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Proof that you can support yourself and provide UK Visa and Immigration with the correct supporting documentation

You must show UVKI that you have enough money to cover your fees and living costs.

Further information can be found in the Tier 4 of the points based system – policy guidance.

The online application is where you are declaring what documents you will be providing when you send your application into The Consulate. You will not have to upload any documents to your online application.

The maintenance funds you will need to show is £1,265 per month for living costs.

If the length of your course includes part of a month, the time will be rounded up to the next full month for maintenance purposes.

Below are some examples and how to work out how much money you need to show to UKVI.

Course dates

Duration

Amount per month

Total amount

1 June - 5 July

35 days (1 month 5 days, round up to 2 months)

£1,265

£1,265 x 2 = £2,530

1 September - 12 December

103 days (3 months 12 days, round up to 4 months)

£1,265

£1,265 x 4 = £5,060

You can show your funds in three ways:

  1. Cash funds in the bank
    • In your account
    • In your parent or guardians account
  2. A loan letter
  3. Official financial or government sponsorship

Other accounts or financial instruments such as shares, bonds, overdrafts, credit cards and pension funds are not acceptable.

Please note, all documents provided to UKVI must be original or notarized.

Bank statements must show the money in your/your parents account for a consecutive 28 day period ending no more than 31 days before the date of your application and no later than the date of the application. The date of your application is the date you submit and pay for your visa.

If you are using overseas currency (eg, US dollars), you are expected to convert this amount into pounds on your online application. Please use OANDA to convert into pounds sterling. You will also have to hand write your closing balance in pounds sterling if you are using a bank statement.

Cash funds in the bank (in your account or in your parent or guardians account)
  1. Bank statement

Your personal or your parent/guardians bank statement must show:

  • your name/their name
  • the account number
  • the financial institution’s name and logo
  • the amount of money available

Ad hoc bank statements printed on the bank’s letterhead are acceptable as evidence. This excludes mini-statements from cash points.

If you wish to submit electronic bank statements these must contain all of the details listed above. In addition, you will need to provide a supporting letter from your bank on company headed paper, confirming the authenticity of the statements provided.

Alternatively an electronic bank statement bearing the official stamp of the bank in question will be accepted. This stamp must appear on every page of the statement.

If you want to use a joint account as proof of your money, you must be named on the account along with one or more other person.

Alternatively, you can provide a letter from your bank confirming funds have been held for a consecutive 28 day period ending no more than 31 days before the date of your application and no later than the date of application. Your letter from a bank must show:

  • your name
  • the account number
  • the date of the letter
  • the financial institution’s name and logo
  • the money in your account

that there is enough money in the account (to cover your living costs)

In addition, if you are using a bank statement for an account in a parent/guardian name, you will also have to provide:

  1. Letter from parent/guardian

You will also require a letter from your parent/guardian that you can use the funds and your confirmation of relationship to your parent/guardian.

  • The letter must confirm:
  • The relationship between the student and his/her parent(s) or legal guardian
  • That the parent(s) or legal guardian have given their consent to the student using their funds to study in the UK.

  1. Relationship to parent /guardian

For your confirmation of relationship to your parent/guardian you can show one of the following original or notarised documents

  • The student’s birth certificate showing names of his/her parent(s)
  • The student’s certificate of adoption showing names of both parent(s) or legal guardian

A Court document naming the legal guardian of the student

A loan letter

The loan letter(s) from a regulated financial institution that you send must be dated no more than 6 months before the date of your application. The letter(s) must clearly show:

  • your name; and
  • the date of the letter; and
  • the financial institution’s name and logo; and
  • the money available as a loan; and
  • that the loan is provided by your national government, their state or
  • regional government, a government sponsored student loan company or
  • is part of an academic or educational loans scheme.

Official financial or government sponsorship

A Financial Sponsor is defined as Her Majesty’s Government, your home government, the British Council or any international organisation, international company, university or a UK independent school.

You must provide an original letter of confirmation from your Official Financial Sponsor on official letter-headed paper or stationery of the organisation of the official financial sponsor which must have the official stamp of that organisation on it. The letter must show:

  • your name
  • the name and contact details of your official financial sponsor
  • the date of the letter
  • the length of your sponsorship

the amount of money the sponsor is giving to you or a statement that your official financial sponsor will cover all of your fees and living costs