UK Student Visa Maintenance Requirement Rises on 30 November 2026

The UK Student visa maintenance requirement is going up. From 30 November 2026, students applying for a UK Student visa will need to show slightly more money for living costs. The change was set out in the Statement of Changes to the Immigration Rules HC 584, laid on 3 September 2026. The Home Office then updated its Student caseworker guidance on 16 October 2026 to reflect the increase.

Here is what is changing, who it affects and where to check the official rules.

What is the maintenance requirement?

Most Student visa applicants must show they have enough money to pay any course fees still owed, plus a fixed amount for living costs. This living-cost amount is called the maintenance requirement. Under Appendix Student of the Immigration Rules, you count it for each month of your course, up to a maximum of nine months. The amount is higher if you study in London.

You must also show you have held the money for a 28-day period, unless an exception applies, such as official financial sponsorship.

The new Student visa maintenance amounts

According to HC 584, the monthly amounts change as follows from 30 November 2026:

• Studying in London: £1,529 rises to £1,570 a month.
• Studying outside London: £1,171 rises to £1,203 a month.

For a course of nine months or longer, this means the maximum living-cost amount becomes:

• London: £14,130 (up from £13,761).
• Outside London: £10,827 (up from £10,539).

These figures are for living costs only. Any course fees still owed to your university are added on top.

Accommodation deposits

The rules let you reduce the money you need to show if you have paid a deposit for accommodation arranged by your university. The maximum deposit you can offset rises from £1,529 to £1,570, in line with the London monthly amount. The Home Office's updated Student caseworker guidance notes this change.

Who is affected?

HC 584 includes a transitional rule. Applications made before 30 November 2026 will be decided under the Immigration Rules in force on 29 November 2026. Applications made on or after 30 November 2026 fall under the new amounts.

This matters most for students applying for January and spring 2027 intakes, and for anyone planning a September 2027 start. Students who have been living in the UK with permission for 12 months or more and are applying to stay are not required to show funds under the current rules.

Other changes in the latest update

The same statement of changes and guidance update also:

• added rules for students taking part in Erasmus+ at participating UK sponsors, which took effect on 8 October 2026
• renamed Ecctis, the UK body that compares international qualifications, as the Qualification and Language Service in the Home Office guidance

What students should do now

At the time of writing, the GOV.UK Student visa money page still shows the current amounts. Check it again before you apply, and confirm with your university what your Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) shows as already paid.

EduQuantica does not give immigration advice. UK Student visa applications for our students are handled by Internations Legal LLP, a solicitor firm regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA). If you are planning your budget, our scholarship search and guide to studying in the UK can help, or Book a free 30-minute consultation.