UK to Raise Student Visa Maintenance Requirement From November 2026: Living Cost Threshold for UK Student Visas Rises in November 2026 meaning that UK Student Visa Applicants Must Show More Money as proof of funds in their account.
The United Kingdom is set to increase the amount of money international students must demonstrate for living expenses when applying for a UK Student visa from 30 November 2026.
The change is part of the latest UK Immigration Rules update announced by the Home Office and is expected to affect international students applying for Student visas from that date.
According to the Home Office, the maintenance requirement will be increased to reflect the maintenance loans available to UK home students for the 2026/2027 academic year. The government said the student maintenance threshold will continue to be reviewed annually.
New UK Student Visa Financial Requirement
Under the reported revised figures, students applying from 30 November 2026 will need to demonstrate funds of up to:
| Study location | New maintenance amount for up to 9 months |
|---|---|
| London | £14,130 |
| Outside London | £10,827 |
The amounts are for living costs and are separate from tuition fees and other costs associated with obtaining a UK Student visa. The Economic Times reported the new figures as part of the November 2026 changes.
The Home Office’s official explanatory memorandum confirms that students must demonstrate funds for each month of their course, subject to a maximum of nine months, and that the accommodation offset will also be updated.
Change Takes Effect on 30 November 2026
The new maintenance requirement will not take effect immediately.
The Home Office’s Statement of Changes in Immigration Rules specifies that the annual uplift to the Student Route maintenance requirement will come into effect on 30 November 2026. Other immigration changes contained in the same package have different implementation dates.
This means the date an applicant submits a Student visa application will matter when determining which financial requirement applies.
Why the UK Is Increasing the Requirement
The Home Office said the maintenance threshold is linked to the level of maintenance loans available to UK home students.
The latest increase is part of an annual adjustment mechanism that the government previously agreed as part of measures intended to address abuse of the Student route.
The Home Office said the maintenance requirement will continue to align with the maintenance loans available to home students in future years.
Accommodation Offset Also Changes
The financial update will not only affect the amount students must demonstrate for living expenses.
The government is also increasing the maximum accommodation offset.
This provision allows students who have already paid a qualifying deposit for accommodation in the UK to demonstrate a lower amount of maintenance funds.
The Home Office said the accommodation offset has been updated in line with the new maintenance requirement.
What the Change Means for International Students
The increase means prospective international students will need to plan for a larger financial requirement when preparing their UK Student visa applications from the end of November.
Importantly, the maintenance requirement is not the same as the total cost of studying in Britain.
Students must still account separately for tuition fees, visa-related costs, healthcare charges, accommodation and other expenses associated with studying in the UK.
The UK government states that Student visa applicants must have enough money to support themselves and pay for their course, with the required maintenance amount depending on their circumstances.
Students Planning to Apply Before November 30
Students who are ready to submit their applications before the new rules take effect should pay close attention to the applicable rules and evidence requirements for their application date.
Those planning applications after 30 November 2026 should budget using the revised maintenance figures rather than relying on the previous threshold.
Applicants should also ensure that their financial evidence meets the Home Office’s rules on acceptable funds and evidence.
UK Student Visa Rules Continue to Change
The maintenance increase comes amid a series of changes to the UK’s immigration system.
The latest Statement of Changes also contains amendments affecting areas including Erasmus+, the EU Settlement Scheme, victims of modern slavery and domestic abuse, and other immigration routes. However, those measures have separate implementation dates.
The Student visa maintenance increase is specifically scheduled for 30 November 2026.
Impact on Nigerian Students
For Nigerian students planning to study in the UK, the change means the financial planning stage of the Student visa process will become more important.
Students should not calculate their study-abroad budget using tuition fees alone. The required maintenance funds are intended to demonstrate that they have sufficient resources to support themselves during their studies.
The increase does not mean that Nigerian students are being excluded from the UK Student route. It is a change to the financial evidence requirement that applies to Student visa applicants under the updated rules.
UK Student Visa Maintenance Requirement: Key Facts
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Route affected | UK Student visa |
| Change | Increase in maintenance funds |
| Effective date | 30 November 2026 |
| London requirement | £14,130 for up to 9 months |
| Outside London | £10,827 for up to 9 months |
| Tuition | Separate |
| Visa and other immigration costs | Separate |
| Accommodation offset | Also being updated |
| Basis for annual increase | Linked to UK home-student maintenance loans |
What Students Should Know
The UK is not increasing tuition fees through this particular measure.
The change concerns the amount of money international students must demonstrate for living expenses as part of the Student visa financial requirement.
The Home Office has confirmed that the revised requirement will take effect on 30 November 2026, with the new threshold aligned to the maintenance loans available to UK home students for the 2026/27 academic year.
Students preparing for UK study in 2027 should therefore take the revised financial requirement into account when planning their budgets.
The change is part of the UK’s continuing adjustment of Student route rules and does not by itself change university admission requirements.
Official Source
The latest Immigration Rules changes are published by the UK Home Office through the Statement of Changes in Immigration Rules HC 584. The government’s explanatory memorandum confirms the 30 November 2026 implementation date for the Student Route maintenance increase.
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