UK Student Visa Maintenance Funds Increased: New Living Cost Requireme

Introduction

If you are planning to study in the UK in 2027, your financial preparation needs to account for a change to the Student visa maintenance requirement. From 30 November 2026, applicants must show a higher amount for living costs:

£1,570 per month in London or £1,203 per month outside London, for up to nine months.

The date you submit your visa application matters. A student applying before 30 November 2026 is assessed under the earlier figures; an application made on or after that date falls under the increased amounts. This guide explains what Indian applicants should budget for, how the 28-day holding period works, and how family savings or an education loan may be used as evidence. Rules can change, so check the official guidance again before submitting your application.

1. What are the UK Student visa maintenance funds for 2027?

The Home Office requires most Student visa applicants to show that they can pay their outstanding course fees and support themselves while studying. The living-cost element is known as the maintenance requirement. Under the changes published in Statement of Changes HC 584 on 3 September 2026, the monthly amounts increase for applications made from 30 November 2026.

For applications made before 30 November 2026: £1,529 per month in London (maximum £13,761 for nine months) and £1,171 per month outside London (maximum £10,539).

For applications made on or after 30 November 2026: £1,570 per month in London (maximum £14,130 for nine months) and £1,203 per month outside London (maximum £10,827).

The older figures of £1,483 per month in London and £1,136 outside London applied from 2 January 2025 and were later superseded by the £1,529 and £1,171 rates. The new November 2026 increase is a further change, not a replacement of the older 2025 figures alone.

London means the City of London and the 32 London boroughs. The location is based on where your course is delivered, not simply where you intend to rent a room. If your course includes a part-month, the Immigration Rules round the period up to the next full month. The nine-month cap applies to the standard maintenance calculation.

2. Maintenance funds are not the same as your actual cost of living

The visa maintenance figure is a minimum amount used to assess financial eligibility. It is not a promise that this amount will cover every student's real expenses. Rent, deposits, transport, food, utilities, course materials, insurance and personal spending can vary significantly by city, neighbourhood and lifestyle.

For example, a student may meet the visa requirement with £10,827 for nine months outside London, but their actual accommodation costs could make their personal budget higher. Treat the maintenance figure as a visa threshold, then prepare a separate month-by-month budget using the university's accommodation information and realistic local prices.

Also remember that maintenance funds are separate from unpaid tuition fees. The usual calculation is:

Outstanding course fees shown on your CAS + required maintenance funds = total funds to evidence.

Your Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) states the tuition fee amount and any payment already recorded. If you have paid a deposit or part of your tuition, make sure the CAS reflects it. If you paid after the CAS was issued, retain the university's official receipt and follow the sponsor's instructions on updating or evidencing the payment.

3. How the 28-day rule works

If you rely on money held in your own or a parent's bank account, the required amount must normally be held for at least 28 consecutive days. The balance must not fall below the amount you need at any point during that period. The 28 days are counted backwards from the closing balance date on the most recent financial evidence you submit.

The end date of that 28-day period must be no more than 31 days before your visa application date. In practical terms, do not arrange a statement too early and assume it will remain valid indefinitely. Coordinate the statement date with your planned online application date, and check that the full amount remained available throughout the complete period.

The account must be with a regulated bank or building society, use electronic record keeping, and allow immediate access to the money. Acceptable evidence can include bank statements, building society passbooks, certificates of deposit or a bank/building society letter. The evidence must show the account holder's name, financial institution and balance. UKVI may verify documents with the bank.

If the funds are held in Indian rupees or another foreign currency, UKVI converts the amount into pounds using the OANDA spot exchange rate on the date of application. Avoid planning to the exact rupee equivalent: exchange rates move, and a small buffer can help protect against a shortfall.

4. Can parents sponsor an Indian student's funds?

Yes. UKVI permits an applicant to rely on money held in a parent's account. The account must be controlled by the parent, and the parent must provide a letter confirming that they agree to the applicant using the money for the UK study and living costs.

Keep the supporting documents organised: the parent's financial evidence covering the full 28-day period, the parent's consent letter, and documents that clearly connect the account holder to the student. UKVI's published financial-evidence guidance specifically requires the parent's letter; check the latest application instructions for any additional evidence relevant to your circumstances.

The money must be legally acquired and immediately accessible. A balance that exists only on paper, is locked away, or cannot be withdrawn when needed may not meet the requirement. Do not move funds between accounts at the last minute without understanding how the transfer affects the evidence trail and 28-day period.

5. Can an education loan be used as UK Student visa financial evidence?

A qualifying student loan can be used instead of relying entirely on cash savings. The loan must come from a government, a government-sponsored student loan company, or an appropriate regulated student-loan or academic-education loan scheme. Not every personal loan or informal borrowing arrangement will qualify.

