Short answer: Where you must demonstrate maintenance funds for a Student visa, the current living-cost figure is £1,529 a month in London or £1,171 outside London, for up to nine months, plus the relevant outstanding course fees. Qualifying funds normally need to be held for 28 consecutive days, with that period ending within 31 days of application.
Having enough money today does not always mean the financial evidence is ready. The amount, account, holding period and document dates need to work together. This guide explains the maintenance evidence; it does not establish every aspect of Student eligibility.
Calculate tuition and living costs separately
Start with your Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies, or CAS. Check the course fee information and any payments recorded. Do not deduct a tuition deposit twice or rely on a payment that has not been appropriately evidenced.
| Study location | Monthly maintenance | Nine-month illustration |
|---|---|---|
| London | £1,529 | £13,761 |
| Outside London | £1,171 | £10,539 |
The official Student money page defines London as the City of London and the 32 boroughs. Use the actual study arrangements rather than assuming your home address determines the rate. Shorter courses, boarding arrangements and dependants require their own calculations.
The 28-day holding period
Under the usual funds assessment, the required balance must be available throughout the qualifying period. If it drops below the necessary amount, a high final balance does not make the earlier shortfall disappear.
For example, a student who receives a tuition refund into the account shortly before application should not assume the account has held the full requirement for the previous month. Build a dated balance check instead of counting statement pages.
The Finance Rules explain the evidence framework. There are specific arrangements for qualifying student loans and official financial sponsorship; those should be assessed on their own terms rather than forced into an ordinary savings example.
The separate 31-day timing check
The end of the qualifying 28-day period must normally fall within 31 days before the application date. This creates a second check: evidence can show a sufficient holding period yet still be too old for the date you apply.
Record the intended online submission date, the first and last days of the funds period, and the statement or bank evidence date. Recheck if you delay submission. Do not rely on an old plan after a CAS delay or a changed application date.
Which accounts and evidence can be used?
Check ownership, access and the financial institution’s acceptability. The rules control what funds and accounts can be relied on; an overdraft or credit limit is not available maintenance funds. Parent-held funds require the relevant relationship and consent evidence where permitted.
The financial evidence guidance explains acceptable records and particular funding arrangements. A screenshot showing a balance without the holder, institution or relevant period may not answer the required questions.
If money is held in another currency, the sterling conversion can affect the assessment. Keep a practical buffer where possible, but still calculate using the applicable conversion rules rather than a bank’s informal estimate.
What if you do not need to submit financial evidence upfront?
Some applicants have different evidence arrangements, and a person with qualifying UK permission held for the relevant 12 months may not need to demonstrate maintenance funds. Read the actual rule for your circumstances.
Being allowed not to send evidence upfront is not necessarily the same as being exempt from the underlying requirement. The Home Office may ask for evidence where the rules permit. Keep the records ready rather than treating a nationality-based evidence arrangement as permission to ignore finances.
Your final money checklist
- Check outstanding tuition against the CAS and payment records.
- Confirm the correct study-location maintenance rate and months.
- Add eligible dependants’ financial requirements separately.
- Verify the account, ownership and funding arrangement.
- Check every day of the required holding period.
- Check the timing against the actual submission date.
- Retain the original evidence securely.
Frequently asked questions
Can I show only the visa application fee?
No. Application fees, IHS and maintenance funds are separate questions. Meeting one does not establish the others.
Can expected UK part-time wages meet the initial maintenance requirement?
Do not treat future work as funds already evidenced for the application. Use the permitted funding arrangements.
Does a CAS guarantee a Student visa?
No. Financial evidence and other route requirements, including any applicable nationality restrictions, remain relevant. Check the current Student overview.
Prepare the finances before the deadline
Our Student visa service can help check the evidence and application sequence within our scope. Speak to London Immigration Assistance with your CAS, funding details and dates. Our standard professional fee is £500 per application, per person for the agreed service, separate from government and third-party charges.
Official sources
Sources checked: 6 October 2026. Check the current official requirements for your application date.
- GOV.UK: money
- GOV.UK: immigration rules appendix finance
- GOV.UK: financial evidence for student and child student route applicants
- GOV.UK: student visa
This guide provides general information and is not a decision about your individual eligibility. Rules and charges can change. The agreed service and care letter set out our professional scope; no outcome is guaranteed.