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Adult students

What money do I need?

This page explains what money you need to have to cover your course fees and monthly living costs at the time you submit your application for your adult student visa.

You need to get 10 points for your money, which is also known as the maintenance requirement.

The money that you need depends on where you are studying and how long for. You may be allowed to show that you have a lower amount of money to cover your monthly living costs if you have completed in the past four months, or are about to complete, a course of study in the United Kingdom that was at least six months long.

You must show that you have held the money for at least 28 days. But there are transitional arrangements in place if you are applying before 1 October 2009.

More information

  • How many points do I get for money (also known as maintenance or funds)?

    As an adult student, you get 10 points if you have enough money to cover the course fees and living costs shown below. This is known as the maintenance (funds) requirement. Y

    ou will not have access to most state benefits (known as public funds) so must have enough money to support yourself so you do not face financial difficulties.

  • Money needed

    The money you need to show covers your course fees for your first year of study and living costs for up to a maximum of nine months. The amount you will need depends on whether you are applying as a child or adult.

    Your money must be held in cash. Shares, bonds, pension funds or similar savings accounts will not be accepted.

    If you make a Tier 4 application from inside the United Kingdom before February 2010 you will only need to show that you have the money needed on the day when you apply.

  • What money do I need if I am applying for a student visa?

    The money you need depends on the length of your course and where you will study.

     

    Length of course Where you will study Maintenance (funds) needed
    Nine months or less Inner London

    Course fees

    and

    £800 to cover living costs for each calendar month of the course
    Nine months or less Outer London or anywhere else in the United Kingdom

    Course fees

    and

    £600 to cover living costs for each calendar month of the course
    More than nine months Inner London

    First year of fees

    and

    £7,200 to cover living costs for nine months in the United Kingdom
    More than nine months Outer London or anywhere else in the United Kingdom First year of fees

    and

    £5,400 to cover living costs for nine months in the United Kingdom


    If you have already paid some of your fees or accomodation before applying for your visa, this amount will be taken away from the total amount of money you need to show. For accomodation, this only applies if you are staying in university or college arranged accomodation.

  • What money do I need if I have completed, in the past four months, a course of study in the United Kingdom that was at least six months long?

    You may need to show a lower amount of money for your living costs if:

    • you have done a course of study in the United Kingdom in the last four months before you apply, or you are currently studying and need more time to finish your course;
    • that course was six months or more in length; and
    • you want to apply for permission to stay for a further period as an adult student.

    If you meet all of these requirements, you only need to show the amount of money below for your living costs, whether you are applying from inside the United Kingdom (for an extension) or from overseas.

    Length of course Where you will study Money needed
     
    Nine months or less    		 Inner London

    Course fees

    and

    £800 to cover living costs for each calendar month of the course up to a maximum of two months
     
    Nine months or less    		 Outer London or anywhere else in the United Kingdom

    Course fees

    and

    £600 to cover living costs for each calendar month of the course up to a maximum of two months
    More than nine months Inner London

    First year of fees

    and

    £1,600 to cover two months of living costs in the United Kingdom
    More than nine months Outer London or anywhere else in the United Kingdom

    First year of fees

    and

    £1,200 to cover two months of living costs in the United Kingdom


     You cannot apply showing the lower amount of money if you:

    • finished your course more than four months ago; or
    • the course you finished was less than six months long.

  • What if I have official financial sponsorship?

    Within the last 12 months, you may have been financially sponsored to be in the United Kingdom by a government or an international scholarship agency in one of the following categories:

    • student; or
    • adult or child student (known as tier 4); or 
    • student nurse; or
    • student re-sitting an examination; or
    • student writing up a thesis;
    • postgraduate doctors and dentists.

    If you are currently financially sponsored by a government or an international scholarship agency, or this financial sponsorship ended within 12 months of your application being made, you will need their permission to stay in or re-enter the United Kingdom. You must provide us with your financial sponsor's unconditional consent in writing. If the financial sponsor does not give consent, we will refuse your application.

  • Transitional arrangements

    As you have never had to show money before, we recognise that you may be unable to show us that you have held the money needed for the 28 days, at the start of Tier 4. If you apply before 1 October you will only need to show proof that you have the money needed, on the day that you apply. You must still provide the correct documents to support your application.