The United Kingdom will increase the amount international students must show for living expenses when applying for student visas, with the revised requirements taking effect Nov. 30, 2026.
For a student attending a university or college in London, the required maintenance funds for a course lasting nine months will rise to £14,130, up from £13,761. The monthly requirement will increase from £1,529 to £1,570.
New amounts for students outside London
Students whose institutions are outside London will need to demonstrate access to £1,203 per month, compared with the previous requirement of £1,171. For a nine-month course, the new total is £10,827, an increase of £288.
| Study location | Previous monthly amount | New monthly amount | New nine-month total |
|---|---|---|---|
| London | £1,529 | £1,570 | £14,130 |
| Outside London | £1,171 | £1,203 | £10,827 |
The maintenance requirement is separate from tuition and other visa-related charges. Applicants therefore must document the living funds in addition to the money needed for their academic program and the applicable costs of obtaining a visa.
The changes apply to international students broadly, including Nigerian students. Peoples Gazette reported the revised figures Wednesday. The new rules mean applicants planning to study in London will need to document £369 more than under the previous nine-month requirement. Students outside London will need to show £288 more.
International enrollment and proposed university levy
U.K. higher education institutions enrolled 685,565 international students during the 2024-25 academic year, representing 24% of the total student population, according to figures cited in the coverage.
The U.K. government is also proposing an annual levy of £925 per international student on universities beginning in 2028. The proposed proceeds would support grants for domestic students. British universities have warned that a decline in international enrollment could affect the viability of that proposal.
Students applying under the new rules will need to account for the higher maintenance amounts when preparing their visa applications after the Nov. 30 start date.
