UK student visa money rule: the 28 day rule explained

What money the UK asks you to show

A UK Student visa application asks you to show two kinds of money. This guide uses two GOV.UK pages: the Student visa money page, last updated 31 October 2024 according to its metadata, and the financial evidence guidance, whose page history shows a latest update on 31 December 2025 to the student visa living cost section. It explains the rule in plain English. It cannot tell you whether a visa will be granted.

First, you need enough money to pay for your course for 1 academic year, up to 9 months. The amount is shown on your CAS, the Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies that your university gives you. Second, you need money to support yourself while you study. These are separate lines, so keep them apart in the family budget.

Living cost amounts: London and outside London

GOV.UK sets the living cost amount by where you will study. In London it is GBP 1,529 per month. Outside London it is GBP 1,171 per month. Both apply for up to 9 months. London here means the City of London and the 32 London boroughs, so check which side of that line your campus falls on.

At Rs 126.99 for one pound on 23 October 2026, outside London for 9 months is GBP 10,539, about Rs 13.4 lakh. London for 9 months is GBP 13,761, about Rs 17.5 lakh. So the living funds alone fall somewhere between about Rs 13.4 lakh and Rs 17.5 lakh, depending on the city. Course fees shown on the CAS are in addition to this. Rates will move, and your bank may use a different rate.

Our living cost guide compares living funds across countries, and the UK guide brings UK costs, universities and application steps together.

The 28 day rule in plain English

You must have had the money for at least 28 days in a row. The end date of that 28 day period must be within 31 days of your application date. The 28 days are counted back from the date of the closing balance on the most recent evidence you provide.

Bank evidence must be from no more than 31 days before you apply. In practice, this means the money should sit untouched in the account for the full period. If the balance dips below the amount needed on any day inside those 28 days, the evidence may not meet the rule. Do not move money in and out during this time, even for a short while.

Plan the dates backwards from the day you expect to apply. Write down when the money must be in place, when the 28 days end and the latest date your statement can be from. Share that plan with whoever holds the account, such as a parent.

What evidence counts and what does not

GOV.UK accepts money held in personal bank or building society accounts, such as current or savings accounts. Evidence can be bank statements, either paper or electronic downloads, passbooks, certificates of deposit and letters from the bank.

Some things do not count: overdrafts, cryptocurrency, stocks and shares, pensions, and unregulated or non-electronic bank accounts. If part of the family savings sits in these, it cannot be used to show funds. Our documents checklist helps you keep loan and visa papers in one place.

Some nationalities are exempt from showing funds upfront. The GOV.UK list includes Australia, Canada, Germany and the United States among others, but even exempt applicants may still be asked. Check the GOV.UK list for your own nationality rather than assuming. If you bring dependants, they need extra money. The amounts are on a separate GOV.UK page, so read that page directly.

Using an education loan as evidence

If you rely on a student loan, the evidence is a letter from the lender. The GOV.UK page says a student loan means a loan from a government, a government sponsored loan company, or a regulated student loans scheme.

The loan letter must be dated no more than 6 months before you apply. It must confirm the loan type, confirm there are no conditions on release of the loan other than a successful application to study, state the amount, confirm the loan is for you, and confirm the money will be available to you or paid directly to the sponsor before the course begins.

Do not assume a normal Indian sanction letter meets these points. Before the visa application, ask your lender in writing whether its sanction letter can meet each point above. Our guide to questions to ask a lender can help you frame the request. Then test the full loan in the calculator to see the EMI before you commit.

The UK money rule in short

Show course fees for 1 academic year as listed on your CAS, plus living costs of GBP 1,529 per month in London or GBP 1,171 per month elsewhere, for up to 9 months. Hold the money for 28 days in a row, ending within 31 days of applying. If you use a loan, get a lender letter that meets every GOV.UK point. Confirm the current rules on GOV.UK before you act. This is general information, not financial advice.

Frequently asked questions

Related guides