“I paid my rent in advance—can I subtract it?”

Does accommodation already paid reduce Student visa funds?

Short answer

Only a deposit paid to your student sponsor for accommodation arranged by that sponsor can be offset, and only up to the cap in ST 12.4. Payments to a private landlord or unrelated halls provider do not receive this deduction.

Who received the payment matters

The rule is narrower than “accommodation already paid”. It applies to a deposit paid to the student sponsor for accommodation arranged by that sponsor.

The deduction is capped

Even if the qualifying payment is larger, only the maximum specified in ST 12.4 can be offset. Use the current verified cap shown by the calculator rather than an older figure copied from another website.

Do not subtract ordinary private rent

A payment to a landlord, agent or third-party accommodation operator is not within the wording of ST 12.4 merely because the accommodation is for your studies.

Where this answer stops

This page explains the published rule. If your account ownership, loan, sponsor, immigration history or evidence is unusual, ask your university’s international student adviser or an adviser regulated by the Immigration Advice Authority before applying.

Official sources

Checked against the live sources on .

Accommodation offset

ST 12.4

CAS accommodation information

ST 7.5

Related questions