Question bank
Student visa money questionsAnswered from the official rules.
These guides start with the questions that repeatedly cause confusion in public student and visa forums. The answers come from the current Immigration Rules and GOV.UK guidance—not from forum anecdotes.
How to use these guides
Proving your money
The funds you must show, whose money counts, and when.
“When can I get my statement, apply and attend biometrics?”
The 28-day and 31-day rules
How the 28-day holding period, bank statement closing balance and 31-day evidence window fit together for a UK Student visa.
Read the answer →“Can I use my mother’s or father’s statement?”
Using a parent’s bank account
When a parent or legal guardian’s money can support a UK Student visa application and what additional evidence the rules require.
Read the answer →“My sister, brother or grandparent has the money—can I use their statement?”
Money from other relatives or friends
Why a grandparent, sibling or friend’s bank statement is usually not an eligible account for a Student visa, and what the rules permit instead.
Read the answer →“Is my loan sanction letter enough, and must the loan be disbursed?”
Using a student loan
Which student loans can meet the UK Student visa financial requirement and what a qualifying loan letter must say.
Read the answer →“I paid more tuition after my CAS—does it reduce the balance?”
Tuition fees already paid
How payments to your university reduce outstanding course fees in the Student visa calculation, and where the payment must be recorded.
Read the answer →“Will UKVI accept my savings account, fixed deposit or bank letter?”
Bank statements and fixed deposits
Which personal accounts and financial documents can demonstrate Student visa funds, including savings accounts and certificates of deposit.
Read the answer →“I am a low-risk national—do I still need the money for 28 days?”
Low-risk nationalities
What the Student visa differentiation arrangement changes—and what it does not change—about meeting the financial requirement.
Read the answer →“How much extra should I hold in rupees, naira, dollars or another currency?”
Foreign currency and exchange rates
How UKVI converts foreign-currency savings into pounds and why an exact local-currency balance can create a shortfall.
Read the answer →“My scholarship pays tuition and a stipend—do I need bank statements?”
Scholarships and sponsorship
Which organisations count as official financial sponsors and what evidence a sponsored Student visa applicant needs.
Read the answer →“Can I add two accounts, a loan and savings together?”
Using multiple accounts
How to combine eligible accounts or funding sources without breaking the 28-day Student visa evidence requirement.
Read the answer →“I paid my rent in advance—can I subtract it?”
Accommodation already paid
When prepaid accommodation can reduce the Student visa maintenance requirement and why most private rent payments do not count.
Read the answer →“I am extending or switching inside the UK—do I need maintenance funds?”
The inside-UK 12-month exemption
When a Student applicant applying for permission to stay may meet the financial requirement without showing maintenance funds.
Read the answer →Working
Whether you can work at all, for how long, and what is barred outright.
“Can I work, and for how long?”
How many hours you can work
Why the answer is 20, 10 or none, and why your course level alone does not decide it.
Read the answer →“Can I freelance a few hours a week?”
Work you may never do
Self-employment, freelancing, professional sport and entertainment are barred outright, regardless of how few hours you work.
Read the answer →“Can I cover my living costs by working?”
What you can earn
Your legal maximum earnings are the hours your visa permits multiplied by the minimum wage for your age — and your age matters more than most people expect.
Read the answer →Living costs and bills
Council tax, the TV Licence and what a month actually costs.
“Will I get a council tax bill?”
Students and council tax
Full-time students are exempt, but the exemption belongs to the household — and one non-student in the property changes the answer.
Read the answer →“I do not own a television, so surely not?”
TV Licence
A licence is needed for live TV on any service and for BBC iPlayer at all — including on a laptop or phone.
Read the answer →Where you live
Deposits, guarantors and what your rent counts toward.
“They want six months upfront because I have no UK guarantor.”
Deposits and guarantors
The law caps what a landlord can ask for, and paying a year upfront does nothing for your visa funds.
Read the answer →