How Much Bank Balance Do You Need for a UK Student Visa? (2026 Guide for Indian Students)

If one part of the UK student visa trips up more Indian students than any other, it's proving you have the money. Every year, students get their CAS, gather their documents, complete the application — and then hit a delay or refusal because their financial evidence doesn't meet UKVI's rules.

Here's the thing: it's rarely that the student doesn't have the money. It's that the funds are in the wrong account, weren't held for long enough, or the bank statement doesn't match what UKVI requires. The money exists; the evidence fails.

So the real question ("how much bank balance do I need?") has three moving parts:

• Your remaining tuition fees (after anything already paid)
• Whether your university is in London or outside London
• Any tuition or accommodation payments already recorded on your CAS

Once you see how those three fit together, the number becomes straightforward. Let's work through it with the current 2026 figures.

The maintenance figures for 2026

You need to show enough to cover your remaining first-year tuition plus living costs (maintenance) for up to 9 months, set by your university's location. As of 2026, UKVI's maintenance rates are:

• £1,529 per month for courses in London
• £1,171 per month for courses outside London

Over the maximum nine months, the maintenance fund alone is:

• £13,761 if you study in London
• £10,539 if you study outside London

(London means the City of London and the 32 London boroughs. UKVI updates these rates periodically, so confirm the current figures on GOV.UK before you apply.)

Remember — that's only the living-cost portion. On top of it you add any outstanding tuition shown on your CAS.

The formula

There's no single amount that applies to everyone. Your required balance is simply:

Required bank balance = Outstanding tuition fees + Required maintenance funds

Two worked examples make it concrete.

Example 1, outside London, part-paid tuition Your tuition is £16,000 and you've paid a £4,000 deposit that's recorded on your CAS. Outstanding tuition is £12,000. Add the outside-London maintenance of £10,539. **Required balance = £12,000 + £10,539 = £22,539.**

Example 2 — London, no tuition paid yet Your tuition is £18,000 with nothing recorded as paid. Add the London maintenance of £13,761. **Required balance = £18,000 + £13,761 = £31,761.**

Same rules, very different numbers — which is exactly why you calculate your own figure rather than copying someone else's.

How your CAS changes the maths

A common mistake we see: students add their *full* tuition fee to the maintenance funds even after paying a large deposit. Usually unnecessary.

Your CAS records any tuition payments your university has officially received, and UKVI uses the CAS when assessing your finances. So:

• If your payment is recorded on the CAS, you deduct that amount from the tuition you need to show.
• If it isn't on the CAS, UKVI may expect the full outstanding tuition unless you provide acceptable supporting evidence.

Before you apply, check that any deposit you've paid actually appears on your CAS. If it doesn't, ask your university to update it. That single line can lower your required balance by lakhs.

Can accommodation payments reduce the amount?

Yes, but only in specific circumstances, and only up to a cap. If you've paid for university-managed accommodation and it's recorded on your CAS, UKVI allows a limited deduction from your maintenance requirement — up to a maximum it sets (recently £1,334). Paying several months of private rent in advance does not reduce the funds you need to show.

This trips people up because university and private accommodation are treated completely differently. If you're not sure whether your payment counts, check before you apply rather than assuming it lowers the balance.

The 28-day rule — where most financial refusals happen

Knowing the amount is only half the job. You also have to prove the money sat in your account long enough. This is the 28-day rule, and it's behind a large share of financial refusals.

UKVI requires the funds to stay in the account at or above the required amount for at least 28 consecutive days, and the closing balance must be dated within 31 days of your application. It is not enough for the money to appear a few days before you download the statement. The balance must never dip below the required figure across the whole period.

Here's why students get caught. Say your required funds are £22,539 and your account shows:

• Day 1: £23,000
• Day 10: £22,800
• Day 18: £22,100
• Day 28: £22,900

The closing balance looks fine — but on Day 18 it dropped below the requirement. That single dip can make the entire evidence unacceptable, even though the money was replaced. One transaction breaks the continuity.

The fix is simple: park the required amount, add a buffer, and don't touch it for the full 28 days.

When to download your bank statement

Timing matters as much as the balance. Your statement needs to be recent when you submit — many students gather documents weeks early, then apply later and find the statement has gone stale, triggering a request for fresh evidence or a refusal.

Work it backwards: decide your application date first, then count back to check your 28-day period is complete and your statement is issued close to the application. Planning the sequence removes the last-minute scramble.

Which financial documents UKVI accepts

UKVI accepts several forms of evidence as long as they meet the standard.

Personal bank account, simplest if you're self-funding. The statement must clearly show your name, account number, bank details, transaction history, closing balance and the date of issue.

