- Proof of funds requirement for a UK student visa includes covering both first-year tuition fees and nine months of living expenses in the UK.
- For a UK student visa, students must show proof of living expenses of £1,529 (₹1.8 lakh) per month for London and £1,171 (₹1.3 lakh) per month for other locations.
- The 28-day rule for UK proof of funds requires the money to remain consecutively in your account for 28 days, ending within 31 days before application.
- What is Proof of Funds for a UK Student Visa?
- How Much Money Do You Need to Show for a UK Visa?
- The 28-Day Rule: How Long Must Funds Stay in Your Account?
- List of Documents Accepted as Proof of Funds for UK Student Visa
- Financial Sponsor Requirements for UK Student Visa
- Top 8 Mistakes to Avoid When Submitting UK Proof of Funds
- Key Takeaways
- FAQs
Securing a UK student visa requires proving adequate financial capacity to cover tuition fees and living expenses throughout your course. A substantial number of visa applications from Indian students face rejection due to inadequate or improperly presented financial documentation.
This blog covers what Indian students need to show as proof of funds for a UK student visa and the common mistakes to avoid for a successful application.
What is Proof of Funds for a UK Student Visa?
Proof of funds demonstrates your financial ability to cover tuition fees and living expenses in the UK, confirming that you or your financial sponsor have sufficient resources to support your education and stay.
The amount varies based on your course location, duration, and whether you are studying in London or outside it.
How to calculate UK proof of funds:
- First-year tuition fees (as per CAS) + Living costs for up to 9 months
How Much Money Do You Need to Show for a UK Visa?
A change to the maintenance-fund requirements for UK Student visas was announced by the UK Home Office on 14 October 2025. For applicants applying under the Student route on or after 11 November 2025, the monthly maintenance requirements are as follows:
- Students studying in London must now show £1,529 (₹1.8 lakh) per month, up from £1,483 (₹1.7 lakh).
- For those studying outside London, must now show £1,171 (₹1.3 lakh) per month, up from £1,136 (₹1.3 lakh).
| Study Location | Previous Monthly Maintenance Fund Requirements | Current Monthly Maintenance Fund Requirements | Total Funds Required for 9 Months |
|---|---|---|---|
| London | £1,483 (₹1.7L) | £1,529 (₹1.8L) | £13,761 (₹16.2L) |
| Outside London | £1,136 (₹1.3L) | £1,171 (₹1.3L) | £10,539 (₹12.4L) |
Sample Calculation:
If your first-year tuition fee is £22,000 for a university in London or £18,000 for a university outside London, here’s how your proof of funds will be calculated:
| Component | In London | Outside London |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition fee (as per CAS) | £22,000 (₹25.8 lakhs) | £18,000 (₹21 lakhs) |
| Living costs (9 months) | £13,761 (₹16.2L) | £10,539 (₹12.4L) |
| Total funds required | £35,761 (₹42L) | £28,539 (₹33.4L) |
The 28-Day Rule: How Long Must Funds Stay in Your Account?
Funds must remain in your account consecutively for 28 days ending no more than 31 days before your visa application date. The 28 days are calculated by counting back from the closing balance date shown on your bank statement.
The balance should not drop below your required amount at any point during this period. One day below threshold invalidates the entire statement. Large, sudden deposits right before the 28-day period raise suspicion and often trigger additional scrutiny or rejection.
Practical Timeline
Start building your proof of funds at least 90 days before your intended visa application. Let’s say you need to show ₹35 lakhs and plan to apply for your visa on 15th December 2026.
