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Planning to study in the UK? If you’re applying for a Student visa from 30 November 2026, there’s an important financial update you need to know.

The UK Home Office has announced an increase in the maintenance funds international students may be required to show as part of their Student visa application.

The new amounts will apply to applications submitted on or after 30 November 2026.

What is changing?

Students who are required to provide financial evidence will need to demonstrate that they have sufficient funds to cover their living expenses while studying in the UK.

📍 Studying in London

From 30 November 2026, you will need to show:

£1,570 per month

For the required nine-month period:

£1,570 × 9 = £14,130

📍 Studying outside London

The new requirement will be:

£1,203 per month

For nine months:

£1,203 × 9 = £10,827

For comparison, the current requirements are £1,529 per month for London and £1,171 per month outside London.

That means the new rates represent an increase of £41 and £32 per month, respectively.

When does this take effect?

The new requirements will apply to Student visa applications submitted from 30 November 2026.

If you submit your application before 30 November 2026, you will continue to be assessed under the requirements in place at that time.

This is particularly important if you are planning to begin your studies in January 2027, as many January intake applicants will submit their visa applications after the new rates take effect.

What does this mean for your UK study plans?

The maintenance requirement is only one part of your overall financial planning.

Remember that the required maintenance funds are separate from outstanding tuition fees you may need to pay or demonstrate.

When planning your budget, consider:

• Tuition fees
• Required maintenance funds
• Visa application costs
• Immigration-related charges
• Travel and accommodation
• Other costs associated with studying in the UK

If you plan to submit your visa application from 30 November 2026 onwards, make sure you are planning with the new maintenance figures, not the current ones.

Preparing your financial evidence

Before submitting your Student visa application, make sure you understand:

• Whether your institution is considered to be in London or outside London
• How much maintenance funding you need to demonstrate
• How long you must hold the required funds
• Which financial documents are accepted as evidence
• Whether you qualify for any applicable financial exemptions

Getting your financial evidence right is important. Insufficient or incorrectly prepared evidence can affect your visa application.

Need help with your UK Student visa?

If you’re currently preparing your UK Student visa application or planning to apply soon, we can help you navigate the process and prepare your application correctly.

Complete our form here, and one of our experienced Educational Consultants will contact you to discuss how we can support you.

Planning could make all the difference.

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