Students applying for a UK Student visa on or after 30 November 2026 will need to show higher maintenance funds, under the Statement of Changes to the Immigration Rules HC 584, published on 3 September 2026. For study in London, the monthly figure rises to £1,570, or £14,130 for a nine-month course, up from £1,529 and £13,761. Outside London, it rises to £1,203 a month, or £10,827 for nine months, up from £1,171 and £10,539.

The date that matters is the application date

The figure that applies is decided by the date the visa application is submitted, not the course start date or the date a confirmation of acceptance for studies is issued. Applications submitted on or before 29 November 2026 can still use the current, lower figures. Applicants are generally expected to have held the required funds for 28 days, so planning the timing of an application matters as much as the amount itself.

A related Graduate route change

Separate changes reported alongside HC 584 affect the Graduate route: for applications from 1 January 2027, bachelor's and master's graduates will be able to stay and work for 18 months, rather than two years, while PhD graduates keep three years. Applicants should check the official GOV.UK Graduate visa pages for the rules that apply to their own application date.

Check the official page before you apply

Immigration rules change frequently, and individual circumstances, such as dependants, course length and where a student will live, can affect the amount required. Always check the official GOV.UK pages and the HC 584 statement before applying. This brief is general news information, not personal immigration advice. Sources: GOV.UK, Statement of Changes HC 584; OTS Solicitors summary.