Student Visa Maintenance Funds

UK Student Visa Maintenance Funds Calculator | How Much You Need
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UK Student Visa Maintenance Funds Calculator

See the exact amount you need in your bank account for 28 days before applying.

Based on official Home Office rates. This tool does not connect to UKVI systems. Always verify at gov.uk before applying.

Required Bank Balance

~₦0

£0.00

The Home Office uses different monthly rates for London and the rest of the UK.

London = institutions whose main campus is within Greater London.

The calculation uses actual months, capped at 9 months maximum. A 3-year degree and a 1.5-year course both cap at 9 months.

12 mo
1 month 48 months (4 yrs)

Each dependant adds a fixed monthly amount to your requirement: £845/month for adults, £845/month for children (same rate).

0
0

Note: dependants on Student visas are restricted for most undergraduate students at UK HEIs from January 2024. Check eligibility carefully.

Required balance (hold for 28 days)

£0.00

~₦0 at ₦2,100/£1 (illustrative)

£0 £12,006 (max)

How this was calculated

Monthly rate
Months used in calculation
Your maintenance subtotalMonthly rate x months
Total required balance

The 28-day window

Every one of these days must show the required balance. Not just the day you apply.

Must hold balance Application date

Key rules to remember

1

28 consecutive days. The balance must not drop below the required amount on any single day in the 28-day period ending on your application date.

2

Funds do not need to be yours. A parent, legal guardian, or sponsor can hold the funds. A support letter is typically required if the account belongs to someone else.

3

CAS letter may reduce the amount. If your university confirms costs are covered in the CAS, you may need to show less. Check your CAS letter before using this calculator’s output.

!

Tuition is not included. This calculator shows the maintenance requirement only. Tuition fees must be paid or arranged separately. Maintenance and tuition are two distinct requirements.

Mistakes That Cause Student Visa Refusals

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Balance dipping for one day in the 28-day window

A single day where the balance drops below the required amount, even briefly due to a bank charge or direct debit, can result in refusal. Park the money in a dedicated account for the full 28 days and leave it untouched.

Do Not Miss This Step:  University Tuition ROI
✗

Using a fixed deposit account that shows no daily balance

Term deposits and investment accounts that do not show daily closing balances do not meet the requirement. You need statements that show the balance on every individual day in the period.

✗

Confusing the 9-month cap with a 9-month course

The cap is on the number of months used in the calculation, not on course length. A 3-year programme and a 1-year programme both calculate maintenance at the same 9-month maximum. The cap is not how long the course is.

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Not checking if your CAS reduces the requirement

If your university has confirmed accommodation or full funding in your CAS letter, you may owe less than this calculator shows. Always read your CAS before deciding how much to put in the bank.

How the UK Student Visa Maintenance Funds Calculator Works

The Home Office sets a specific monthly rate that overseas students must hold in their bank account. The rate depends on where in the UK you will study. The number of months used in the calculation is capped at 9, regardless of actual course length. If you are bringing dependants, each dependant adds a further fixed monthly amount to the total.

Total Required = (Student Rate x Months Used) + (Dependant Rate x Months Used x Number of Dependants) Where: Student Rate (London) = £1,334 per month Student Rate (outside London) = £1,023 per month Dependant Rate (any location) = £845 per month per dependant Months Used = min(actual course months, 9) Maximum for student only: London: £1,334 x 9 = £12,006 Outside London: £1,023 x 9 = £9,207
This is a balance requirement, not a spending requirement. The money does not leave your account when you apply. You must simply demonstrate you have it. But the balance must be present on every single day of the 28 consecutive days before your application date.

What Counts as London for Student Visa Purposes

The Home Office defines London as institutions whose main campus is within Greater London. This includes all boroughs within the M25 broadly, but the official test is whether the university’s registered address and primary campus fall within the Greater London boundary. Many universities with London in their name are genuinely in London. Some institutions branded as London have satellite campuses outside Greater London, in which case the outside London rate may apply.

If you are unsure, check your CAS letter. The institution’s registered address on the CAS and the Home Office list of Tier 4 sponsors will usually clarify which rate applies to your situation.

If your course starts with a pre-sessional English programme: Include those months in your total course length. Pre-sessional programmes at UK universities count as part of the course for maintenance calculation purposes if they are listed on the same CAS.

Table of Truth: Required Balance by Profile

ProfileLocationMonthsRequired (GBP)~NGN
Single studentLondon9+ (capped)£12,006~₦25.2M
Single studentOutside London9+ (capped)£9,207~₦19.3M
Single studentLondon6 months£8,004~₦16.8M
Single studentOutside London6 months£6,138~₦12.9M
Student + 1 adult dependantLondon9+ (capped)£19,611~₦41.2M
Student + 1 adult dependantOutside London9+ (capped)£16,812~₦35.3M
Student + spouse + 1 childLondon9+ (capped)£27,216~₦57.2M
Student + spouse + 2 childrenOutside London9+ (capped)£31,824~₦66.8M
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NGN at illustrative ₦2,100/£1. Verify all figures at gov.uk before applying.

