Financial requirements for a Student visa application

You must be able to show that you have:  

• your course fees as stated on your CAS
• £1,171 per month for living costs, up to 9 months (a total of £10,539) 

If your course is shorter than 9 months, you must show £1,171 for each month of study, based on the start and end dates on your CAS. 

Funds may be held in GBP or another recognised currency. If not in GBP, the amount must meet the minimum required amount on the date you submit and pay for your online visa application, using the OANDA currency converter. If you are using the Syrian Pound or Iranian Rial, use the FCDO Consular Exchange Rate instead of OANDA. 

If you have already paid part of your course fees and this is recorded on your CAS, the amount paid can be deducted from the total funds you need to show. Similarly, if you have paid some or all of your College accommodation costs, up to £1,529 can be recorded on your CAS and deducted from the living costs amount you are required to demonstrate. 

You can demonstrate you have the required funds using: 

• your own money 
• your parent’s money  
• your partner’s money (if your partner is in the UK or applying at the same time) 
• a student loan from a government, government sponsored loan company, or a regulated student loans scheme 
• official financial sponsorship from the University, a national government*, an international organisation or an international company

You cannot use funds held in accounts where the funds cannot be accessed immediately, or financial instruments such as shares, bonds, cryptocurrency, credit cards. 

*UKVI has confirmed that funding provided by local authorities, regional or state governments or state-owned or government-linked entities does not meet the definition of official financial sponsorship.  

Using a bank account 

If you are using funds held in a bank account, this would usually be evidenced using a bank statement showing that the required funds have bene held for at least 28 consecutive days.  

• The 28 days is calculated from the date of the last transaction shown on the statement.  
• The end date of the 28-day period must be within the 31 days prior to the date you submit your online Student visa application. 

Alternatively, you may provide a bank letter or a Certificate of Deposit, if it clearly confirms the required funds have been held for at least 28 consecutive days.  

Using parent funds 

If using funds held in your parent(s) account, you must also provide: 

• your birth certificate, as evidence of relationship 
• a letter from your parent(s) confirming the relationship and giving consent to you to use their funds to study in the UK 

Official financial sponsorship  

If your financial sponsorship is from the collegiate University, it can be recorded on your CAS. If it covers your full fees and living costs, you do not need any additional evidence. Check this when you receive your CAS.  

If your sponsorship is external to the collegiate University and not recorded on your CAS, you must upload an original sponsor letter that includes: 

• your name 
• the sponsor’s name and contact details 
• the date of the letter 
• the length of the sponsorship 
• the amount of money provided or confirmation that all fees and living costs are covered 

Student loan  

You must provide a loan letter confirming that the loan is in your name and dated no more than 6 months before your visa application. The letter should confirm: 

• the amount of the loan 
• that there are no conditions on the release of the funds 
• that the money will be available before you begin your course 

The following nationalities qualify for differentiation arrangements within visa policy: 

Australia • Austria • Bahrain • Barbados • Belgium • Botswana • Brazil • Brunei • Bulgaria • Cambodia • Canada • Chile • China • Croatia • Cyprus • Czech Republic • Denmark • Dominican Republic • Estonia • Finland • France • Germany • Greece • Hong Kong • Hungary • Iceland • Indonesia • Ireland • Italy • Japan • Kazakhstan • Kuwait • Latvia • Liechtenstein • Lithuania • Luxembourg • Macao • Malaysia • Malta • Mauritius • Mexico • Netherlands • New Zealand • Norway • Oman • Peru • Poland • Portugal • Qatar • Romania • Serbia • Singapore • Slovakia • Slovenia • South Korea • Spain • Sweden • Switzerland • Taiwan • Thailand • Tunisia • United Arab Emirates • United States of America 

If you hold a nationality from one of these countries, you do not need to submit financial evidence with your visa application.  

You must still meet the financial requirements and hold the necessary funds in the manner required by UKVI as outlined above. UKVI reserves the right to request financial evidence while assessing your application. This is not routinely expected but, if it does occur, the request will be sent by email.