International students planning to study in the UK will need to show more money for living expenses under new visa rules.
The UK Home Office has announced that from November 30, 2026, students heading to London must prove they have £1,570 per month for living costs, up from £1,529. For a nine-month course, that raises the total from £13,761 to £14,130.
For students outside London, the monthly requirement will rise from £1,171 to £1,203, taking the nine-month total from £10,539 to £10,827.
The maintenance money is separate from tuition fees, the £558 student visa fee and the £776 yearly Immigration Health Surcharge. Applicants must have held the total funds for at least 28 consecutive days before applying.
The funds can be in the student’s own account, a parent’s account, through a student loan or official sponsorship. Those who have lived in the UK with valid permission for at least 12 months are usually exempt from showing proof.
The change comes as the UK continues to tighten its student route, with 685,565 international students enrolled in the 2024/2025 academic year, about 24% of the student population.
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