Applicants studying in London face a higher financial requirement from November 30, but the money is for living costs, not a new visa charge.
Moroccan students planning to study in Britain may need to show they have access to as much as £14,130 under new visa rules taking effect on November 30.
But that is not the price of the visa.
It is the maximum amount of living-cost funds that may need to be demonstrated by an applicant whose main study location is in London.
A lower maximum of £10,827 will apply outside London. Tuition fees, the visa application fee and the Immigration Health Surcharge remain separate.
Whether the current or new maintenance figures apply depends on the date the application is made.
UK STUDENT VISA MONEY CHANGES AT A GLANCE
Effective date: 30 November 2026
London: £1,570 per month
London maximum for nine months: £14,130
Outside London: £1,203 per month
Outside London maximum for nine months: £10,827
Tuition fees: Separate
Visa application fee: Separate
Immigration Health Surcharge: Separate
Final authority: GOV.UK and UK Visas and Immigration
THE £14,130 FIGURE IS NOT A VISA FEE
The headline amount represents financial capacity for living costs. It is not automatically paid to the British government, a university or any other organisation.
From November 30, the Student route will require £1,570 for each month of study in London, calculated for up to nine months. That produces a maximum maintenance requirement of £14,130.
Not every applicant will need to demonstrate that full amount. The calculation depends on the course length, main study location, outstanding tuition fees, qualifying payments already made and any official exemption.
Course fees are calculated separately. Applicants generally need enough money for the fees shown on their Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies, known as the CAS, for one academic year of up to nine months.
Qualifying course-fee payments already made to the education provider can reduce the outstanding amount, but they must be recorded on the CAS or confirmed by the sponsor.
WHAT CHANGES ON NOVEMBER 30?
The Statement of Changes to the Immigration Rules, HC 584, published on September 3, increases both monthly maintenance requirements.
| Study location | Current monthly amount | New monthly amount | Current nine-month maximum | New nine-month maximum |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| London | £1,529 | £1,570 | £13,761 | £14,130 |
| Outside London | £1,171 | £1,203 | £10,539 | £10,827 |
The maximum applies only when nine months must be included. Part of a month is normally rounded up to a full month when the maintenance requirement is calculated.
For Student visa purposes, London means the City of London and the 32 London boroughs. The applicable rate is based on the main study location identified by the education sponsor, not simply where a student chooses to rent accommodation.
HOW MUCH COULD A STUDENT ACTUALLY NEED?
For an exactly three-month course in London, the illustrative living-cost calculation under the new rules would be:
£1,570 × 3 months = £4,710
For a course lasting nine months or longer in London, the calculation reaches the maximum:
£1,570 × 9 months = £14,130
For a course lasting nine months or longer outside London, it would be:
£1,203 × 9 months = £10,827
These examples cover only the maintenance requirement. Any relevant unpaid course fees may need to be demonstrated on top of that figure.
Money paid to the Student sponsor for accommodation can also reduce the maintenance funds required, but only within the limit permitted by the Immigration Rules. From November 30, that maximum deduction will rise to £1,570. The payment must be recorded on the CAS or supported by a receipt from the sponsor.
Payments to a private landlord or another accommodation provider cannot be deducted in the same way.
These calculations are illustrations, not individual immigration advice. Special provisions apply to some applicants, including students boarding at residential independent schools.
WHICH APPLICATIONS FACE THE NEW AMOUNTS?
The higher maintenance figures take effect on November 30, 2026.
HC 584 states that an application made before November 30 will be decided under the Immigration Rules in force on November 29. An application made on or after November 30 will face the new amounts.
For applications submitted online, the official application date is generally the date on which the online application is submitted. A biometric appointment or later document upload does not normally determine which maintenance figures apply.
However, students should not treat the deadline as an invitation to submit an incomplete or inaccurate application. They must still satisfy the validity and eligibility requirements, including having a valid CAS and the required funds and evidence.
An application made before November 30 is not guaranteed to succeed. It means only that the transitional provision determines which version of the relevant rules will be used.
Applicants should confirm their timetable with their education provider and check the official GOV.UK guidance before submitting.
HOW THE FINANCIAL-EVIDENCE RULE WORKS
Personal funds may be held in a current or savings account controlled by the applicant.
A student can also rely on money held by a parent. The parent must control the account, provide written consent for the student to use the funds and supply the required evidence of the relationship.
Qualifying student loans and official financial sponsorship can also be accepted. If sponsorship is not recorded on the CAS, an official confirmation letter will normally be required. A student-loan letter must satisfy UKVI’s conditions and be dated no more than six months before the application.
For personal or parental funds, the required balance must generally be held for at least 28 consecutive days. The closing balance on the latest evidence must be no more than 31 days old on the application date.
Evidence can include paper or electronic bank statements, building society passbooks, certificates of deposit and letters from a bank or building society. The account must allow immediate access to the money.
Overdrafts, cryptocurrency, stocks, shares and pensions are not accepted. Accounts held at unregulated financial institutions or accounts without electronic record keeping cannot be used.
UKVI converts foreign-currency balances into pounds using the OANDA spot exchange rate on the application date. Families holding funds in Moroccan dirhams should allow for exchange-rate movements instead of relying on an earlier conversion that leaves no margin.
The published differential-evidence list does not currently include Morocco. Moroccan applicants should therefore be ready to provide the required financial documents unless another official exemption applies.
FIVE CHECKS BEFORE SUBMITTING YOUR APPLICATION
Correct financial requirement
Correct 28-day evidence period
Acceptable account or sponsor
Tuition payments correctly shown on the CAS
Rules checked on the actual application date
TUITION, VISA FEES AND HEALTHCARE COSTS ARE SEPARATE
Families should divide the financial plan into five parts.
Course fees: The relevant tuition amount is stated on the CAS. Qualifying payments already recorded can reduce the outstanding sum that must be demonstrated.
Living-cost funds: From November 30, these can reach £14,130 in London or £10,827 outside London.
Student visa application fee: The current official charge is £558 for a Student visa application made from outside the UK.
Immigration Health Surcharge: The current student rate is £776 per year. The final charge depends on the length of the visa, which can extend beyond the course dates.
Other expenses: Flights, private accommodation deposits, translations and personal costs remain separate.
There is no accurate universal total. Tuition fees vary between institutions, the healthcare surcharge depends on visa length and official charges can change.
WHAT MOROCCAN FAMILIES SHOULD DO NOW
Start with the course details, not the £14,130 headline.
Confirm the official course dates and tuition fees.
Establish whether the main study location is in or outside London.
Check which tuition and sponsor-provided accommodation payments appear on the CAS.
Calculate the possible maintenance requirement for the course length.
Confirm that the proposed financial evidence meets the official conditions.
Recheck the rules and charges applying on the actual application date.
Use GOV.UK or appropriately qualified immigration advice if anything remains unclear.
Education agents may assist with admissions, but they should not automatically be treated as authorised immigration advisers. Students should not rely solely on social-media posts, informal intermediaries or outdated checklists.
The new requirements make careful planning more important, but they do not create a £14,130 visa charge.
Families that clearly separate tuition, living-cost evidence, the visa fee and healthcare costs will be in a stronger position to prepare correctly and pursue the opportunities offered by a UK education.