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Student Visa: Money Required

A globe in a girl's hand

The Student visa application requires you to confirm that you’ll have enough money to support yourself while you’re the UK and cover any course fees you’ve not yet paid. You may also need to provide evidence, in some cases.

You’ll also need to be able to pay the visa application fee, Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) and any other associated charges.

Money to support yourself + course fees not yet paid = Money required in your bank account for 28 days + IHS + Student visa application fee

IN THIS SECTION:

Money to support yourself

You must have £1023 to support yourself (living costs including food accommodation) for each month of your course.

  • The maximum number of months you need to prepare for is 9, so the maximum amount of money you must have for living costs is £9207

Money to support your dependants applying at the same time (if applicable) 

  • You must show that you have £680 per dependant, for each month that they will be in the UK with you
  • The maximum number of months you need to prepare for is 9, so the maximum amount of money you must also show for each dependant is £6120

You must hold this money in your bank account, together with any course fees not yet paid (see below), for at least 28 consecutive days before you apply, unless:

  • You’re relying on a student loan, an award from a government or international sponsorship agency, or financial support from Durham (a scholarship, for example)
  • You’re applying in the UK and have been in the UK with a valid visa for at least 12 months on the date of your application

Course fees paid

Your CAS will show the full course fees for your first year of study (or the whole course if only 12 months) and any deposit you have already paid towards them. Any amount you have not already paid, you must also hold in your bank account, together with the money to support yourself, for at least 28 consecutive days before you apply.

Please note: Any payments you make towards fees that are not shown on your CAS when it is issued cannot be added. You should instead email finance.cashiers@durham.ac.uk and request a receipt for fees paid.

University accommodation fees paid

If you have paid a deposit to the University for accommodation, this will also be shown on your CAS. You can deduct the amount you have paid from the total amount for living costs required, but only up to a maximum of £1334. Holding money in a bank account for at least 28 consecutive days.

The total amount of money required should be held in a bank account in your own name for a period of at least (but not less than) 28 consecutive days before you apply online.

  • You should keep the required money in your bank account at least until the date you apply online
  • If you do not hold the required money in your bank account for at least 28 consecutive days, your application will be refused

Please note:Even if you do not have to provide evidence* when you apply, you may be asked to do so later.

Bank accounts

You can hold the required money in a personal bank account held in the UK or in your home country. This should be in an account held in your own name. Bank statements must be dated no more than 31 days before the date of application.

If it is not possible to use an account in your own name, you can use a personal bank account held in the name of your parent(s) / legal guardian(s). However, if you choose to do this, you may also need to provide the following:

  • A bank statement in the name of your parent(s) / legal guardian(s)
  • Your birth certificate showing the names of your parent(s) / legal guardian(s)
  • A letter from your parent(s) / legal guardian(s) confirming the relationship between you and that they give their permission for you to use their money to study in the UK

Letter from an Official Financial Sponsor

If you’ll receive financial support towards your course fees and / or living costs from an Official Financial Sponsor while you study, you must have a letter from them confirming how much they’re paying to support you. Sponsor is usually your own country's government or an international company. It is essential that your sponsor meets UKVI criteria and that the letter is as stated in the Student guidance.

The letter from your official financial sponsor should show:

  • that you are the recipient
  • the amount of sponsorship, or confirmation that your sponsor will cover all course and living costs
  • the date of the sponsorship and duration
  • the name and contact details of the official financial sponsor

Consent letter

If your tuition fees and living costs have been paid by a government or an international scholarship agency within the 12-month period before you make your new visa application, you must provide a letter from them confirming that they give their unconditional consent for you to apply to enter or remain in the UK. Consent is not required if you are or were sponsored by a University, an international company, and independent school, or any other type of financial sponsor. If you received a combined funding between University and a government/an international scholarship agency paying both, fees and living costs, please answer ‘No’ where it asks if you've had sponsorship that covered both, fees and living costs, during your visa application. 

US Federal Aid

If you receive US federal aid that covers your living costs and/or course fees, either partially or in full, you can declare this on your visa application. If your US federal loan does not cover the whole amount required for visa purposes, you’ll need to have the remaining amount in a bank account for 28 consecutive days before you apply.

As a US national you don’t have to provide financial evidence as part of your application, but you must ensure you meet the requirements before you apply.

Providing evidence

If you’re from one of the countries listed under the Differentiation arrangementsyou’re not required to provide evidence of your money when you apply for your visa (although you could be asked to provide it later).

Your application (and Document checklist) will confirm any evidence you need to provide.

Documents not in English

If any supporting documents you’re asked to provide are not in English, they must be translated and fully certified by a professional translator or translation company that can be verified by the Home Office.

Translations must include all the following:

  • confirmation that it is an accurate translation of the document

  • the date of translation

  • the full name and signature of the translator or an official from the translation company

  • the translator or translation company’s contact details

Where you’re providing a bank statement showing a currency other than pounds sterling (GBP), you should also provide a currency conversion from the OANDA website showing the closing balance in GBP.

 

Durham University makes every effort to ensure that the information published on this page is accurate. However, the University cannot guarantee the information may not be altered owing to circumstances beyond the University’s reasonable control. Such circumstances include (but are not limited to) change in Government policy, or change of law. Any changes will be incorporated into the University’s website as early as possible.