UK Student Visa Requirements 2026: Eligibility, Documents & Funds

Quick Summary Matrix: Key Figures at a Glance

Requirement	London	Outside London	Notes
Monthly Maintenance	£1,529	£1,171	Up to 9 months maximum
Total Living Costs (9 months)	£13,761	£10,539	Plus first year's tuition
Funds Holding Period	14 consecutive days	14 consecutive days	New rule from August 2026 (was 28 days)
Application Fee	£558	£558	Rose from £524 on 8 April 2026
Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS)	£776/year	£776/year	Discounted student rate, pro-rated for part-years
Standard Processing Time	~3 weeks	~3 weeks	From outside UK; ~8 weeks from inside UK
Earliest Application	6 months before course start	6 months before course start	Must apply before course begins
Graduate Route Duration	2 years (by 31 Dec 2026) → 18 months (from 1 Jan 2027)	Same	PhD retains 3 years
Dependants Eligibility	PhD/research only	PhD/research only	Taught master's banned from 2024

Step-by-Step Requirements & Deadlines

70-Point System Breakdown

To qualify for a UK Student visa in 2026, you must score 70 points across three mandatory criteria:

Points	Requirement	Evidence Needed
50 points	Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS)	Valid CAS from licensed sponsor, issued within last 6 months
10 points	Maintenance funds	Bank statements showing required amount held for 14 consecutive days
10 points	English language proficiency	CEFR B2 for degree level, B1 for below degree level

Application Timeline

1. 6 months before course start: Earliest you can apply if outside the UK
2. Receive unconditional offer: University issues CAS after you accept and meet conditions
3. Gather documents: Ensure funds are in account for 14 consecutive days before applying
4. Complete online application: Via gov.uk, pay £558 fee + IHS
5. Book biometrics appointment: At visa application centre or use UK Immigration: ID Check app
6. Decision: ~3 weeks from outside UK, ~8 weeks from inside UK
7. Travel: Up to 1 month before course start date if applying from outside UK

Proof of Funds & Financial Documentation Playbook

2026 Maintenance Funds Requirements

You must demonstrate you have enough money to cover:

• Remaining tuition fees for your first year (as shown on your CAS)
• Living costs: £1,529/month for London or £1,171/month outside London, up to 9 months maximum

Total living cost calculations:

• London: £1,529 × 9 = ** £13,761**
• Outside London: £1,171 × 9 = ** £10,539**

14-Day Funds Rule (August 2026 Update)

Acceptable Financial Evidence

✅ Accepted sources:

• Personal bank or building society accounts (in your name)
• Parent(s)' or legal guardian's account (with consent letter + birth certificate)
• Official financial sponsorship letters (government, scholarship bodies)
• Student loan disbursement letters from government-backed lenders
• Combined sources (e.g., personal account + parental support)

❌ Common refusal triggers:

• Funds not held for full 14 consecutive days
• Large unexplained deposits during the 14-day period
• Statement end date more than 31 days before application
• Account not in correct name or missing parental consent documentation
• Using non-UKVI approved financial institutions

Accommodation Payment Offset

If you've prepaid accommodation arranged by your student sponsor, you can offset up to ** £1,529** from your required maintenance funds—even if you paid more.

Example:

• Required maintenance (London): £13,761
• Prepaid sponsor accommodation: £5,000
• Offset allowed: £1,529 (maximum cap)
• Remaining funds to show: £13,761 - £1,529 = ** £12,232**

Visa Application Sequence & Interview Nuances

Document Checklist for 2026

Core documents (all applicants):

• Valid passport or travel document
• CAS reference number (issued within last 6 months)
• Financial evidence (bank statements covering 14 consecutive days)
• English language test result (IELTS UKVI, PTE Academic, TOEFL iBT, etc.)
• TB test certificate (if from listed country—use UKVI-approved clinic only)
• ATAS certificate (if studying sensitive STEM subjects at postgraduate level)

Additional for under-18s:

• Parental or legal guardian consent letter
• Birth certificate or adoption papers
• Proof of relationship to parent/guardian

For dependants (PhD/research students only):

• Partner's passport + marriage/civil partnership certificate
• Children's passports + birth certificates
• Additional maintenance funds: £845/month (London) or £680/month (outside London) per dependant, up to 9 months

Digital eVisa System (From June 2026)

What this means for you:

