UK Student Visa Financial Requirements: Complete Guide to Maintenance Funds

Last updated: June 2025

Getting your UK Student Visa financial requirements right isn’t just about having enough money—it’s about proving it the right way, at the right time, with the right documentation. One miscalculation or documentation error can delay your visa by months or lead to outright rejection.

At AVID, we’ve guided thousands of students through these requirements. This comprehensive guide gives you the expert-level clarity you need to navigate the financial maze successfully, whether you’re self-serving or considering our premium guidance.

Understanding UK Student Visa Financial Requirements

The UK Home Office requires international students to demonstrate they have sufficient funds to cover both their course fees and living expenses. This isn’t just a formality—it’s a critical assessment that determines whether your visa application succeeds or fails.

The Two-Part Financial Framework:

• Course fees: Evidence you can pay for your education
• Maintenance funds: Proof you can support yourself while studying

What this means for you: You must show you have enough money for both components, held in the correct way, for the required period before applying.

The maintenance fund requirement varies significantly based on where you’ll study. London students face higher requirements due to increased living costs, while those studying outside London have lower thresholds—but the documentation standards remain equally strict.

Real mistake we’ve seen—and how to avoid it: Many applicants calculate their requirements incorrectly by mixing London and non-London rates, or by failing to account for course fees already paid. Always double-check which category applies to your institution’s location.

The Home Office doesn’t just want to see you have the money—they want confidence you’ll have it throughout your studies. This is why the 28-day rule exists and why the source of your funds matters as much as the amount.

Minimum Amount Calculations

London Students (as of 2025):

• Maintenance requirement: £1,334 per month for up to 9 months = £12,006 maximum
• Course fee balance: Any unpaid portion of your first year’s fees
• Total requirement: Maintenance + unpaid course fees

Students Outside London:

• Maintenance requirement: £1,023 per month for up to 9 months = £9,207 maximum
• Course fee balance: Any unpaid portion of your first year’s fees
• Total requirement: Maintenance + unpaid course fees

What this means for you: If you’re studying a 6-month course in Manchester, you need £1,023 × 6 = £6,138 in maintenance funds, plus any unpaid course fees. If you’ve already paid £5,000 of your £15,000 annual fees, you need £6,138 + £10,000 = £16,138 total.

Course Duration Impact: The maintenance calculation is based on your course length, capped at 9 months for the initial visa application. Longer courses don’t require additional maintenance funds for the first visa—extensions are handled separately.

If you’re applying from a high-refusal-rate country: Be particularly careful with calculations. Consider having 10-15% above the minimum requirement to account for currency fluctuations and to demonstrate financial stability.

Optional—but strongly recommended by AVID experts: Maintain balances 20% above minimum requirements. This buffer protects against currency fluctuations and shows financial stability to visa officers.

Detailed Maintenance Fund Calculations

Understanding exactly how much you need requires careful calculation based on your specific circumstances. The Home Office formula isn’t just about multiplication—it involves strategic considerations that can make or break your application.

Step-by-Step Calculation Process:

Step 1: Determine Your Location Category Your maintenance rate depends on where your main campus is located, not where you might occasionally study. London institutions include universities within the Greater London area. If you’re unsure, check your CAS (Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies) or contact your institution.

Step 2: Calculate Course Duration Count the months from your course start date to end date. Partial months count as full months. For example, a course running from September 15 to June 10 equals 10 months, but you only need funds for up to 9 months maximum.

Step 3: Apply the Monthly Rate

• London: £1,334 × number of months (max 9)
• Outside London: £1,023 × number of months (max 9)

Step 4: Add Unpaid Course Fees Only include fees you haven’t already paid to your institution. If you’ve paid a deposit, deduct this from your total course fees before including the balance in your calculation.

Real-World Examples:

Example 1: London MBA Student

• Course: 12-month MBA at London Business School
• Course fees: £35,000 (£10,000 deposit paid)
• Calculation: (£1,334 × 9) + £25,000 = £37,006 required

Example 2: Manchester Master’s Student

• Course: 8-month Master’s at University of Manchester
• Course fees: £18,000 (fully paid)
• Calculation: £1,023 × 8 = £8,184 required

What this means for you: Your calculation must be precise. Rounding down or miscounting months can result in showing insufficient funds, leading to automatic refusal.

If you’re applying from Nigeria, India, Pakistan, or Bangladesh: Visa officers scrutinize financial evidence more closely from these countries. Ensure your calculations are conservative and your documentation is impeccable.