The loan letter must be dated no more than six months before the visa application. It should confirm that it is a

student loan, identify the student as the borrower or beneficiary, state the loan amount, and confirm that the funds will be available to the student or paid directly to the education provider before the course begins. It must not contain release conditions other than a successful application to study.

A qualifying loan or official financial sponsorship is treated differently from ordinary bank savings for the 28-day rule.

Check that the lender's letter contains all required information and that the loan arrangement meets the current Immigration Rules. If part of the required amount is covered by a loan and the rest by savings, make sure the combined evidence clearly covers the full financial requirement.

6. A practical example for January or September 2027

Imagine an Indian student applying on 10 December 2026 for a nine-month postgraduate course in Manchester beginning in January 2027. The CAS shows £12,000 in tuition fees still unpaid. Because the application is made after 30 November 2026 and the course is outside London, the student needs £10,827 for maintenance.

The total financial requirement in this example is £12,000 + £10,827 = £22,827. If the student has already paid a tuition deposit and the CAS records that payment, the outstanding tuition figure should be lower and the calculation should use that updated balance. The student could rely on eligible savings, a qualifying student loan, or a permitted combination of evidence.

For a September 2027 intake, the same approach applies: check the maintenance rates and Immigration Rules that are in force on the actual application date, not simply the month the course begins. A student applying in August 2027 should not assume that the November 2026 figures will remain unchanged forever. Recheck GOV.UK and the university's international student guidance before arranging the final bank statement or loan letter.

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7. Common mistakes to avoid

Using an outdated amount: Do not use £1,483/£1,136 or the pre-30 November 2026 rates for an application made after the new rules begin.

Forgetting unpaid tuition: Maintenance is only one part of the calculation. Check the exact outstanding tuition fee on your CAS.

Breaking the 28-day period: A temporary drop below the required balance can invalidate ordinary bank-fund evidence.

Submitting an old statement: The evidence must meet the 31-day timing rule.

Assuming every loan qualifies: A general personal loan or a conditional sanction letter may not meet the Student route requirements.

Confusing the visa minimum with a full budget: Plan separately for rent, deposits, travel and day-to-day expenses.

Relying on an accommodation deduction that does not apply: The limited offset is for qualifying payments to the student sponsor for accommodation arranged by that sponsor. Private landlord payments do not automatically qualify. From 30 November 2026, the maximum offset rises to £1,570.

8. Frequently asked questions

How much money does an Indian student need for a UK Student visa in 2027?

For applications made from 30 November 2026, the maintenance maximum is £14,130 for London or £10,827 outside London for nine months. Add any outstanding course fees shown on the CAS. Recheck the rules on the date you apply.

Does the £1,570 or £1,203 amount include tuition fees?

No. It covers maintenance only. Outstanding course fees are calculated separately and added to the required funds.

Can my father or mother show the bank balance?

Yes. A parent's account may be used, with a letter confirming consent for the student to use the money. The account must be controlled by the parent and the funds must meet the relevant availability and holding rules.

Does the 28-day rule apply to an education loan?

A qualifying student loan is an accepted evidence route and is treated differently from ordinary cash savings. The loan letter must meet the Home Office's content, provider,r and timing requirements.

Can I use a fixed deposit?

A certificate of deposit is listed as a possible form of evidence, but the money must be immediately accessible. Check the product's withdrawal terms and the current UKVI guidance before relying on it.

Will the maintenance amount increase again before September 2027?

It may be reviewed or changed. The Home Office has said the requirement is aligned with domestic student maintenance support and reviewed annually. Always confirm the amount in force when you apply.

Does meeting the financial requirement guarantee a Student visa?

No. It is one part of the eligibility assessment. Applicants must meet all relevant Student route requirements, and the Home Office makes the final decision.

Plan your UK student visa finances with clarity

A well-prepared financial file starts with the right maintenance figure, an accurate CAS tuition balance, and evidence that matches the permitted funding route. Indian students should allow enough time to organise savings or a qualifying loan, complete the 28-day holding period where required, and check the timing of their latest statement.

Haneeva Overseas provides guidance with visa documentation, financial evidence organisation, and education-loan planning. Explore Student Visa Processing Assistance, Education Loan Planning and UK study guidance. For support based on your course, intake,e and funding plan, contact Haneeva or email info@haneeva.com / call +91 81055 41166.

Haneeva provides guidance, not a visa decision or a guarantee of approval. Immigration rules can change, and students should verify the latest requirements directly with GOV.UK before submitting an application.

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UK Student Visa Maintenance Funds Increased: New Living Cost Requirements for 2027 Explained