• No physical visa sticker in passport
• Access your status via UKVI online account
• Keep login credentials secure and update contact details
• Existing BRP holders must migrate to eVisa before end of 2026

Application Process Steps

1. Get unconditional offer from licensed student sponsor
2. Receive CAS (check all details match your passport and application)
3. Hold funds for 14 consecutive days in acceptable account
4. Complete online form at gov.uk (ensure all data matches CAS exactly)
5. Pay fees: £558 application fee + IHS (£776/year, pro-rated)
6. Book biometrics: At visa application centre or use UK Immigration: ID Check app (if eligible)
7. Submit supporting documents (upload or bring to appointment)
8. Wait for decision: ~3 weeks standard; priority (+ £500, ~1 week); super priority (+ £1,000, next working day)
9. Receive eVisa approval via UKVI account
10. Travel to UK: Up to 1 month before course start (if outside UK)

Critical Refusal Risks & How to Avoid Them

Top 10 Refusal Triggers in 2026

1. Funds not held for 14 consecutive days (new August 2026 rule)
2. Bank statement end date >31 days before application
3. CAS mismatch: Application details don't match CAS (course, fees, sponsor licence number)
4. TB test from non-UKVI approved clinic (for required nationalities)
5. Insufficient funds: Not showing full tuition + living costs
6. Unexplained large deposits during 14-day holding period
7. English test below required level: CEFR B2 for degree, B1 for below degree
8. Genuine student concerns: Inability to explain course choice, career plans, or UK study rationale
9. Previous immigration violations: Overstaying, working breaches, or prior refusals not disclosed
10. Dependant application ineligibility: Taught master's students attempting to bring family (banned from 2024)

Country-Specific Nuances

India, Nigeria, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Philippines:

• TB test mandatory from UKVI-approved clinic only
• Higher scrutiny on financial evidence (sudden deposits, third-party transfers)
• Longer processing times during peak season (up to 5-6 weeks reported in Nepal, Nigeria)

Botswana, Mauritius, Tunisia:

• Exempt from upfront financial proof under differential evidence requirement rules (2026)

What Happens After Refusal?

• No travel until you have valid visa/eVisa approval
• Reapply with corrected evidence (address the specific refusal reason in your new application)
• Administrative review available if you believe UKVI made an error (within 14 days of decision)
• Full refund of £558 fee only if UKVI hasn't started processing your application

Post-Study Work & Career Pathways

Graduate Route (Post-Study Work Visa)

Duration by qualification level:

Qualification	Apply by 31 Dec 2026	Apply from 1 Jan 2027
Bachelor's (BA/BSc/BEng)	2 years	18 months
Master's (MA/MSc/MBA/MRes)	2 years	18 months
PhD/Doctorate	3 years	3 years (unchanged)

Graduate Route benefits:

• Work full-time at any skill level, no sponsorship required
• Change jobs freely, hold multiple jobs, or be self-employed
• No need to retake English tests or prove maintenance funds
• Travel in/out of UK freely during visa validity

Graduate Route limitations:

• Cannot work as doctor/dentist in training (unless UK medical/dental degree)
• Cannot claim most public funds
• Cannot extend Graduate Route or add new dependants
• Does not count towards indefinite leave to remain (ILR)

Work Rights During Studies

Standard allowances for full-time degree-level students:

• Term time: Up to 20 hours per week
• Vacations: Full-time work permitted
• After course completion: Full-time work until visa expiry (if you've completed your programme)

Prohibited activities:

• Self-employment (except after course completion in some cases)
• Working as professional sportsperson or sports coach
• Filling permanent full-time vacancies (unless on recognized foundation programmes)
• Working beyond allowed hours (breach can lead to visa cancellation and future refusals)

Dependants Rules (2026)

Who CAN bring dependants:

• PhD, doctoral, or other postgraduate research students (RQF Level 8, or research-based Level 7 courses where research significantly outweighs taught modules)
• Government-sponsored students on courses over 6 months (UK or foreign government sponsorship)
• Students on courses that began before 1 January 2024 (transitional arrangements)

Who CANNOT bring dependants:

• Undergraduate students (BA, BSc, BEng, etc.)
• Taught master's students (MSc, MA, MBA, LLM, etc.)
• Foundation or pre-sessional course students

Dependant maintenance funds (if eligible):

• London: £845/month per dependant, up to 9 months
• Outside London: £680/month per dependant, up to 9 months

