UK student visa applicants will need more living-cost funds from 30 November

The application date determines the required amount

UK Student visa applications made from 30 November 2026 will face higher living-cost requirements under the Home Office’s Statement of Changes HC 584, published on 3 September. The monthly amount rises from £1,529 to £1,570 for London and from £1,171 to £1,203 elsewhere. The change concerns maintenance evidence, rather than the application charge.

For nine months, the calculated new totals are £14,130 in London and £10,827 elsewhere, with tuition fees additional. The maximum offset for a qualifying payment towards sponsor-arranged accommodation also rises from £1,529 to £1,570.

The implementation provision preserves the previous rules for applications made before 30 November. Receiving an offer or preparing documents before that date does not itself fix the applicable threshold. Use HC 584 to check the commencement provision alongside the date of the actual application.

Plan the bank evidence before applying

The Home Office’s Financial Evidence guidance explains how to demonstrate accessible funds. Where relying on personal bank funds, the required money must generally have been held for 28 consecutive days. Evidence must be dated no more than 31 days before the visa application. A recent high balance does not demonstrate the required history if the money only arrived shortly beforehand.

The guidance accepts appropriate bank statements, building-society passbooks, certificates of deposit and bank letters. The evidence needs to identify the account holder, the institution and available money. Funds in an immediately accessible account can belong to the applicant or, under the stated conditions, a parent or partner. A parent must consent to their money being used.

Cryptocurrency, overdrafts, stocks and shares are among the resources the guidance excludes. Qualifying student loans and official financial sponsorship have separate evidence requirements. Foreign-currency funds are converted using the specified OANDA rate on the application date. Keep the evidence verifiable: the Home Office warns that inability to verify it with the bank can lead to refusal.

Check whether the financial evidence requirement applies

The official Student Visa: Money You Need page helps applicants identify exceptions. Someone applying after at least 12 months in the UK with valid permission may not need to demonstrate these funds. Student union sabbatical officers also have a stated exemption. The relevant conditions should be checked against the person’s actual immigration history.

The page separately lists nationalities and territories covered by differential evidence arrangements, including Australia, Canada, China and the United States. Applicants should use the official list rather than assume a regional exemption. Differential evidence treatment does not eliminate the financial requirement: UK Visas and Immigration can request the records before deciding. London is defined as the City of London and the 32 London boroughs, so the institution’s location matters to the calculation.

Put the financial documents into the complete application

The official Documents You Will Need page sets out the core application evidence: a valid passport or other travel document and a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies from the course provider. Depending on the case, tuberculosis results, an Academic Technology Approval Scheme certificate, financial evidence or written consent from a recent financial sponsor may also be required.

Applicants under 18 need the relevant parental or guardian consent covering the visa, travel, and UK living and care arrangements, plus evidence of the parental relationship. These requirements are distinct from the bank-balance calculation. A complete financial record cannot replace a required certificate or consent. Use the document page to identify which supporting items apply before choosing a submission date.

Budget for charges and avoid premature travel

The Student Visa overview currently lists £558 for an application from abroad and £558 for extending or switching inside the UK. The healthcare surcharge is an additional application cost, with the total depending on the length of permission. These payments should be budgeted separately from the money demonstrated for maintenance and outstanding course fees.

The overview also explains the arrival limits: up to a week before a course lasting six months or less, or a month before a longer course, subject always to the visa’s actual start date. The immediate next step for a November applicant is to match the expected filing date to the correct maintenance amount, establish the required evidence history, and complete the course-specific document checklist. The cited pages do not guarantee a decision before a particular departure date.