Parents' bank account — very common for Indian students, and fully acceptable, but it needs extra relationship documents (covered below).

Education loan — an approved loan from a recognised institution works. The sanction letter should confirm your name, the approved amount, the institution, the date, and that the funds are available for education. In many cases UKVI assesses the official sanction letter rather than requiring every rupee to already be disbursed.

Government scholarship, the letter should state the amount, duration, your details and the sponsoring body.

Official sponsorship — from an employer, university or international organisation; the letter must state exactly what it covers (tuition, maintenance, or both).

Using your parents' account

This is the most common route for Indian applicants, and UKVI generally accepts funds held by parents or legal guardians — provided the relationship is documented. You'll usually need:

• Your parent's bank statement
• Proof of your relationship (birth certificate, etc.)
• A signed consent letter confirming they're funding your studies

The consent letter doesn't need legal language, just a clear statement that your parent will use their funds for your education and living costs in the UK.

One practical tip from experience: make sure names match across your passport, birth certificate, academic records and financial documents. Small differences — initials in one place, full names in another — are enough to trigger extra questions.

Joint accounts and fixed deposits

Joint accounts, if you're a named holder, UKVI may accept it, provided everything else is in order. If the account is held only by your parents and your name isn't on it, treat it as parental funding and add the relationship documents. Either way, avoid multiple last-minute transfers between accounts during the 28-day window — a clean history is easier for everyone to read.

Fixed deposits (FDs) — common for Indian families who've planned for years, and often acceptable, *if* the funds are immediately accessible. If the money is locked until a future maturity date and can't be withdrawn on demand, it may not qualify. Confirm with your bank that the FD documentation shows the amount, the holder's details, and that the funds can be accessed when needed. And don't assume savings spread across several accounts will all be accepted without question, one clear source is easier than many with transfers between them.

Is the IHS part of your bank balance? No

Students routinely confuse the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) with maintenance funds. They're separate.

The IHS is a payment made during the online application — £776 per year for students — that gives you access to the NHS during your studies. Because it's paid directly through the application, you don't need to hold extra money for it inside the balance you show as financial evidence. Budget for it separately, alongside the visa application fee (currently £558 from outside the UK). Many students plan only for tuition and maintenance, then scramble for these charges at the end. Account for every cost early.

The approach we recommend

Instead of collecting documents a day or two before applying, plan your finances weeks ahead:

1. Confirm your tuition and deposit details once your CAS is issued. 2. Calculate your exact maintenance funds from your campus location. 3. Decide which single account you'll use for the evidence. 4. Keep the balance comfortably above the minimum, not sitting exactly on it. 5. Avoid withdrawals during the 28-day period. 6. Check every document against your CAS and passport before submitting.

That buffer above the minimum matters more than it looks. Exchange-rate movements, bank charges or a small calculation error are far less likely to sink your application if your balance isn't parked right on the threshold.

If you'd like your financial documents checked against UKVI's rules before you submit — the amount, the 28-day history, the CAS deductions — book a consultation with us. We do this for NCR students every intake, and catching a funds problem before you apply is far cheaper than a refusal after.

Related reading: UK Student Visa Process 2026: Step-by-Step from Delhi NCR · Study in the UK for Indian Students

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Frequently Asked Questions

How much bank balance should Indian students show for a UK student visa? Your outstanding first-year tuition plus maintenance funds for up to nine months, £13,761 (London) or £10,539 (outside London) in 2026. The exact total depends on your tuition and how much you've already paid.

Can I use my parents' bank account? Yes. UKVI generally accepts funds held by parents or legal guardians, provided you include the relationship documents and a signed consent letter confirming they're funding your studies.

Is an education loan accepted? Yes. Loans from recognised financial institutions are commonly accepted, supported by the official sanction letter — which UKVI often assesses rather than requiring full disbursement.

Can I use a fixed deposit? Often, yes — as long as the funds are immediately accessible and the documentation meets UKVI's requirements. Locked deposits that can't be withdrawn on demand may not qualify.

How long must the money stay in the account? At least 28 consecutive days, with the closing balance dated within 31 days of your application. The balance must never drop below the required amount during that period.

Does tuition I've already paid reduce the required balance? Yes, if the payment is recorded on your CAS, you can deduct it from the tuition you need to show. Check that your deposit actually appears on the CAS.

Is the Immigration Health Surcharge included in maintenance funds? No. The IHS (£776 per year for students) is paid separately during the online application, not held in your bank balance.

What if my balance drops below the required amount during the 28 days? Even a single dip below the threshold can make your financial evidence unacceptable, even if you top it back up. Keep a buffer and don't touch the funds during the window.