UK Study Guide

UK Student visa financial requirements for Nepali students

For a Student visa you must show you can pay your course fees and a set amount for living costs. The Home Office sets these amounts and the rules about how the money is held and evidenced — and they can change. The current official figures are shown below, checked on GOV.UK on 5 October 2026 — recheck before you apply.

Official 2026 figures at a glance

Item	Official figure	Source
Student route application fee (from outside the UK)	£558	GOV.UK — Student visa ↗
Immigration Health Surcharge	£776 per year of permission	GOV.UK — Health surcharge ↗
Living-cost funds to show — course in London	£1,529 per month, up to 9 months (maximum £13,761)	GOV.UK — Money you need ↗
Living-cost funds to show — course outside London	£1,171 per month, up to 9 months (maximum £10,539)	GOV.UK — Money you need ↗
How long the funds must be held	At least 28 days in a row, ending within 31 days of the date you apply	GOV.UK — Money you need ↗
Course fees	Set by each university; first-year fees (or the unpaid balance) are shown in addition to living costs	GOV.UK — Money you need ↗
English level (degree courses)	CEFR B2 or above	GOV.UK — English requirement ↗
Work during term (degree level at a university)	Up to 20 hours per week; full-time outside term	Immigration Rules, Appendix Student ST 26.1 ↗
When you can apply	Up to 6 months before your course starts; decision usually within 3 weeks from outside the UK	GOV.UK — Student visa ↗
Graduate Route after a bachelor's or master's	2 years if you apply on or before 31 December 2026; 18 months if you apply on or after 1 January 2027 (PhD: 3 years)	GOV.UK — Graduate visa ↗
Bringing a spouse or children	For postgraduate courses starting on or after 1 January 2024, only PhD/doctoral or research-based degrees qualify	GOV.UK — Family members ↗

Checked on GOV.UK on 5 October 2026. The Home Office can change these figures at any time — always confirm on the linked page before you pay or apply. Tuition and university deposits are set by each university.

How much money do I need to show?

You must show course fees (or the outstanding balance) plus a fixed monthly living-cost amount for a set number of months. The living-cost amount is higher for courses in London than outside London. The current amounts are £1,529 a month for courses in London or £1,171 a month outside London, for up to 9 months (a maximum of £13,761 or £10,539), per GOV.UK. The Home Office can revise them, so confirm on the GOV.UK money page before you apply.

Do not rely on a figure you saw in an old article or from another applicant. Use the current GOV.UK amount for your case.

How long must the money be held (the holding period)?

The money must be held for at least 28 days in a row, and the end of that 28-day period must be within 31 days of the date you apply (GOV.UK). Follow this precisely — a statement that is a day short can cause a refusal.

Whose bank account can the funds be in?

The money can usually be in your own account or, in defined circumstances, a parent’s or legal guardian’s account with the right supporting documents (proof of relationship and their consent). The precise rules on acceptable account holders are on GOV.UK — check them for your situation.

Do education loans or fixed deposits count?

Certain education loans can be acceptable if they meet the Home Office conditions, and some forms of held funds may be acceptable depending on the rules in force. Acceptability depends on the current GOV.UK criteria and on how the funds are evidenced. Have the specific instrument checked before you rely on it.

What if I have already paid tuition?

Tuition you have already paid can usually be deducted from the amount you need to show, provided it is evidenced correctly (for example on your CAS or with a receipt). Confirm how this is documented for your case.

What is “source of funds” and why does it matter?

The application looks at whether the funds are genuinely available to you and where they came from. Clear, consistent documentation of the source reduces the risk of questions. Common issues are recently deposited large sums without explanation, statements outside the required window, and mismatched names — all avoidable with preparation.