Currency Considerations: If your funds are in a foreign currency, use the exchange rate from XE.com or OANDA on the date of your bank statements. Don’t use favorable rates from other sources—consistency with widely recognized rates is crucial.

Optional—but strongly recommended by AVID experts: For international currency accounts, maintain balances 15-20% above requirements to account for rate fluctuations between your bank statement date and visa decision date.

The Critical 28-Day Rule

The 28-day rule is where most applications fail, not because students don’t have enough money, but because they can’t prove they’ve had it for the required period. This rule exists to prevent applicants from borrowing money temporarily just to meet visa requirements.

The Rule Explained: Your financial evidence must show you’ve held the required funds for a consecutive 28-day period ending no more than 31 days before your visa application date.

What this means for you: If you apply for your visa on July 15th, your bank statements must show sufficient funds from at least May 17th through June 14th (28 consecutive days), and the latest statement must be dated no earlier than June 14th.

Real mistake we’ve seen—and how to avoid it: Students often get statements too early or too late. Plan your statement requests carefully. Get statements that show the 28-day period ending within 31 days of when you’ll submit your visa application.

Balance Consistency Requirements: Your account balance must never drop below the required amount during the 28-day period. Even a single day below the threshold invalidates your evidence.

Common Timing Errors:

• Applying too quickly after receiving funds
• Getting bank statements too early in the process
• Not accounting for weekends and holidays in the 28-day count
• Using statements that are too old by application date

If you’re applying from countries with unstable currencies: Start the 28-day period with higher balances to account for potential currency devaluation during the period.

Banking Period Best Practices:

• Request statements showing at least 35 days to ensure you capture the full 28-day requirement
• Avoid large transactions during the 28-day period
• Don’t transfer funds between accounts during this period
• Keep accounts active but stable

What happens if you fail the 28-day rule: Your visa will be refused, and you’ll need to wait another 28 days with consistent funds before reapplying. This can delay your course start by months.

Optional—but strongly recommended by AVID experts: Begin maintaining required funds 45 days before your intended application date. This gives you flexibility if you need to adjust timing or if your first set of statements has issues.

Acceptable Financial Evidence Types

Not all financial documents are created equal in the eyes of UK visa officers. Understanding which evidence types are accepted—and which carry more weight—can significantly impact your application’s success.

Tier 1: Primary Evidence (Strongest)

Personal Bank Statements:

• Must be official statements from the bank
• Should show account holder name, account number, and bank details
• Must cover the full 28-day period plus the statement date
• Online statements are acceptable if they include all required information

What this means for you: Personal bank statements in your name are the gold standard. If you have sufficient funds in your own account, use these over any other option.

Tier 2: Acceptable Alternatives

Official Loan Documentation:

• Government student loans with official approval letters
• Educational loans from recognized financial institutions
• Must clearly state loan amount, purpose, and disbursement terms
• Loan availability must cover your study period

Scholarship Award Letters:

• Official letters from recognized scholarship providers
• Must specify award amount and coverage period
• Should clearly state funds are for educational purposes
• Must be from government bodies, recognized foundations, or your university

Tier 3: Sponsor Support Evidence

Parent/Guardian Financial Support:

• Bank statements in sponsor’s name (subject to same 28-day rule)
• Sponsorship letter declaring financial support
• Proof of relationship (birth certificate for parents)
• Sponsor’s employment/income verification

Real mistake we’ve seen—and how to avoid it: Students often mix evidence types without understanding the requirements. If using parent sponsorship, ALL evidence must be properly documented—their bank statements, sponsorship letter, relationship proof, and income evidence.

Government Sponsorship:

• Official sponsorship letters from government bodies
• Confirmation of financial support coverage
• Clear statement of support duration and amount

Documentation Standards:

• All documents must be in English or officially translated
• Bank statements must show currency clearly
• Electronic statements need proper bank authentication
• Paper statements should include bank stamps/seals where standard

If you’re applying from countries with strict foreign exchange controls: Government sponsorship or official education loans may carry more weight than personal funds, as they demonstrate official support for your studies.

What not to use:

• Cryptocurrency holdings
• Investment portfolios (unless converted to cash)
• Property valuations
• Pending loan applications
• Cash deposits without clear source documentation

Optional—but strongly recommended by AVID experts: If you have multiple acceptable evidence types, lead with the strongest (personal bank statements) and include secondary evidence as supporting documentation.

