UK STUDENT VISA FINANCIAL REQUIREMENT TO INCREASE FROM NOVEMBER 30, 2026

International students planning to study in the United Kingdom will need to show more money for living expenses from November 30, 2026, as the UK increases the financial requirement for Student visa applications.

The United Kingdom is set to increase the amount international students must demonstrate for living expenses when applying for a UK Student visa.

The new financial requirement will take effect on November 30, 2026, meaning students planning to submit their visa applications from that date will need to meet the higher maintenance-fund threshold.

The increase is particularly important for students from major international education markets, including Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya and South Africa, as applicants and their families will need to factor the additional funds into their overall study-abroad budget.

How Much Money Will UK Students Need from November 30, 2026?

Under the new requirement, students will need to demonstrate the following amounts for living expenses:

Study location	Current requirement	From November 30, 2026	Increase
London	£1,529 per month	£1,570 per month	£41/month
Outside London	£1,171 per month	£1,203 per month	£32/month
London – up to 9 months	£13,761	£14,130	£369
Outside London – up to 9 months	£10,539	£10,827	£288

The maintenance requirement is separate from tuition fees.

For students studying in London, the maximum amount that may need to be demonstrated for living expenses will therefore increase to £14,130 for up to nine months.

For students studying outside London, the corresponding maximum will become £10,827.

Why Is the UK Increasing the Student Visa Financial Requirement?

The UK links the international student maintenance requirement to the level of financial support available to domestic students for living costs.

As the relevant domestic living-cost support increases, the amount international students are required to demonstrate can also be adjusted.

The latest increase comes as the UK continues to review its immigration and international education policies amid changes in the cost of living.

Students should therefore avoid planning their visa finances around today’s minimum threshold if they intend to apply several months in the future.

The 28-Day Bank Balance Rule Remains

One of the most important points for prospective international students is that the 28-day financial evidence rule has not changed.

Applicants who need to demonstrate personal funds generally need to show that they have held the required amount for at least 28 consecutive days.

The balance must not fall below the required amount during that period.

Applicants must also ensure that their financial evidence meets the applicable timing requirements when they submit their visa application.

This means students should not wait until the last minute to arrange their finances.

A student who deposits the required money shortly before submitting a visa application may not satisfy the financial evidence requirements.

Example

If a student applying from November 30, 2026 needs to demonstrate £14,130 for a London-based course, they should plan their finances so that the required funds remain available for the required 28-day period.

Even a temporary drop below the required threshold could create problems with the financial evidence.

The New Requirement Is Separate from Tuition Fees

The maintenance requirement does not replace the student’s tuition-fee requirement.International students must still demonstrate that they can meet the applicable tuition requirements, normally based on the information contained in their Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS).

Students should therefore think about their UK Student visa finances as having several components:

Tuition fees + maintenance funds + visa application fee + Immigration Health Surcharge + travel and other study-related costs.

The UK government confirms that students may need to provide evidence showing that they have enough money to support themselves and pay for their course.

What About the Immigration Health Surcharge?

The Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) is separate from the student visa maintenance requirement.

Applicants should therefore not count their IHS payment as part of the money they are required to demonstrate for living expenses.

Students should budget for the IHS in addition to tuition and maintenance funds.

Who Will Be Affected by the Increase?

The new financial requirement will affect international students applying for a UK Student visa under the new rules.

This means prospective students from countries such as:

and other international student markets

Nigeria

Ghana

Kenya

South Africa

India

Pakistan

Bangladesh

Canada

United States

should review the financial requirement applicable on the date they submit their visa application.

The important issue is not simply when a student receives an admission offer, but the requirements that apply when the visa application is made.

What If You Apply Before November 30, 2026?

Students who submit their student visa application before the new rules take effect should generally be assessed against the requirements applicable to their application date.

However, students should not rush to submit an incomplete or poorly prepared visa application simply to meet an earlier financial threshold.

A successful UK Student visa application involves more than meeting the maintenance requirement. Applicants must also satisfy the relevant eligibility, documentation and immigration requirements.

What Nigerian Students Should Know

For Nigerian students planning to study in the UK, the increase makes early financial planning even more important.

Currency fluctuations can significantly affect the naira equivalent of the required funds.

For example, although the official requirement is stated in pounds sterling, the amount a Nigerian family needs to set aside in naira will depend on the prevailing exchange rate at the time they prepare their funds.

Students should therefore avoid budgeting based solely on a fixed naira figure months before their application.

Instead, families should:

1. Confirm the latest UK Student visa financial requirement.
2. Confirm whether the institution is in London or outside London.
3. Calculate the required maintenance funds.
4. Budget separately for tuition fees.
5. Allow for visa fees and the Immigration Health Surcharge.
6. Maintain the required funds for the prescribed period.

1. Keep appropriate financial evidence.
2. Review the requirements again immediately before submitting the visa application.

London vs Outside London: Why Your University Location Matters

Where a student studies has a direct impact on the maintenance requirement.

Students studying in London will need to demonstrate more money than students studying outside London.

From November 30, 2026:

London: £1,570 per month, up to £14,130 for nine months.

Outside London: £1,203 per month, up to £10,827 for nine months.

This difference is another reason students should consider the total cost of studying in the UK rather than focusing only on tuition fees.

A university with lower tuition outside London may offer a substantially different overall budget from a university located in London.

Students Should Start Financial Planning Early

The increase reinforces an important lesson for international students: UK student visa financial planning should begin well before the visa application.

Because the required funds generally need to be maintained for 28 consecutive days, students cannot simply transfer the money into an account immediately before their visa appointment and expect that to satisfy the requirement.

Students should also make sure their bank statements and other financial documents meet the UK’s evidence requirements.

The UK government states that applicants relying on funds generally need to demonstrate that the required money has been held for the specified period.

What This Means for Students Planning to Study in the UK in 2027

Students intending to begin university in the UK in 2027 should plan to use the new financial requirements, unless the rules change again before their application.

The UK has indicated that these amounts are subject to review, so prospective students should not assume that the November 2026 figures will remain unchanged indefinitely.

For students beginning their application process now, this means financial planning should be based on the possibility of further changes.

Absolute Destinations’ Advice to Prospective UK Students

At Absolute Destinations, we recommend that students begin their UK study journey early rather than waiting until they are ready to submit their visa application.

A strong study-abroad plan should consider:

University selection → admission → tuition deposit → CAS → financial planning → visa documentation → Student visa application → travel → arrival and settlement.

Understanding the financial requirement early gives students and their families more time to prepare the necessary funds and avoid last-minute financial pressure.

Key Takeaways

The most important points for prospective UK international students are:

• New UK Student visa financial requirements take effect on November 30, 2026.
• Students studying in London will need £1,570 per month.
• Students studying outside London will need £1,203 per month.
• The maximum maintenance requirement for nine months becomes £14,130 in London.
• Outside London, the maximum becomes £10,827.
• The 28-day financial evidence requirement remains important.
• Maintenance funds are separate from tuition fees.
• Students should budget separately for the Immigration Health Surcharge and visa costs.
• Applicants should check the requirements applicable on the date they submit their visa application.
• Students should begin financial planning well before their intended visa application date.

Planning to Study in the UK?

If you are planning to study in the UK from Nigeria, Canada or another country, Absolute Destinations can help you plan your study-abroad journey from university

selection and admission through tuition payment, visa preparation and travel arrangements.

Start planning early. The earlier you prepare, the easier it is to meet the financial and documentation requirements for your UK Student visa.