Costs & Finance · checked 30 October 2026
UK Student Visa Financial Requirements 2026/27: How Much Money Nepali Students Need From 30 November
Before you can get a UK Student visa you must prove you can pay your tuition and live in the UK. Here is the exact rule for 2026/27, the new figures from 30 November 2026, a calculator in pounds and rupees, and what counts as evidence from Nepal.
Living costs to show from 30 November 2026
Outside London / London, nine months, plus unpaid tuition
£10,827 / £14,130
About NPR 21.11 / 27.55 lakhs at NPR 195 = £1 (indicative)
What Are the UK Student Visa Financial Requirements in 2026/27?
For UK Student visa applications from 30 November 2026, show unpaid first-year tuition plus £1,203 a month outside London or £1,570 in London, for up to nine months (£10,827 or £14,130), held 28 days in a row. Applications before then use £1,171 and £1,529. Nepali applicants must submit the evidence.
You must show two things: your unpaid tuition and your living costs. For applications submitted on or after 30 November 2026, living costs are £1,203 a month outside London or £1,570 a month in London, for up to nine months: £10,827 (about NPR 21.11 lakhs) or £14,130 (about NPR 27.55 lakhs). Add the tuition your CAS shows as unpaid.
The money must be held for 28 days in a row, and the statement must be no more than 31 days old when you apply. Applications made up to 29 November 2026 use £1,171 and £1,529 a month.
Key facts
Checked against the sources cited on 30 October 2026.
- Living costs from 30 Nov 2026
- £1,203 a month outside London, £1,570 in London, up to 9 monthsOTS Solicitors; HC 584
- Living costs up to 29 Nov 2026
- £1,171 and £1,529 a monthAppendix Student ST 12.3
- Tuition
- Unpaid course fees shown on your CASAppendix Student ST 12.3
- Accommodation offset
- Deposit paid to the university for its housing, up to £1,570 from 30 Nov 2026Appendix Student ST 12.4; HC 584
- Holding period
- 28 consecutive days; closing balance within 31 days of applyingAppendix Finance FIN 7.1–7.2
- Exchange rate
- OANDA spot rate on the date of applicationAppendix Finance FIN 1.1
- Parents’ funds
- Allowed with written consent and proof of relationshipAppendix Finance FIN 5.3
- Visa fee and surcharge
- £558 + £1,164 = £1,722 for a typical 1-year master’sHome Office fees; GOV.UK IHS
UK Student Visa Funds Calculator (30 November 2026 Rates)
Enter the figures from your CAS. The calculator picks the right rate from your application date, applies the nine-month cap and the accommodation offset, and converts the total to rupees with a safety buffer.
How the UK Student Visa Financial Requirement Is Calculated
Money to show = unpaid tuition on your CAS + living costs (monthly rate × course months, maximum 9) − any accommodation deposit paid to your university
- Unpaid tuition. Take the course fee on your Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) and subtract what the CAS shows you have paid. For a course longer than a year this is usually the first year’s fee. A payment not yet on the CAS needs the university’s receipt.
- Living costs. Multiply the monthly rate by the months of your course, up to nine. Part months round up, so a 7½-month course counts as 8.
- Accommodation offset. If you paid a deposit to the university for university-arranged housing, deduct it, up to £1,570 for applications from 30 November 2026 (£1,529 before). Rent paid to a private landlord does not count.
- Dependants. Add £680 a month (£845 in London) for each family member, up to nine months. Most taught master’s students cannot bring dependants.
Which rate applies depends on the day you submit the visa application, not on your CAS date, course start or when the money arrived.
