Evidence of money already paid to your education provider

When it assigns your confirmation of acceptance for studies (CAS), your Tier 4 sponsor can include details of any money that you have already paid to it.

If your CAS includes details of money paid to your Tier 4 sponsor, you do not need to provide any further documents to show that you have paid this money. If you do not know whether your CAS includes this information, you must ask your Tier 4 sponsor.

If you have paid any money to cover your course and accommodation fees to your Tier 4 sponsor, but your CAS does not indicate that this has been paid, you must include evidence of payment in your application. You must send an original paper receipt issued by your Tier 4 sponsor confirming:

• that you have paid all of your fees; or
• the amount you have paid.

Evidence of an official financial sponsor or government sponsor

If your Tier 4 sponsor is giving you any any official financial sponsorship, it can include details of this on your confirmation of acceptance for studies (CAS). You do not need to provide any documents as evidence of this official financial sponsorship. If you do not know whether your CAS contains this information, you must ask your Tier 4 sponsor.

In any other circumstances where you are being given official financial sponsorship, you must provide send us a letter of confirmation from your official financial sponsor. The letter must be on the organisation's official letter-headed paper or stationery, and must bear the organisation's official stamp. It must show:

• your name ;
• the official financial sponsor's name and contact details;
• the date of the letter;
• the length of the sponsorship; and
• the amount of money that the official financial sponsor is giving to you, or a statement that it will cover all of your course fees and living costs.

Evidence of money that is available to you - general principles

You must show that you have held the required money for a consecutive 28-day period (finishing on the date of the closing balance) ending no more than one month before your application.

If you are providing your evidence of money from a single account, we will assess the funds available to you from the closing balance given on the document you provide as evidence. If you provide two or more pieces of evidence from a single account (for example, two consecutive bank statements), we will assess the money available to you from the closing balance of the most recent document.

If you provide evidence from two or more accounts, we will assess the money available to you as being:

• the closing balance of one account; plus
• any additional money available to you on the date of that closing balance, for which you have provided the required evidence.

We will always use the closing balance date from the account that most favours you.

If you are providing evidence of official financial sponsorship, in addition to evidence of your own money, any money paid to you by your official financial sponsor will not be considered as available money. Money cannot be counted twice.

You can use the following documents to show money that is available to you:

• personal bank or building society statements, covering a consecutive 28-day period ending no more than one month before the date of your application;
• a building society pass book, covering a consecutive 28-day period ending no more than one month before the date of your application;
• a letter from a bank confirming that funds have been held for a consecutive 28-day period ending no more than one month before the date of your application;
• a letter from a financial institution confirming that funds have been held for a consecutive 28-day period ending no more than one month before the date of your application;
• a letter from a financial institution confirming a loan, dated no more than six months before the date of your application.

Evidence of money that is available to you - acceptable documents

The following documents, with the exception of the loan letter, must cover a consecutive 28-day period ending no more than a month before the date of your application.

Personal bank or building society statements

Personal bank or building society statements must show:

• your name, or the name(s) of your parent(s) or legal guardian;
• the account number;
• the date of the statement;
• the financial institution's name and logo; and
• the amount of money available.

You cannot use mini-statements from cash machines (ATMs) as evidence.

You can use electronic bank statements from an online account if they include all the
information above. Each electronic statement should bear the bank's official stamp on every page, or you must provide a supporting letter from the bank, on company headed paper, confirming the statements' authenticity.

If you want to use a joint account as proof of your money, you must be named on the account along with at least one other person.

We will not accept statements that show the balance in the account on a particular day, as these do not show that you hold enough funds for the full 28-day period required.

Building society pass book

The building society pass book must show:

• your name, or the name(s) of your parent(s) or legal guardian;
• the account number;
• the financial institution's name and logo; and
• the amount of money available.

Letter from a bank or building society confirming funds

A letter from a bank or building society must show:

• your name, or the name(s) of your parent(s) or legal guardian;
• the account number;
• the date of the letter;
• the financial institution's name and logo;
• the money in the account; and
• that there is enough money in the account to cover your course fees and living costs.

Letter from a financial institution confirming funds

The financial institution must be regulated by the Financial Services Authority or, in the case of overseas accounts, the home regulator. (This is the official regulator for the country where the institution is and where the money is held.)

The letter must show:

• your name, or the name(s) of your parent(s) or legal guardian;
• the account number (if applicable);
• the date of the letter;
• the financial institution's name and logo; and
• the money in the account.

Letter from a financial institution confirming a loan

The financial institution must be regulated by the Financial Services Authority or, in the case of overseas accounts, the home regulator. (This is the official regulator for the country where the institution is and where the money is held.)

The loan letter must be dated no more than six months before the date of your application, and must show:

• your name;
• the date of the letter;
• the financial institution's name and logo; and
• the money (or funds) available as a loan.

Loans held in the name(s) of your parents(s) or legal guardian cannot be used as evidence of money held by you.

There must be no conditions on the release of the loan funds to you, other than your making a successful Tier 4 application.

If you are applying from overseas, the loan funds must be available to you before you travel to the UK.

If you are using money held by your parent(s) or legal guardian

If a student is relying on money held by your parents(s) or legal guardian, you must show that you are related to your parent(s) or legal guardian. You must provide:

• your birth certificate showing the names of your parent(s); or
• your certificate of adoption showing names of both parent(s) or legal guardian; or
• a court document naming your legal guardian.

You must provide the original legal document or a notarised copy.

You must also show that your parent(s) or legal guardian have given their permission for you to use this money. To do this, you must provide  a letter from your parent(s) or legal guardian confirming:

• your relationship with your parent(s) or legal guardian; and
• their permission for you to use their funds to study in the UK.