Student visa · United Kingdom · 2027 entry
How Much Money Do You Need for a UK Student Visa? A Worked Comparison of UCL, Edinburgh, Manchester and Glasgow
Financial evidence is still one of the most common reasons UK Student visas are refused, even though the rules are clear. In this guide I explain how the required amount is calculated, why London costs more, which documents parents need, and when the money should be in the account for a September 2027 start.
Key points
- You must show the unpaid tuition for the first year plus nine months of living costs.
- From 30 November 2026, living costs are £14,130 for London and £10,827 for the rest of the UK.
- The money must be held for 28 consecutive days, and that period must end no more than 31 days before you apply.
- Depending on the university and course, the total is roughly £39,000 to £55,000.
- The visa fee and the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) are paid on top of this amount.
How the amount is calculated
The visa officer checks that the student can pay for the first year. The calculation always follows the same formula:
The university states the tuition fee on the CAS (Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies), the electronic document you need before you can apply for the visa. Any payment already made is also recorded on the CAS and deducted. Paying a deposit, or the full first year, therefore reduces the amount the family has to hold in the account.
The living-cost rate depends on where the student studies: in London or elsewhere in the UK. For visa purposes, London means the City of London and the 32 London boroughs. What counts is where you study, not where you live.
These rates apply to applications made on or after 30 November 2026. Earlier applications used £1,529 and £1,171 per month.
If you have paid the university directly for its own accommodation, you can deduct that payment too, up to a maximum of one month's living-cost rate (£1,570 in London, £1,203 elsewhere).
Comparison: what to show for 2027 entry
I took two programmes at each of four universities and calculated the amount for a student who has paid nothing before applying. Fees are for international students starting in the 2027/28 academic year.
| University and programme | Tuition, year 1 | Living costs, 9 months | Total to show |
|---|---|---|---|
| UCL · Economics BScLondon · 3 years | £40,800 | £14,130 | £54,930 |
| UCL · History BALondon · 3 years | £33,300 | £14,130 | £47,430 |
| University of Edinburgh · standard fee bandEdinburgh · 4 years | £31,100 | £10,827 | £41,927 |
| University of Edinburgh · higher fee bandEdinburgh · 4 years | £40,900 | £10,827 | £51,727 |
| University of Manchester · Alliance MBS business degreesManchester · 3 years | £34,800 | £10,827 | £45,627 |
| University of Manchester · BA Liberal Arts with International StudyManchester · 4 years | £29,200 | £10,827 | £40,027 |
| University of Glasgow · Arts and Social SciencesGlasgow · 4 years | £28,275 | £10,827 | £39,102 |
| University of Glasgow · Science and EngineeringGlasgow · 4 years | £33,708 | £10,827 | £44,535 |
Medicine is priced separately and costs much more: the international MBChB fee is £59,700 a year at Edinburgh and £67,112 at Glasgow. The exact fee is always on the course page and on your CAS.
Two patterns stand out. First, London costs more than tuition alone suggests: the living-cost rate by itself adds £3,303 to the amount you must show. Second, Scottish universities often require less money up front for comparable programmes, but a Scottish bachelor's degree takes four years rather than three, so the full budget has to cover four years.
The 28-day rule
This is the technical requirement families get wrong most often.
- The full amount must be held for 28 consecutive days, and the balance must not drop below it on any single day.
- The last day of the 28-day period must be no more than 31 days before the date of application.
- Funds held in another currency are converted to pounds at the exchange rate on the date of application. I recommend keeping a 5–10% buffer for currency movements.
Whose money counts, and which documents you need
The funds can be in the student's own account or a parent's account. If a parent holds the funds, prepare:
- A bank statement or bank letter showing the account holder's name, account number, bank name, date and balance for the whole 28-day period.
- The student's birth certificate to prove the relationship.
- A parental consent letter confirming the money is available for the student's studies in the UK.
- Certified translations of any document not in English.
- If the student is under 18 on the date of application, consent from both parents for the travel, living arrangements and studies in the UK.
Applicants from countries on the UKVI tuberculosis testing list, including Russia, also need a TB test certificate from a UKVI-approved clinic. The certificate is valid for six months.
Fees paid separately
These are not part of the funds you show, but they belong in the budget from the start:
- Visa application fee: £558 (since 8 April 2026).
- Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS): £776 per year of visa, paid upfront for the whole period. That is about £2,716 for a three-year course in England and about £3,492 for a four-year course in Scotland.
Get the exact amount for your course
Send me your university and programme. I will calculate the funds you need for the visa, check whether your bank documents meet the requirements, and draw up a preparation timeline.
WhatsApp: +1 226 888 4959 · Email: interadmission@infostudymail.com
Timeline for a September 2027 start
- By spring 2027Confirm your firm choice, check the exact tuition fee, and decide whether to pay a deposit or the first year in advance to reduce the funds you need to show.
- No later than early July 2027Place the full amount, plus a currency buffer, in the account and leave it untouched.
- June–July 2027Take the TB test if required, and prepare translations, the consent letter and the birth certificate.
- July–August 2027Once final results arrive, the offer becomes unconditional and the university issues the CAS.
- As soon as you receive the CASApply for the visa. You can apply up to six months before the course starts. A decision usually takes about three weeks, and priority processing is available for an extra fee.
- September 2027Arrival and start of studies.
My advice to families
Compare the cost of the whole degree, not just the first year. UCL and Edinburgh fix international undergraduate tuition for the length of the course. Manchester reserves the right to raise it by up to 7% a year. Scotland sets a lower bar for the visa but adds a fourth year of tuition and living costs.
Prepare the money earlier than seems necessary. The university issues the CAS when the student is ready to apply. If the funds go into the account only after the CAS arrives, the 28-day clock starts too late and arriving for the start of term is at risk.
Use prepayment as a tool. Every pound paid to the university and recorded on the CAS lowers the amount you must hold. For families who find it hard to keep a large sum in one account for 28 days, this is often the simplest solution.
If your child already studies at a UK school, check whether they can apply from inside the UK. Applicants who have held a valid UK visa for at least 12 months and apply without leaving the country do not have to provide financial evidence.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to show money for every year of the course?
No. You show the unpaid first-year tuition and living costs for up to nine months, however long the course is.
Can the money be in my parents' account?
Yes. You need the bank statement, the student's birth certificate and a parental consent letter. Documents in other languages must be translated into English.
Which rate applies to a university on the edge of London?
It depends on where the student actually studies. If the campus is in one of the 32 London boroughs or the City of London, the London rate applies. Otherwise the outside-London rate applies.
What happens if the balance drops below the required amount for one day?
That breaks the 28-day rule and is a common reason for refusal. The 28-day period then has to start again.
Are the visa fee and IHS included in the funds I show?
No. They are paid separately when you apply.
Book a UK admissions consultation
University shortlisting, UCAS applications, budget planning and Student visa support for international families.
WhatsApp: +1 226 888 4959 · Email: interadmission@infostudymail.com
Sources
Living-cost rates and the 28-day rule: GOV.UK, Student visa: money you need, and analysis of the 30 November 2026 change (OTS Solicitors). Fees: GOV.UK, Student visa fees. Tuition: official university pages (UCL, University of Edinburgh, University of Manchester, University of Glasgow). Always check every figure against GOV.UK and your CAS before applying: rules and fees are reviewed regularly.