What the 28-Day Rule Actually Means

The Home Office requires that the required balance be present in your account on every one of the 28 consecutive days that end on your visa application date. This means if you apply on the 28th of the month, the 28-day window runs from the 1st to the 28th. The balance must not drop on any day, including weekends and bank holidays.

The most common reason applicants fail this check is a regular bank charge, standing order, or direct debit that pulls money from the account. Even a small overdraft or fee charge on one day will break the 28-day sequence.

Practical approach: Open a separate savings account with no standing orders, direct debits, or automatic charges. Transfer the full required amount at least 29 days before you plan to apply. Do not touch it. Submit your application on day 29. Keep 30 to 31 days of clean statements as a buffer.

The Dependants Restriction from January 2024

From January 2024, new rules significantly restrict which Student visa holders can bring adult dependants to the UK. Most international students enrolled in undergraduate and postgraduate taught courses at universities and higher education institutions can no longer bring dependants unless they are government-sponsored students or studying at postgraduate research level.

The dependants option in this calculator is included for completeness and for those who are eligible. Before including dependants in your calculation, verify whether your specific course and institution type qualifies under the current rules at gov.uk.

Dependant maintenance is not the same as dependant visa fees or IHS. The maintenance requirement is the bank balance you must show. Dependant visa application fees and IHS are separate costs paid to the Home Office. Use the UK Visa Total Cost Calculator on this site for those additional costs.

Realistic Scenarios

Scenario 1: Single student, London, 1-year Masters

Tunde applies for a Student visa for a one-year MSc in London (12 months). The calculation uses 9 months (capped). Required: £1,334 x 9 = £12,006. He needs this in his or his parent’s bank account for 28 consecutive days. In naira at ₦2,100/£1, this is approximately ₦25.2 million. This is the most common scenario for Nigerians pursuing postgraduate study in London.

Scenario 2: Single student, outside London, 9-month pre-sessional plus 1-year Masters

Amaka is enrolled in a 3-month pre-sessional English course followed by a 12-month MSc at a university in Manchester. Total course length on CAS: 15 months. Calculation months: capped at 9. Required: £1,023 x 9 = £9,207. Her course is outside London so the lower rate applies. In naira: approximately ₦19.3 million.

Scenario 3: Postgraduate research student, London, with eligible spouse dependant

Emeka is a government-sponsored PhD student in London (eligible to bring dependants). Course length: 3 years (36 months, capped at 9). He brings his wife as a dependant. Required: (£1,334 x 9) + (£845 x 9) = £12,006 + £7,605 = £19,611. In naira: approximately ₦41.2 million. This is the balance that must sit untouched in the account for 28 days.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is the maintenance fund mandatory for all UK Student visa applicants?
Yes. Unless your CAS letter confirms that the university is covering your accommodation and maintenance costs, you must show the required balance. If you cannot provide satisfactory evidence, your application is likely to be refused. There is no minimum threshold below which it is waived unless specifically confirmed in your CAS.
Does the maintenance fund include tuition fees?
No. The maintenance requirement is purely for living costs. Tuition fees are a completely separate financial requirement. You must demonstrate you have paid the first year of tuition or have a confirmed payment arrangement with the university. These are two separate things the Home Office checks.
Can the money be in a Nigerian bank account?
Yes. The funds can be in a Nigerian bank account. The bank statements must be official, show your name and account number, show the balance on each of the 28 days, and be in English or accompanied by a certified English translation. Some Nigerian banks issue dollar or pound statements; GBP statements may be acceptable if the balance meets the GBP requirement. Discuss with your bank and verify the Home Office guidance on accepted financial evidence before applying.
What happens if my balance drops for one day during the 28-day window?
Technically, any dip below the required amount on any day in the 28-day window is a failure of the financial requirement. In practice, if the dip is minor and due to a bank charge, some applications may not be refused but this is not guaranteed. The safest approach is to start the 28-day period clean. If a dip occurs, restart the 28-day window from the date the balance was restored to the required level and apply after a fresh 28 days have passed.
Does the maintenance requirement change if I get a scholarship?
It can. Government sponsors and some official scholarships issue official financial sponsorship letters that replace or reduce the bank statement requirement. If you hold a scholarship from a government body or a listed institution, check whether they issue a sponsorship letter that satisfies the maintenance requirement directly. This can eliminate the need to show personal funds entirely.
Disclaimer: This calculator uses published Home Office maintenance fund rates for the UK Student visa. Rates and rules change periodically. The calculator does not account for CAS-specific reductions, scholarship letters, or individual circumstances. The NGN equivalent is for planning purposes only and does not reflect actual exchange rates. Always verify current requirements on gov.uk before preparing or submitting a Student visa application. DeyWithMe provides informational tools only and does not offer immigration advice.
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