| Date | Action | Details |
|---|---|---|
| 10th October 2026 | Deposit funds | Transfer ₹35 lakhs into your account (or ensure balance is already ₹35L+) |
| 10th Oct - 7th Nov | 28-day period | Balance must stay at ₹35L+ every single day for 28 consecutive days |
| 7th November 2026 | 28-day period ends | This is your statement closing date |
| 7th Nov - 14th Dec | Request bank statement | Obtain statement showing the 28-day period (within 31 days of application) |
| 15th December 2026 | Submit visa application | Your statement is valid (dated 7th Nov - within 31 days) |
List of Documents Accepted as Proof of Funds for UK Student Visa
The UK Home Office requires specific financial documents to verify an applicant’s ability to fund their studies and living expenses. For a smooth application process, the following essential documents are accepted as valid proof of funds:
Bank Statements
Indian students must submit a computer-generated bank statement along with a bank certificate, both duly signed and stamped by the Branch Manager. The account must be held at a bank regulated by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
Required details on statements:
- Account holder name
- Account number
- Bank name and logo
- Branch address and contact details
- IFSC code
- Transaction dates and complete transaction history
- Daily balance showing it never dropped below required amount for 28 consecutive days
- Closing balance
Account ownership: The account must belong to you, your parent, or your partner (if applying at the same time). If using your parent’s money, they must provide a letter confirming they agree to you using it. Business accounts are not accepted, even if the business belongs to you or your parents.
Acceptable account types: Fixed deposits, savings accounts, and current accounts are accepted. Joint accounts are acceptable only if you or your parent is named as an account holder.
Education Loans
Loan letters from recognised Indian banks or NBFCs (Non-Banking Financial Companies) are accepted as valid proof of funds. To be considered acceptable, the letter must:
- Clearly state the sanctioned loan amount (not just the amount applied for)
- Confirm that the loan is specifically for educational purposes under a government-recognised or regulated student loan scheme
- Specify that the loan covers both tuition fees and living expenses
- Be dated within six months of the visa application date
- Confirm that no conditions apply to the release of funds, other than a successful visa outcome
Indian banks like SBI, HDFC, ICICI, Axis, and Canara Bank issue education loan letters accepted by UK immigration. NBFCs like Auxilo, Avanse, and Credila work equally well. The sanctioned loan amount should cover your full calculated requirement.
Scholarship Letters
Official scholarship awards reduce your proof of funds requirement. The letter must come from the institution or awarding organisation, state the exact scholarship amount in pounds, confirm duration and payment schedule, be on official letterhead, and ideally be referenced in your CAS.
Partial scholarships covering tuition allow you to show only living costs in bank statements. Full scholarships covering both tuition and maintenance mean minimal additional funds needed.
Financial Sponsor Letters
Parents or legal guardians sponsoring your education need formal sponsor letters. This document must declare a relationship to you, confirm willingness to fund studies and explicit consent for you to use their money, state exact amount being provided, and include sponsor’s signature with date.
Accompany sponsor letters with their bank statements meeting the 28-day rule, income proof like salary slips or ITR for the last six months, and relationship proof like your birth certificate or passport copies showing parent names.
Financial Sponsor Requirements for UK Student Visa
Having parents sponsor your education involves specific documentation proving their financial capacity and your relationship. Incomplete sponsor documents cause processing delays and rejections for Indian students.
Eligible Sponsors for Indian Students
The Home Office accepts parents (including step-parents), legal guardians, and official government or organisational sponsors. Siblings, grandparents, aunts, uncles, or friends cannot serve as financial sponsors unless they are your legal guardian.
Required Documentation
If your education in the UK is funded by a parent or sponsor, the following documents must be provided:
- Bank statements in the sponsor’s name showing the 28-day maintenance requirement
- A signed and dated sponsor letter stating:
“I, [Name], father/mother of [Student Name], confirm I will financially support their studies at [Institution Name] in the UK. I will cover tuition fees of £X and living expenses of £Y from my personal savings and I explicitly consent to [Student Name] using this money for their education.” - Proof of relationship to the student:
- Birth certificate showing both parent names
- OR copies of parents’ passports
- Birth certificate showing both parent names
- Income evidence, based on employment type:
- If salaried:
- Last 6 months of salary slips
- ITR (Income Tax Returns) for the last 2 years
- Last 6 months of salary slips
- If self-employed or running a business:
- Business registration documents
- Business bank statements
- ITR for the last 2 years
- A Chartered Accountant certificate (if available)
- Business registration documents
- If salaried:
Top 8 Mistakes to Avoid When Submitting UK Proof of Funds
Small errors in financial documentation cause more visa rejections for Indian students than fraudulent applications. In most cases, these mistakes arise from a lack of proper guidance rather than deliberate intent.
Below are some key points to keep in mind to help ensure your application is accurate and compliant.
Breaking the 28-Day Rule
Counting days incorrectly or applying too early invalidates statements for UK proof of funds. Indian students often request statements immediately after 28 days without accounting for application date restrictions. Calculate backwards from your planned application date to determine when to request statements.