UK Student Visa Financial Requirements 2026/27: Before and After 30 November
| Item | Applications up to 29 Nov 2026 | Applications from 30 Nov 2026 | In NPR (new rate) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Living costs, outside London | £1,171 a month, max £10,539 | £1,203 a month, max £10,827 | NPR 21.11 lakhs |
| Living costs, London | £1,529 a month, max £13,761 | £1,570 a month, max £14,130 | NPR 27.55 lakhs |
| Accommodation deposit offset (cap) | £1,529 | £1,570 | NPR 3.06 lakhs |
| Each dependant, outside London | £680 a month, max £6,120 | £680 a month, max £6,120 (no change announced) | NPR 11.93 lakhs |
| Each dependant, London | £845 a month, max £7,605 | £845 a month, max £7,605 (no change announced) | NPR 14.83 lakhs |
| Tuition | Unpaid fees shown on your CAS | Unpaid fees shown on your CAS | — |
The Home Office raises the living-cost figure each year to match the maintenance loans available to UK home students. HC 584 brought the 2026 rise into force on 30 November 2026 and moved the accommodation offset cap in line with it. No change to the dependant rates has been announced; Appendix Student still shows £680 and £845 as of 30 October 2026. A full rupee comparison is in the 30 November maintenance rise.
Worked Examples in Pounds and Rupees
| Student | Unpaid tuition | Living costs | Total to show | If applied by 29 Nov |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-year master’s, outside London | £12,000 | £10,827 | £22,827 NPR 44.51 lakhs | £22,539 |
| 1-year master’s, London, with £500 hall deposit paid to the university | £17,000 | £14,130 − £500 offset | £30,630 NPR 59.73 lakhs | £30,261 |
| 3-year bachelor’s, outside London (first-year fees only) | £12,500 | £10,827 | £23,327 NPR 45.49 lakhs | £23,039 |
| 7½-month course, outside London, fees paid in full | £0 | £9,624 | £9,624 NPR 18.77 lakhs | £9,368 |
Example 1 matches a common Nepali profile: a £16,000 master’s with a £4,000 deposit paid. Applying on 29 November instead of 30 November saves £288 outside London (£369 in London), but only if your CAS and 28-day funds are already in place. A rushed application is a far bigger risk than the difference.
The 28-Day Rule and the 31-Day Rule, Explained Correctly
- 28 days in a row. The full amount must be in the account for 28 consecutive days, counted back from the closing balance date on your most recent statement. It must not fall below the required amount on any day, even after bank charges.
- 31 days. That closing balance date must be no more than 31 days before you submit the visa application.
- What the evidence shows. GOV.UK asks for your name (or your parent’s), the bank’s name and the balance. Universities usually also want the account number, statement date and bank letterhead, so ask your bank for a stamped statement plus a balance certificate.
- Exchange rate. Rupee balances are converted at the OANDA spot rate on the date you apply, not your bank’s rate or the Nepal Rastra Bank rate. Hold 5–8% above the converted figure in case the rupee weakens.
- Topping up. Adding money is fine, but the 28 days only count from the day the full amount was in the account.
Step-by-step statement checks are in the 28-day bank statement guide and bank balance for a UK student visa.
Whose Money Counts: Your Account, Parents, Loans and Sponsors
Your own account
Any personal current, savings or fixed account at a regulated bank, as long as you can withdraw the money immediately. A fixed deposit works only if the bank confirms you can withdraw it immediately.
Your parents’ account
Allowed under Appendix Finance if you provide:
- a consent letter from the parent or legal guardian, stating your relationship and that you may use the funds for your UK studies
- proof of relationship, normally your birth certificate naming your parents (an adoption certificate or court document for a guardian), as the original or a notarised copy
- a professional English translation of any document in Nepali
Money held by uncles, siblings or friends does not count while it is in their name. A consent letter template is in the sponsor letter format guide.
Education loans from Nepali banks
A loan letter only counts on its own if it is dated within six months of your application, comes from a government, a government-sponsored lender or a regulated educational loan scheme, and has no conditions except a successful visa application. Many Nepali sanction letters still have conditions, such as collateral or an NOC. The usual route is to have the loan paid into your account and hold it for 28 days like any other balance. See education loans for UK study.
Official financial sponsors and scholarships
A government, the UK government, an international scholarship agency or your university can sponsor you. If it is not on your CAS, include the sponsor’s letter with the amount and dates. You show only what the sponsorship does not cover. See UK scholarships for Nepali students.
What does not count
Overdrafts, credit cards, cryptocurrency, shares and bonds, pensions you cannot withdraw immediately, land or gold, accounts at unregulated institutions, and accounts without electronic records. Proceeds from selling land count once the money has been in the account for 28 days, and universities will ask where it came from: see land sale as proof of funds and source of funds documents.
