UK admissions
UK Student Visa, CAS, and Financial Requirements 2026
A student-friendly guide to UK CAS, Student visa steps, financial proof, living-cost requirements, and visa-readiness mistakes for Indian students.
By Oxbrivy Editorial Team. Reviewed by Oxbrivy study-abroad research desk.
Quick answer
To get a UK Student visa you need a CAS from your university, proof that you can pay your first year’s fees and living costs, and the visa fee and health surcharge. GOV.UK currently sets living costs at £1,529 a month in London or £1,171 a month elsewhere, for up to 9 months. The money must be held for at least 28 days in a row, ending within 31 days of your application. The visa fee from outside the UK is £558 and the Immigration Health Surcharge is £776 per year of the visa.
Key takeaways
- CAS: Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies, issued by your university once conditions are met.
- Living costs: £1,529/month (London) or £1,171/month (outside London), up to 9 months.
- Also show any unpaid first-year course fees stated on your CAS.
- Funds must be held for 28 consecutive days, ending within 31 days of applying.
- Visa fee from outside the UK: £558. Health surcharge: £776 per year.
- You can apply up to 6 months before your course starts; decisions from outside the UK usually take about 3 weeks.
Oxbrivy practical ranking
Use this as a starting point, then personalise it with your budget, profile, and course.
Course fit
Best for: Checking whether uk student visa, cas, and financial requirements 2026 matches the student's subject, level, entry route, and career goal.
Watch out: Do not choose a UK university only by brand name or agent availability.
Entry requirements
Best for: Comparing board marks, predicted grades, subject prerequisites, English proof, portfolio, interview, or test requirements.
Watch out: Requirements can differ by course even inside the same university.
UCAS and direct deadlines
Best for: Tracking equal-consideration dates, internal school deadlines, course-specific dates, and late routes such as Extra or Clearing.
Watch out: Missing the right deadline can move a strong applicant into a much weaker position.
Cost and visa readiness
Best for: Checking tuition, living costs, deposits, CAS timing, scholarship probability, and Student visa financial proof.
Watch out: An offer is not enough if funding evidence and visa timing are weak.
Oxbrivy planning
Best for: Using AI Compass, Admit Probability Engine, Scholarship Match, Document Suite, and application tracking together.
Watch out: Always verify final course, scholarship, CAS, and visa rules from official live sources.
What a CAS is and when you get it
A Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) is an electronic reference number your university issues when it has offered you a place and you have met its conditions, such as final grades, English language and any tuition deposit.
The CAS records your course, dates, fees, any payments made, and how the university assessed your English. Check every detail carefully; errors can delay your visa.
How much money you need to show
You must show enough to pay your course fees for one academic year (up to 9 months), minus anything already paid, plus living costs for up to 9 months.
| Item | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Living costs, London | £1,529 per month, up to 9 months | Up to £13,761 |
| Living costs, outside London | £1,171 per month, up to 9 months | Up to £10,539 |
| Course fees | First year as stated on CAS | Minus deposits already paid |
| Visa application fee | £558 | Applying from outside the UK |
| Immigration Health Surcharge | £776 per year | Paid upfront for the whole visa |
Rules for showing funds
The money must be in your account, or a parent’s or legal guardian’s account, for at least 28 days in a row, and the end of that period must be within 31 days of your visa application date.
If you use a parent’s account, you will need proof of the relationship and their consent. Education loans from approved lenders can also be used.
Keep the balance above the required amount every day of the 28-day period. A single dip below it can lead to refusal.
Documents for Indian applicants
Passport; CAS number; financial evidence; tuberculosis (TB) test results from an approved clinic, which applicants from India need; and an ATAS certificate if your course and nationality require it.
You may also need original versions of qualifications listed on your CAS, and translations of any documents not in English.
Oxbrivy Visa Risk Briefs walk through the Student visa step by step, and the cost calculator helps you plan the funds you need to show.
Frequently asked questions
How much bank balance is required for a UK Student visa?
Your unpaid first-year fees plus living costs of £1,529 a month in London or £1,171 elsewhere, for up to 9 months, held for 28 consecutive days.
What is the UK Student visa fee?
£558 when applying from outside the UK, plus the Immigration Health Surcharge of £776 per year.
When can I apply for a UK Student visa?
Up to 6 months before your course starts, once you have your CAS. Decisions from outside the UK usually take about 3 weeks.
Do Indian students need a TB test for a UK visa?
Yes. Applicants from India need a TB test from a clinic approved by the UK Home Office.
Sources and review note
This public guide is intended for student education. Visa, fee, scholarship, and work-rights rules can change quickly, so Oxbrivy verifies current official sources before giving personalised advice.
- GOV.UK Student visa: money
- GOV.UK Immigration Health Surcharge
- UCAS international students
- UCAS 2026 application dates and deadlines
- UCAS 2026 cycle dates and deadlines
- UCAS personal statement guidance for 2026 entry onwards
- GOV.UK Student visa money requirement
- GOV.UK Student visa overview
- Study UK scholarships and funding
- Study UK GREAT Scholarships
- UKCISA student work guidance
- Google Search Central helpful content guidance
Student visa guides
Documents, fees, funds and interview tips, checked against the official source.
Scholarships to look at
Each award links to the funder’s own page, with the eligibility and deadline facts we could confirm.
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