Next Steps Checklist for Candidates

Pre-Application Checklist

• Receive unconditional offer from licensed UK student sponsor
• Obtain CAS (verify all details: name, course dates, fees, sponsor licence number)
• Calculate total funds needed: tuition + £13,761 (London) or £10,539 (outside London)
• Ensure funds are in acceptable account for 14 consecutive days before applying
• Book English language test (if not already completed) — aim for CEFR B2 or higher
• Schedule TB test at UKVI-approved clinic (if from listed country)
• Check if ATAS certificate required (sensitive STEM subjects at postgraduate level)

Application Submission

• Complete online form at gov.uk (double-check all data matches CAS exactly)
• Pay £558 application fee + IHS (£776/year, pro-rated)
• Upload supporting documents or prepare for biometrics appointment
• Attend biometrics appointment (or use UK Immigration: ID Check app if eligible)
• Track application status via UKVI account

Post-Decision

• Receive eVisa approval via UKVI account (no physical BRP from June 2026)
• Book travel (arrive up to 1 month before course start if outside UK)
• Collect university registration documents upon arrival
• Register with UKVI account and keep login credentials secure

Real-World Scenarios: Bachelor, Master, PhD

Bachelor's Student (e.g., BSc Computer Science, 3 years)

• Maintenance funds: £13,761 (London) or £10,539 (outside London) + Year 1 tuition
• Funds holding period: 14 consecutive days
• Work rights: 20 hours/week term time, full-time vacations
• Dependants: Not eligible (undergraduate level)
• Graduate Route: 2 years if apply by 31 Dec 2026; 18 months from 1 Jan 2027

Taught Master's Student (e.g., MSc Data Science, 1 year)

• Maintenance funds: £13,761 (London) or £10,539 (outside London) + full tuition
• Funds holding period: 14 consecutive days
• Work rights: 20 hours/week term time, full-time vacations + post-course full-time until visa expiry
• Dependants: Not eligible (taught master's banned from 2024, unless government-sponsored)
• Graduate Route: 2 years if apply by 31 Dec 2026; 18 months from 1 Jan 2027

PhD/Research Student (e.g., PhD Engineering, 3-4 years)

• Maintenance funds: £13,761 (London) or £10,539 (outside London) + Year 1 tuition
• Funds holding period: 14 consecutive days
• Work rights: 20 hours/week term time (some universities allow more for PhD candidates—check sponsor rules)
• Dependants: Eligible (PhD/research level qualifies)
• Additional funds: £845/month (London) or £680/month (outside London) per dependant, up to 9 months
• Graduate Route: 3 years (unchanged, regardless of application date)

Final Checklist and Next Steps for Your UK Student Visa 2026

Core Pillars Recap

✅ CAS: 50 points—must be from licensed sponsor, issued within 6 months, all details accurate

✅ 70-Point System: 50 (CAS) + 10 (funds) + 10 (English) = 70 points minimum

✅ Financial Proof: £13,761 (London) or £10,539 (outside London) + tuition, held for 14 consecutive days

✅ Documents: Passport, CAS, bank statements, English test, TB test (if required), ATAS (if applicable)

✅ Timelines: Apply up to 6 months before course, ~3 weeks decision, arrive up to 1 month before start

✅ Work Rights: 20 hours/week term time, full-time vacations, Graduate Route 2 years (or 18 months from Jan 2027)

✅ Dependants: Only PhD/research students or government-sponsored students (taught master's banned from 2024)

Immediate Action Plan

1. Confirm your CAS with your university—verify every detail matches your passport
2. Calculate funds needed using the 2026 figures (£1,529/month London or £1,171/month outside London)
3. Gather documents ensuring bank statements cover 14 consecutive days ending within 31 days of application
4. Submit application via gov.uk—double-check all data aligns with CAS before paying £558 fee
5. Prepare for travel after eVisa approval—book flights to arrive up to 1 month before course start

Related Resources

• UK Graduate Route 2027 Explained: 18-Month Rule & Strategic Timing
• UK Student Visa Refusal Reasons: Top 10 Mistakes & How to Avoid Them
• Proof of Funds for UK Student Visa: Bank Statement Requirements 2026
• Can I Bring My Family? Dependants Rules for UK Student Visas 2026

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Last Updated: August 2026 | Sources: UK Home Office, gov.uk, UKVI guidance, verified immigration law updates