Getting the Money Ready in Nepal
- Choose a Class A bank. UKVI publishes no approved bank list for Nepal. Any bank regulated by Nepal Rastra Bank with electronic records qualifies, and all 20 Class A commercial banks meet that test. The full list is on banks in Nepal for UK visa funds.
- Get the NOC first. You need a No Objection Certificate from MoEST before you transfer tuition abroad: online at noc.moest.gov.np, NPR 2,000, usually 1 to 5 working days. See the NOC guide.
- Expect to submit evidence. Nepal is not on the UK’s differentiation list of low-risk nationalities, so Nepali applicants must upload financial evidence with the visa application.
- Prepare for questions. Universities check where the money came from during the CAS credibility interview, especially large recent deposits. Keep remittance records and income papers ready: remittance as proof of funds.
- Time the 28 days. Start holding the funds at least five weeks before you plan to apply, so you have 28 days plus a few days to get the statement.
What the Visa Itself Costs: Fee and Health Surcharge
| Course | Visa fee | Health surcharge | Total | Approx. NPR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-year master’s | £558 | £1,164 | £1,722 | NPR 3.36 lakhs |
| 3-year bachelor’s (England, Wales, NI) | £558 | £2,716 | £3,274 | NPR 6.38 lakhs |
| 4-year bachelor’s (Scotland) | £558 | £3,492 | £4,050 | NPR 7.90 lakhs |
| Foundation year + 3-year bachelor’s | £558 | £3,492 | £4,050 | NPR 7.90 lakhs |
These are paid to the Home Office when you apply, in addition to the money you show. Do not budget £558 plus a single year of surcharge for a one-year master’s: the visa runs a few months past the course, so the surcharge is £1,164, not £776. Full budgets: total cost of a UK degree in NPR and UK study costs.
UK Visa Money Myths, Checked Against the Rules
| Claim you may read online | What the rules actually say |
|---|---|
| “If your balance dips for one hour, the 28 days restart.” | UKVI looks at the balance across the 28 days on your statement. It must not fall below the required amount on any day. A dip means a new 28-day period starts once the full amount is back. |
| “Show full tuition for the whole degree.” | Only the unpaid fees shown on your CAS, normally the first year for a long course. |
| “Any family member can sponsor you.” | Only your own account, a parent’s or legal guardian’s (with consent and proof of relationship), an official financial sponsor or a qualifying loan. |
| “UKVI has an approved bank list for Nepal.” | It does not. The bank must be regulated by Nepal Rastra Bank and keep electronic records. |
| “The money must be in your own name.” | Parents’ accounts are accepted if they give written consent and you prove the relationship. |
| “You can show shares, gold or land.” | No. Only money you can access immediately counts. Sale proceeds count once they are in the account for 28 days. |
Other refusal causes are covered in UK visa refusal reasons.
Who Does Not Have to Show Funds
- Applicants already in the UK who have held permission for at least 12 months on the date they apply, for example when extending their Student visa.
- Fully sponsored students, where the official sponsor covers all fees and living costs.
- Low-risk nationals need not upload the evidence, but must still hold the funds. Nepal is not on this list.
If you are switching from a Graduate visa back to a Student visa, see the CAS guide and speak to a counsellor about your situation.
How to Meet the UK Student Visa Financial Requirement From Nepal
Check your application date
Applications from 30 November 2026 use £1,203 a month (£1,570 in London); earlier ones use £1,171 (£1,529).
Work out the total
Add unpaid first-year tuition from your CAS to up to nine months of living costs, then deduct any university accommodation deposit.
Choose the account
Use your own or a parent’s account at a Class A bank in Nepal; get the parent’s consent letter and your birth certificate ready.
Add a buffer and hold for 28 days
Keep 5–8% above the converted total, and never let the balance drop below it for 28 days in a row.
Get the statement and apply within 31 days
Ask the bank for a stamped statement and balance certificate, and submit the visa application no more than 31 days after the closing date.
Pay the visa fee and health surcharge
Budget £558 plus the surcharge for your course length, separate from the money you show.
Frequently Asked Questions
You must show your unpaid tuition for the course (usually the first year) plus living costs for up to nine months, held for 28 days in a row. From 30 November 2026 living costs are £1,203 a month outside London and £1,570 in London.
