Proving you have funds to study

To apply for a visa, you may need to prove you have the money for your course.

Types of funds

The types of funds a student can use to show they meet the financial requirement are one, or a combination of:

• funds belonging to you or a parent/legal guardian (not a business account)
• official financial sponsorship
• student loans (only from a provider approved by UK government).

Read our guidance, as well as these UK government rules on the amount, evidence and type of funds:

• Appendix Student
• Appendix Finance
• Financial requirement caseworker guidance
• Financial evidence for Student and Child Student route applicants.

If you’re already in the UK

You will automatically meet the financial requirement for a Student visa if you:

• are applying for a Student visa inside the UK, and
• have been in the UK for at least 12 months with valid permission on the date of application – holidays and short absences from the UK do not break the 12-month period, but if you have been away for a significant time (three months or more), you will not meet the requirement.

If you do not meet this requirement, or you’re applying from outside the UK, read more below.

Nationals who don’t need to provide financial documents

You won’t need to submit financial documents if you:

• are from one of the countries listed in appendix ST 22.1 (includes all EU nationals), and
• apply from your country of nationality, the country where you’re resident or from within the UK.

You don’t need to send evidence of your finances to UKVI (UK Visas and Immigration) when you apply for a visa. However, unless you are applying in the UK and meet the requirements above, you still need to have it available. UKVI may ask you for proof of funds, including the amount and how long you have had the money.

If UKVI does request to see documents, they’ll send an email to the email address you provided at the beginning of the application process.

It’s important you regularly check your emails (including your junk folder) for any messages from UKVI.

Proof of funds

You must show UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) you can pay:

• course fees as stated on your CAS.
• £1,023 for each month of your course, up to nine months (a maximum of £9,207). This includes part months.

If any of your documents to show the proof of funds are not in English, they will need to be translated.

You can show you have these funds through:

Money in your or your parents’ bank account

You need to show this money has been in the account for a consecutive 28-day period. This 28-day period should end no more than 31 days before the date of application (which is the date on which the application fee is paid).

You can’t use a business account to show funds (even if the business is owned by you or your parents/legal guardian) or an account held by any other family members outside of you, your parents or your spouse.

If your spouse or partner is applying at the same time as you for a dependant visa, you can use money in an account in their name. They will also need to show that they have enough funds to support themselves.

You must sign a declaration which states the funds are genuinely available for funding your study and living costs. UKVI reserves the right to check the availability of these funds.

• Example bank statement [PDF 3.1 MB]
• If you’re using money held by your parents, you must also provide your original birth certificate and a parental consent letter – download a sample parental consent letter [PDF 176 KB].
• A certificate of deposit (documents issued by a bank confirming you’ve deposited or invested some money) – download an example certificate of deposit [PDF 1 MB].
• A bank letter to prove how much money you have – download a sample bank letter [PDF 80 KB].

Funds from overseas bank accounts

You can use funds from an overseas bank account. These funds will not be considered if the:

• UKVI cannot verify the overseas bank, or
• overseas bank is not regulated by the appropriate body in its respective country, or
• overseas bank does not use electronic record keeping.

UKVI may contact your bank to establish that your financial documentation is accurate. Be aware that UKVI have their own list of contacts (usually this is the head office or other central point) they will use when verifying an account. If they cannot verify your documents with the bank, your application may be refused.

If your funds are in a currency that is not British pounds (GBP, £), you need to convert it using Oanda and make sure it remains above the required amount on the date you submit your application online.

Official financial or government sponsorship

Financial sponsorship is where you’re given money to pay for:

• some or all of your course fees
• living costs.

If Sussex is your financial sponsor, this information is on your CAS statement.

If you’re applying to extend your visa for a new course and you’re sponsored by a government or international scholarship agency, you must get your sponsor’s consent. You will not need this consent if we are your sponsor.

See UK government student guidance about official financial sponsorship.

Download a sample official sponsorship letter [PDF 142 KB].

Money paid to Sussex

You can pay some or all of your fees and accommodation costs in advance.

If you pay your fees in advance, this will be reflected on your CAS so that the total you need to show will be less.

Up to £1,334 of University-managed accommodation costs can be deducted from the amount of maintenance required. This reduces the total amount you need to show as part of your visa application.

If you have made these payments to Sussex, they appear on your CAS statement. If they’re not included, contact the office that issued your CAS.

Deposits

If you’re a self-funded Masters student, you need to pay a tuition fee deposit of £5,000.

See our information about Masters deposits for international students.

Student loans

If you intend to use a loan as your financial evidence, you must ensure the loan and confirmation letter meet UKVI requirements – see financial requirement casework guidance, page 13 [PDF 503KB].

Learn more about making a student visa application:

• outside the UK
• inside the UK.

See more from Applying for a student visa