UK Student Visa Financial Evidence Rules Canadians Get Wrong
By Muntasir Minhaz • Published Aug 19, 2026 • Reviewed Oct 08, 2026 by Muntasir Minhaz • Visas & Student Mobility, Canadians Studying Abroad
You need your full maintenance funds sitting in your account for 28 consecutive days before you apply for a UK Student visa, and the balance must never dip below the required amount during that window.
💵 Studying in London: 1,529 GBP per month, up to 9 months. Outside London: 1,171 GBP per month, up to 9 months.
⏱️ The 28 day period must end within 31 days of your application date.
Held a Student or Child Student visa in the UK for 12 months already? You may be exempt from showing funds at all.
Most refusals over money come from a balance that drops even briefly during the 28 days, not from having too little overall.
How Much You Need to Show
The maintenance funds requirement depends on where your course is based. Studying at a London institution requires 1,529 GBP per month of living costs. Everywhere else in the UK requires 1,171 GBP per month. Both figures cap at 9 months, even if your course runs longer, so a 3 year degree does not require 3 years of living costs held in advance.
| Location | Monthly amount | Maximum months required |
|---|---|---|
| London | 1,529 GBP | 9 |
| Outside London | 1,171 GBP | 9 |
You add this living cost figure to any course fees not already covered on your CAS. If your university confirms you already paid a deposit or your full tuition, you only need to show the remaining balance plus your living costs.
The 28 Day Rule Canadians Miss
The full amount required needs to sit in your account for at least 28 consecutive days in a row, and the last day of that 28 day window must fall within 31 days of your visa application date. If you apply on a given date, your bank statements need to show the required balance held continuously through a 28 day period ending no more than 31 days earlier. A single day where the balance drops below the required amount, even briefly for a bill or transfer, resets the clock and forces you to wait another 28 days.
Where Canadian Applicants Trip Up
Moving money between accounts during the 28 day window and letting the balance dip even for a day.
Using an RESP, GIC, or other account that is not immediately accessible cash, when the funds need to be readily available.
Relying on a parent's Canadian account without the extra parental consent and relationship documents that a third party's funds require.
Cutting it close to the exact GBP minimum without a buffer, so a currency conversion shortfall or a bank fee drops the shown balance under the threshold.
Submitting statements that do not clearly show the account holder's name, account number, and the bank's official letterhead or branding.
Who Does Not Need to Show Funds
If you already hold a Student or Child Student visa and you have been in the UK continuously on that basis for at least 12 months at the point you apply to extend or switch, you are exempt from proving maintenance funds again. This applies to renewals and course changes for students already established in the UK, not to a first application from Canada.
Sources
- Student visa: Money you need - GOV.UK (accessed 2026-10-08)
- Financial requirements and the 28-day rule - University of Westminster (accessed 2026-10-08)
- Immigration Rules Appendix Finance (accessed 2026-10-08)