Unpaid tuition plus £10,827 (about NPR 21.11 lakhs) outside London or £14,130 (about NPR 27.55 lakhs) in London, for applications from 30 November 2026. A £16,000 master’s with £4,000 paid comes to £22,827, about NPR 44.51 lakhs.
It depends on the date you submit the visa application. Up to 29 November 2026: £1,171 (£1,529 in London). From 30 November 2026: £1,203 (£1,570 in London).
No. You show the unpaid course fees on your CAS, which for a course longer than a year is normally the first year’s fee minus any deposit already paid.
Yes. Your parent or legal guardian must give a written consent letter, and you must prove the relationship, normally with your birth certificate. Documents in Nepali need a professional English translation.
Yes. The usual route is to have the loan paid into your account and hold it for 28 days. A loan letter on its own counts only if it meets UKVI’s conditions, including no conditions on release except a successful visa application.
Only if you can withdraw the money immediately. Ask your bank for a letter confirming this and the balance across the 28 days.
The full amount must be in the account for 28 consecutive days, counted back from the closing balance on your latest statement. If it drops below the required amount on any day, a new 28 days starts.
The closing balance date must be no more than 31 days before you submit the visa application.
The OANDA spot rate on the date of your application. HOA suggests holding 5–8% above the converted figure in case the rupee weakens.
Yes, if you paid it to your university for university-arranged housing. Up to £1,570 can be deducted for applications from 30 November 2026 (£1,529 before). Private rent does not count.
£680 a month outside London or £845 in London per dependant, up to nine months. Only research postgraduates and government-sponsored students on longer courses can bring dependants.
Any bank regulated by Nepal Rastra Bank with electronic records. All 20 Class A commercial banks meet this. UKVI publishes no approved bank list for Nepal.
Multiply the monthly rate by the course months, rounding part months up. A 7½-month course outside London needs 8 × £1,203 = £9,624 from 30 November 2026.
Yes. Nepal is not on the UK’s list of low-risk nationalities, so you must submit the evidence with the application.
No. HOA’s guidance is free for students, including the funds calculation and a check of your statements before you apply.
Key Terms
- Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS)
- The reference your university issues, showing your course, fees and payments; used to calculate unpaid tuition.
- Maintenance (living costs)
- The monthly living-cost amount you must show, capped at nine months.
- 28-day rule
- The required money must be held for 28 consecutive days, ending no more than 31 days before you apply.
- Accommodation offset
- A deposit paid to your university for its accommodation, deducted from living costs up to a cap.
- OANDA spot rate
- The exchange rate UKVI uses to convert foreign-currency balances on the date of application.
- Official financial sponsor
- A government, international scholarship agency or university paying some or all of your costs.
Sources
Every figure on this page was checked against these sources on 30 October 2026. If an official page and this page disagree, the official page is right.
- GOV.UK, Immigration Rules: Appendix Student (updated 8 Oct 2026)
- GOV.UK, Immigration Rules: Appendix Finance
- GOV.UK, Financial evidence for Student and Child Student route applicants
- Home Office, Explanatory memorandum to HC 584 (3 Sep 2026), paras 5.43–5.45 and 6.3
- OTS Solicitors, Student visa maintenance funds increase from 30 November 2026
- University of Bath, Upcoming changes affecting Student visa applications (14 Sep 2026)
- University of Reading, Student visa maintenance requirements
- University of Westminster, Parent consent letter guide 2026/27
- Cardiff University, Differentiation arrangement (low-risk nationals)
- Home Office, Immigration and nationality fees: 8 October 2026
- GOV.UK, Pay for UK healthcare as part of your immigration application: how much you pay
- University of Westminster, Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS)
About This Guide
Written by House of Admissions (HOA), a UK-only education consultancy founded in 2016 with offices in Kathmandu and Pokhara. All 20+ HOA counsellors hold the British Council’s UK counsellor certification. HOA’s guidance is free to students. Reviewed by Rahul Chhetri, Director. This is admissions guidance, not immigration advice. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.
Related Guides
Want Your Figure Checked Before You Apply?
A counsellor can calculate your exact amount from your CAS and check your bank statement against the 28-day rule. HOA’s guidance is free.