Common Financial Documentation Mistakes

Understanding what goes wrong helps avoid the pitfalls that trap thousands of applicants annually. These aren’t theoretical mistakes—they’re real errors we see repeatedly that result in visa refusals.

The Insufficient Calculation Error: Mistake: Students miscalculate their requirements by using outdated rates, wrong location categories, or incorrect course durations. Real impact: Automatic refusal, even if the shortfall is minimal. How to avoid: Always use current Home Office rates, verify your institution’s location category, and count course months carefully.

The 28-Day Documentation Gap: Mistake: Bank statements don’t cover the full consecutive 28-day period or show balance drops below requirements. Real impact: Evidence is invalid, requiring complete re-documentation. How to avoid: Plan your 28-day period carefully and avoid any account activity that could drop your balance.

The Currency Conversion Confusion: Mistake: Using favorable exchange rates not recognized by Home Office or failing to account for rate fluctuations. Real impact: Appears as insufficient funds when converted at official rates. How to avoid: Use recognized exchange rate sources and maintain higher balances in foreign currencies.

What this means for you: These mistakes are entirely preventable with proper planning and understanding of requirements.

The Source of Funds Problem: Mistake: Large deposits appear in accounts during the 28-day period without clear explanation. Real impact: Visa officers question the legitimacy of your funds. How to avoid: Complete all fund transfers before starting your 28-day period, and be prepared to explain any large deposits.

The Joint Account Trap: Mistake: Using joint accounts without proper documentation of access rights. Real impact: Cannot prove personal access to funds. How to avoid: Use personal accounts or provide additional documentation proving your access to joint funds.

If you’re applying from countries with high refusal rates: Pay extra attention to fund source documentation. Be prepared to explain the source of any significant deposits or transfers.

The Statement Timing Error: Mistake: Getting bank statements too early or too late in relation to visa application timing. Real impact: Statements are too old to be valid by application date. How to avoid: Plan your statement requests to align with your visa application timeline.

The Multiple Account Complication: Mistake: Spreading required funds across multiple accounts without proper calculation. Real impact: Difficult to prove total funds meet requirements. How to avoid: Consolidate funds into fewer accounts or provide clear calculations showing total available funds.

Real mistake we’ve seen—and how to avoid it: One student had £15,000 in their account for 27 days, then £14,800 on day 28. Despite having well above minimum requirements overall, the single-day shortfall invalidated all their evidence.

Alternative Funding Sources and Documentation

When traditional personal savings aren’t sufficient, alternative funding sources can meet visa requirements—but each comes with specific documentation requirements and potential complications.

Official Government Sponsorship: Government-backed sponsorship often carries the most weight with visa officers, as it demonstrates official support for your educational journey.

Required Documentation:

• Official sponsorship letter on government letterhead
• Clear statement of financial coverage (tuition and/or living expenses)
• Sponsorship duration and terms
• Contact information for verification

What this means for you: Government sponsorship can cover part or all of your financial requirements, but documentation must be official and comprehensive.

Educational Loans: Student loans from recognized financial institutions are widely accepted, but require careful documentation to prove availability and terms.

Documentation Requirements:

• Official loan approval letter
• Loan terms including amount, interest rate, and repayment schedule
• Disbursement timeline showing funds available for your studies
• Bank confirmation of loan facility

If you’re applying from countries with limited international student loan programs: Consider alternative lenders or government education finance schemes that may be available.

Family Financial Support: Parent or guardian support requires the most comprehensive documentation but remains a viable option for many students.

Complete Documentation Package:

• Sponsor’s bank statements (subject to 28-day rule)
• Sponsorship declaration letter
• Proof of relationship (birth certificate, family registration)
• Sponsor’s employment verification or income proof
• Legal authorization for support (if required in your country)

Real mistake we’ve seen—and how to avoid it: Students often provide incomplete family support documentation. All elements must be present and properly authenticated.

Scholarship and Grant Funding: Academic scholarships can significantly reduce your financial burden, but require proper documentation of award terms and payment schedules.

Essential Documentation:

• Official award letter from scholarship provider
• Terms and conditions of the scholarship
• Payment schedule and coverage details
• Confirmation of any requirements to maintain funding

Optional—but strongly recommended by AVID experts: Even with scholarship funding, maintain some personal funds as a buffer. Scholarships can be delayed or have unexpected requirements.