UK Student Visa Funds: 5 Checks Before the 30 November 2026 Change

The UK Student-route monthly maintenance requirement changes on 30 November 2026. Check the application date, location, course length, tuition balance and evidence before relying on an old figure.

Source check completed: 2 November 2026
By UniDoxia Editorial Team

If you expect to submit a UK Student visa application on or after 30 November 2026, do not build your financial plan around an older maintenance figure. The Immigration Rules change the monthly amount to £1,570 for London and £1,203 outside London. The date you apply matters: the official statement says the relevant Student-route changes take effect on 30 November 2026 and applications made before that date are decided under the rules in force on 29 November 2026.

This guide is for planning. Your exact evidence depends on your own application, course, sponsor and circumstances.

What is changing?

The published Home Office statement changes Appendix Student ST 12.3:

• London: £1,529 becomes £1,570 per month.
• Outside London: £1,171 becomes £1,203 per month.

The same statement confirms these changes take effect on 30 November 2026. Tuition fees are separate from the living-cost requirement.

The direct answer

Use the rules that apply on the date of your application—not the date of an old blog post, university webinar or forwarded message. If your planned application is close to 30 November, check the current GOV.UK rules again before you pay a visa fee or move money.

Five checks before you apply

1. Confirm the application date

The Home Office statement contains a transition rule for these Appendix Student changes. Do not assume that an earlier CAS, offer letter or bank statement fixes which maintenance amount applies. Record the date you intend to submit and check the live rules on that date.

2. Confirm whether your course is in London

The Student-route rule uses different monthly figures for London and outside London. Confirm the location stated for your actual course and sponsoring provider. A university brand can have more than one campus, so do not rely on a general marketing address.

Before paying a deposit, also check that the provider remains on the current UK student sponsor register. You can read our guide on checking a UK university's Student sponsor licence.

3. Separate tuition from living costs

The maintenance figure is not your complete financial plan. Your CAS and provider communications should make clear what tuition is due and what, if anything, has already been paid. Keep your tuition calculation and your living-cost calculation separate so you do not accidentally use one to cover the other.

4. Check the length of the financial period

The amount to show is tied to the relevant period in the Immigration Rules and your planned course. Do not multiply a monthly figure by a number you found in an old social-media post. Use the current Appendix Student and the caseworker guidance, then compare that with the details on your CAS.

5. Prepare genuine, readable evidence

The current caseworker guidance says financial evidence is assessed under the Immigration Rules and can be verified. Keep statements, translations and explanations accurate and consistent with the source of your funds. If something is unclear, resolve it before submission rather than altering or inventing evidence.

For a practical evidence refresher, see UK Student visa funds in 2026: evidence mistakes to avoid.

A simple planning checklist

Before you submit, confirm:

1. the date you will apply;
2. whether your course location is London or outside London;
3. the current monthly maintenance figure;
4. your course fees and any payments already recorded on the CAS;
5. the relevant financial period and current evidence rules;
6. that your sponsor is currently licensed; and
7. that every document is genuine, complete and understandable.

Need help organising your study plan?

UniDoxia can help prospective students compare courses, universities and application requirements. We provide educational guidance and application support; we do not guarantee a visa, admission, scholarship or other outcome.

Official sources

• Home Office: Statement of changes to the Immigration Rules, HC 584
• GOV.UK: Immigration Rules, Appendix Student
• UKVI: Student and Child Student caseworker guidance
• GOV.UK: Register of licensed sponsors: students

Read our editorial policy for how UniDoxia checks and updates student guidance.

This is general educational information, checked on 2 November 2026. It is not legal or immigration advice. Immigration requirements can change; confirm your position using the current official rules and, where needed, regulated professional advice.