their overall study budget.
The money required for living expenses is separate from tuition fees. Applicants must also demonstrate that they can cover any outstanding course fees for one academic year, as stated in their Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS).
The CAS is issued by the licensed education provider and contains important information about the student’s course and fees. The amount of tuition fees that remains unpaid will therefore affect the total funds an applicant needs to demonstrate.
Students should also budget separately for expenses such as accommodation deposits, travel, visa application charges and the Immigration Health Surcharge, where applicable.
The maintenance requirement is a minimum financial threshold for visa purposes. It should not automatically be treated as a realistic estimate of all the money a student will spend during their time in Britain.
The 28-day bank balance rule
The existing financial evidence requirements will remain important for Indian applicants preparing their applications.
In general, applicants must show that the required funds have been held for at least 28 consecutive days. The end of that 28-day period must fall within 31 days of the date the visa application is submitted.
The money must be held in an account that meets the UK immigration rules. Depending on the applicant’s circumstances, acceptable evidence may also include a qualifying student loan or official financial sponsorship.
Students relying on funds held by a parent or legal guardian must ensure they meet the applicable documentation requirements. They should check the latest UK government guidance before submitting their applications, as incorrect or incomplete financial evidence can create problems during the visa process.
India is not included in the nationalities covered by the UK’s differential evidence requirement. Indian applicants should therefore be prepared to provide financial evidence with their application unless a specific exemption applies.
Why is the UK increasing the requirement?
The UK Home Office has linked the revised maintenance amounts to the maintenance loans available to domestic students for the 2026–27 academic year.
The financial threshold is reviewed annually, and the latest increase is intended to keep the amount international students must demonstrate aligned with the support available to students in the UK.
The government has indicated that the requirement will continue to be reviewed. The increase is part of the wider framework governing the Student visa route and the financial conditions applicants must satisfy.
Which applications will be affected?
The date of submission is particularly important for students applying around the end of November.
The revised financial requirements will apply to Student visa applications submitted on or after November 30, 2026. Applications submitted before that date will be assessed using the existing maintenance figures, subject to the rules applicable to the individual case.
Students who are close to submitting their applications should therefore check the relevant threshold rather than relying on older financial guidance or figures circulated by education consultants.
Those planning to apply after November 30 should calculate their required funds using the new monthly amounts and the location of their university. They should also check how much tuition remains unpaid, as stated in their CAS.
What Indian students should do before applying
The increase is relatively modest in monthly terms, but students and families should account for it while planning their finances. Applicants preparing for the January 2027 intake, as well as those planning later admissions, should ensure that their financial arrangements meet the rules in force on the date they apply.
Students should confirm the location-based maintenance amount, calculate the outstanding tuition fees, and ensure that the required money has been held for the prescribed period. They should also verify that their bank statements, loan documents or sponsorship evidence meet the relevant requirements.
The revised rules do not mean that every student must immediately transfer the entire nine-month amount into a UK bank account. Applicants need to demonstrate access to qualifying funds in accordance with the immigration rules.
With the November 30 deadline approaching, Indian students should use the updated figures when preparing their applications and consult the latest guidance published by the UK government. Careful financial planning and correctly prepared documents can help avoid delays or complications in the visa process.