A UK student visa bank statement is not one fixed number. It is your unpaid first year course fees on your CAS plus living costs for up to 9 months, held for 28 days in a row, with the end of that period within 31 days of your application date.
Total to show = unpaid first year course fees on your CAS + living costs for up to 9 months. As checked on 2026-11-02, GOV.UK lists 1,529 pounds per month in London and 1,171 pounds per month outside London, capped at 13,761 pounds and 10,539 pounds respectively, before unpaid fees. The full amount must be held for at least 28 days in a row, ending within 31 days of your application date. Recheck GOV.UK before you rely on these figures, because they change.
Guide
The formula, in plain words
Total amount to show = unpaid first year course fees on your CAS + living costs for up to 9 months. Fees already paid to your sponsor reduce the unpaid part. Do not add a full degree cost, and do not add part time work you hope to earn later.
Guide
Current living cost figures, with a date warning
As checked on 2026-11-02 from the GOV.UK Student visa money page in search results: 1,529 pounds per month for courses in London, and 1,171 pounds per month for courses outside London, each for up to 9 months. At the 9 month cap, that is 13,761 pounds in London and 10,539 pounds outside London, before unpaid course fees. These figures change. Secondary sources report higher figures from 30 November 2026, but that change was not confirmed on the GOV.UK page fetched directly on 2026-11-02, so it must be rechecked on the GOV.UK page on the publish date and the page updated then. Do not publish this guide with only the November figures after that date without that recheck.
Guide
Two worked examples, examples only
Example 1, outside London: if your CAS shows 8,000 pounds in unpaid first year fees, the total to show is 8,000 + 10,539 = 18,539 pounds. Example 2, London: if your CAS shows 8,000 pounds in unpaid first year fees, the total to show is 8,000 + 13,761 = 21,761 pounds. These are arithmetic examples only. They are not a fee for any named university, and your own total comes from your own CAS.
Guide
The 28 day rule, and the common failure
The full required amount must be held for at least 28 days in a row, and the end date of that 28 day period must be within 31 days of the date you apply for your visa. A single day below the required amount during that period breaks the run. Plan the application date from the statement dates, not the other way round. If you are in doubt about a dip, a transfer, or a joint account, check the official guidance for your exact case before you apply, rather than guessing.
Guide
What not to do
Do not use a borrowed bank statement, do not move money in and out to create a balance, do not submit a statement you cannot explain, and do not depend on part time work to fund the first year. If you have a student loan or an official financial sponsor, provide evidence from the loan or sponsorship provider, as GOV.UK directs, and check whether the 28 day rule applies to that part of your funds.
Questions Students Ask
FAQs
How much bank statement is required for a UK student visa?
Unpaid first year course fees on your CAS plus living costs for up to 9 months. As checked on 2026-11-02, GOV.UK lists 1,529 pounds per month in London and 1,171 pounds per month outside London, capped at 13,761 pounds and 10,539 pounds respectively, before unpaid fees. Recheck GOV.UK on the publish date, because figures change and a change from 30 November 2026 is reported in secondary sources but was not confirmed on the GOV.UK page fetched directly on 2026-11-02.
How long must the money stay in the account?
At least 28 days in a row, with the end date of that 28 day period within 31 days of the date you apply for your visa. A dip below the required amount during that period breaks the run.
Can Califsol guarantee a UK visa with a bank statement?
No. Califsol can help check the CAS total, the statement dates, and the document order, but the visa decision remains with the relevant authority, and the final check is always the current GOV.UK guidance for your case.