Using Multiple Accounts Without Clear Totals
Showing ₹15 lakhs in one account and ₹10 lakhs in another without proper documentation causes confusion. Consolidate funds into one account if possible. If using multiple accounts, provide a covering letter explaining the total and include statements for all accounts showing funds maintained for 28 days in each.
Missing Bank Details on Statements
Downloaded statements from Indian banks sometimes lack complete bank logos, branch addresses, IFSC codes, or authorised signatures. Immigration officers reject incomplete statements. Always verify downloaded statements contain all official markers. If using online statements, get them stamped and signed by your bank branch manager.
Showing Insufficient Amounts
Calculating using outdated rates or forgetting to add tuition to living costs creates shortfalls. Double-check your institution location (London vs outside), course duration, and total funds requirement. Add a safety buffer of £1,000-£2,000 to account for exchange rate fluctuations.
Using Prohibited Evidence Types
The following cannot be used as proof of funds: overdrafts, cryptocurrency, stocks and shares, pensions, bank accounts not regulated by RBI, or accounts without electronic record keeping. Fixed deposits are acceptable, but if they require notice period for withdrawal, provide FD details showing immediate liquidity or closure documents.
Expired Loan Letters
Education loan letters from Indian banks dated beyond six months before application are invalid. If your loan was sanctioned four months ago but you are applying now, request a fresh letter from your bank. The letter must explicitly state the loan has no conditions except successful visa application.
Incorrect Currency Conversions
If showing funds in INR, UKVI will convert using OANDA spot exchange rates on your application date. Do not rely on approximate conversions. Check current exchange rates and maintain extra funds to account for rate fluctuations.
Key Takeaways
Demonstrating proof of funds is one of the most scrutinised aspects of a UK student visa application. Success depends not only on the availability of funds, but also on how clearly and correctly they are reflected through compliant documentation. Every detail, from maintaining funds for the required period to ensuring all necessary information is present on your bank statements, can influence the outcome.
With the recent increase in the UK’s maintenance fund requirements, students must take extra care in planning and presenting their financial readiness. This makes early preparation and an informed, strategic approach essential.
AdmitX guides Indian students through every step of their UK study journey, from selecting the right programme to verifying that financial documents are accurate and compliant, helping secure a strong and credible visa application.
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- University Selection Guidance
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Book your free study abroad counselling session with our experts today!
FAQs
What are the UK student visa maintenance requirements for locations outside London?
International students studying outside London require £1,171 (₹1.3L) monthly for their UK student visa maintenance funds.
Can education loans be used to meet UK student visa financial requirements?
Yes, UK student visa applicants can use education loans to meet financial requirements.
What is a CAS for UK student visa applications?
A Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies is a unique reference number issued by your UK university that confirms your unconditional offer and sponsorship.
Can I use my parents' bank account as proof of funds for a UK student visa?
Yes, parental bank statements are acceptable provided you submit a formal sponsor letter, proof of relationship, and evidence of their income.
Do I need to show proof of funds if I have a full scholarship for my UK studies?
You may not need to show proof of funds if your full scholarship covers both your tuition fees and living costs, but specific documentation is still required.
Can I show funds in Indian rupees for my UK student visa application?
Yes, proof of funds in INR are acceptable for a UK student visa application.
What post-study work visa options are available in the UK for Indian graduates?
The UK offers a Graduate Route visa (18 Months) and a Skilled Worker visa (up to 5 years renewable, £41,700/₹50 lakh minimum salary with employer sponsorship).
Can I use a recently opened bank account for UK student visa proof of funds?
Yes, but the account must still satisfy the 28-day maintenance rule, and newly opened accounts with sudden large deposits may face additional scrutiny.
Can I use my spouse's bank account as proof of funds for a UK student visa?
No, only your own account, your parents’ account, or an official financial sponsor’s account can be used as proof of funds
Do I need to show proof of funds if I am applying for a UK student visa from within the UK?
Yes, proof of funds requirements apply to both new applicants and those extending their student visas from within the UK.
If you are an aspirant looking to study at your dream university, book an appointment with AdmitX today and start your applications early to avail yourself of all the benefits.
