One of the most common reasons UK Student Visa applications are refused is failing to meet the financial (maintenance) requirements. The rules are detailed, and many applicants — especially those applying through agents unfamiliar with UKVI guidance — submit documentation that does not satisfy the standard. This guide explains exactly what you need and how to present it correctly.
The Core Financial Requirement
To be granted a UK Student Visa (formerly Tier 4), you must demonstrate that you have sufficient funds to:
- Pay any outstanding course fees (unless already paid to the university)
- Support yourself (and any dependants) during your studies
For 2026, the Home Office maintenance (living costs) requirement is:
- Studying in London: £1,334 per month, for up to 9 months (maximum required: £12,006)
- Studying outside London: £1,023 per month, for up to 9 months (maximum required: £9,207)
The 9-month cap means the maximum you ever need to show for living costs alone is £12,006 (London) or £9,207 (outside London), regardless of your course length.
Total funds required = outstanding course fees (as shown on your CAS) + applicable living costs allowance.
Example: If your CAS states £10,000 in unpaid fees and you are studying in Manchester (outside London), you need to demonstrate at least £10,000 + £9,207 = £19,207 in eligible funds.
What Counts as Eligible Funds
The following sources are accepted by UKVI:
- Personal bank account in your name (or your parents’ names, if they are sponsoring you)
- Savings accounts, fixed-term deposits (must be accessible — see below)
- Official financial sponsorship letter (e.g., government scholarship, employer sponsorship)
- Student loans from official government-backed lenders
Not accepted on their own: credit card limits, property valuations, business assets, informal loans from friends or relatives, or investment accounts where funds are tied up.
The 28-Day Rule
This is the rule most applicants get wrong. Your funds must have been held continuously for at least 28 consecutive days before the date of your application. The balance must not have dropped below the required threshold at any point during those 28 days.
“Topped up” funds — where money was recently transferred in to meet the requirement — are acceptable, provided the account shows the required balance continuously for 28 days before the application date. UKVI will typically check the closing balance on the date of the statement, and the lowest balance shown during the 28-day period.
Bank Statement Requirements
Your bank statement must:
- Be official (issued by the bank, not a self-printed internet summary)
- Show your full name, bank name, account number, and sort code/IBAN
- Be dated within 31 days of your visa application date
- Show transactions for the 28-day period
- Be in English or accompanied by a certified translation if in another language
For applicants in China: statements from major Chinese banks (ICBC, Bank of China, China Construction Bank, Agricultural Bank of China) are accepted. The statement must be stamped and signed by a bank official (银行流水盖章版), and an official bank-stamped balance certificate (存款证明) is recommended as a supplement.
If funds are held in a foreign currency, UKVI will convert using the exchange rate published by HMRC at the time of decision. For Chinese yuan (RMB), this means your RMB balance must convert to the required GBP amount at the prevailing rate — not at a rate you calculate yourself. It is safest to hold slightly more than the theoretical minimum to account for exchange rate fluctuation.
Official Sponsorship Letters
If your fees and/or living costs are being paid by an official sponsor (government scholarship, employer, or a registered charity), you must provide an official sponsorship letter stating:
- The sponsor’s name and address
- Your name and date of birth
- The period of sponsorship
- Exactly what the sponsor is covering (fees, living costs, or both)
- The amount being provided
CSC (China Scholarship Council) award letters are accepted as official sponsorship documents. If you hold a CSC scholarship, you may not need to demonstrate personal savings for the elements covered by the scholarship.
Common Refusal Reasons
Based on Home Office refusal notice patterns, the most frequent financial refusal reasons include:
- Balance dropped below threshold during the 28-day period: Even a single day where the balance was insufficient invalidates the funds.
- Funds transferred in less than 28 days before application: Topped-up funds where the top-up was too recent.
- Statement too old: Bank statement dated more than 31 days before the application date.
- Wrong account holder: Funds in a spouse’s or sibling’s account with no accompanying evidence of the relationship and their willingness to support.
- Translated statements without certification: Unofficial translations not certified by a qualified translator.
- Insufficient total: Only calculating living costs without adding outstanding fees.
Maintenance Evidence Checklist
Before submitting your visa application, verify all of the following:
- Bank statement covers at least 28 consecutive days
- Lowest balance during 28-day period meets the total requirement
- Statement dated within 31 days of application date
- Statement shows your name, bank name, account number
- Translated and certified if not in English
- Outstanding course fee amount confirmed from your CAS letter
- Total calculation: fees + living costs allowance checked
- If officially sponsored: sponsorship letter obtained and attached
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I use my parents’ account to meet the financial requirement? Yes, provided you submit evidence of your relationship (such as birth certificate) and the bank statement is clearly from your parent’s account. The UKVI guidance explicitly permits funds held by a parent or official sponsor.
Q: Is there a minimum time I need to hold the money after I apply? There is no requirement to maintain the balance after you submit your application. The 28-day period is pre-application.
Q: Do I need to show funds for the full length of my course? No. You only need to meet the 9-month cap, even for a 3-year degree. The assumption is you will work (up to 20 hours per week during term) or receive additional remittances.
Q: Can I show cryptocurrency holdings? No. Cryptocurrency is not accepted as evidence of financial means.
Q: What if my course fee appears as zero on the CAS because a scholarship covers it? If your scholarship appears in the CAS, you still need to demonstrate the living costs amount. Check the CAS carefully for the “money needed to be paid” figure.