UK Student Visa Maintenance Funds To Rise From November 2026, Here’s Why
The UK will increase the maintenance funds required for international students applying for a Student visa from November 30, 2026. Students in London will need to show £1,570 (approximately ₹2 lakh) per month, while those studying outside London will need £1,203 (around ₹1.54 lakh).
Indian students planning to study in the UK will need to show a higher amount of money for their living expenses when applying for a Student visa from November 30, 2026.
The UK government has increased the minimum maintenance funds that international students must demonstrate as part of their visa application. The revised amounts have been included in the latest changes to the UK’s Immigration Rules.
The maintenance funds are meant to show that students have enough money to support themselves during their studies. This amount is separate from the tuition fees they need to pay to their university or college.
New UK Student Visa maintenance funds
Under the revised requirements, students studying in London will need to show £1,570 (approximately ₹2 lakh) per month, compared with the current requirement of £1,529 (around ₹1.95 lakh). This represents an increase of £41, or approximately ₹5,200, per month.
For students studying outside London, the monthly maintenance requirement will increase from £1,171 (around ₹1.49 lakh) to £1,203 (approximately ₹1.54 lakh). This is an increase of £32, or around ₹4,100, per month.
The revised amounts are applicable for a maximum of nine months when calculating the financial requirement.
| Study location | Current requirement | New requirement from Nov 30, 2026 |
| London | £1,529 (₹1.95 lakh) | £1,570 (₹2 lakh) |
| Outside London | £1,171 (₹1.49 lakh) | £1,203 (₹1.54 lakh) |
For nine months, students applying to study in London will therefore need to demonstrate £14,130 (approximately ₹18.03 lakh) in maintenance funds. Those studying outside London will need to show £10,827 (approximately ₹13.82 lakh).
What the new rules mean for Indian students
The increase means that Indian students planning to pursue higher education in the UK will need to account for the additional financial requirement while preparing their visa applications.
Students should also remember that these funds are intended to cover living expenses and are separate from their course fees. The amount they need to show will depend on where their institution is located.
Those preparing to apply for a UK Student visa should check the financial requirement applicable on the date of their application and make sure they meet the updated threshold.
The changes come as the UK continues to attract a large number of international students, including those from India. For students and families planning their education budgets, the higher maintenance requirement will be an additional cost to factor into their overall study-abroad expenses.
With the new rules taking effect from November 30, 2026, students planning to submit their visa applications around this date should carefully check the latest requirements before submitting their applications.
