Money: What do I need to show?
As part of your application, you are required to provide evidence that you have enough money to live in the UK (maintenance) and to cover any tution fees you have not yet paid. This page explains what evidence you need to provide with your application to show you have the required money.
How much money do I need?
You are required to show that you have enough money to pay for your accomodation and living costs (maintenance) while you are in the UK, up to a maximum amount. The amount you need to show depends on how long you have been studying in the UK and and how long you have left to study.
Information about how much maintenance you are required to have is detailed in the PBS Appendix 8 General Student self assessment form.
If you have already paid money to Durham University for your accommodation, the amount of maintenance you must show on your bank statement will be reduced by the amount you have already paid (reduced by a maximum of £1000). The amount you have already paid should be shown on your CAS.
You also need to show that you have enough money to cover any tuition fees that you have not yet paid. The amount of your tuition fees and how much you have already paid should be detailed on your CAS.
What evidence do I need to provide?
Detailed information about what evidence you need to provide is given in the 'Your Finances' guidance from UKCISA and the UKBA Tier 4 Policy Guidance.
If your money is in an account in your home country or in a UK bank account
You can show evidence of your funds in the following ways:
Personal bank statements or a letter from a regulated financial institution.
- The account must be in your name
- Current accounts and savings accounts can be used but other types of accounts are generally not accepted - see Tier 4 Policy Guidance for details
- Your bank statement should be original (not copies) and must show your bank's name and logo, your name and account number
- The statement must show that at least the required amount has been held for a minimum of 28 consecutive days
- The closing balance on your statement must be dated less than one month before the date that you make your application
- If you are providing electronic bank statements from an online account, every page must include all the information detailed above and must be stamped by the bank on every page
My bank statement is not in British Pounds (GBP)
If you have a bank account held in your home country and your money is NOT in British Pounds (GBP), you should convert the closing balance on your statement into British Pounds using the official UKBA conversion website (OANDA). Print the web page and write the converted closing balance in British Pounds on your statement.
If the bank statement is not in English, you must get it translated into English by an official translator. The Tier 4 Policy Guidance has details of what is required.
I do not have enough money in my own account
You can use a bank account in your parents' or guardian's name or names, and if you need to do this you must provide their original bank statements as described in the points listed above. In addition to this you will need to provide:
- Your original birth certificate* (or official copy) showing the name of your parent(s)* and their relationship to you.
- An original letter (not a copy) from your parent(s)* confirming that they support you financially
- Your parents* must also sign the application form where appropriate.
*If you are adopted, you should provide an original Certificate of Adoption (or official copy) showing your name and the name of your adopted parent(s).
*If you have a legal guardian(s), you should provide an original court document (or official copy) which shows your name and the name of your legal guardian(s).
For more detailed information on what you should provide, read the 'Your Finances' guidance from UKCISA.
Students receiving financial support from an official sponsor
If you receive financial support towards your tuition fees and / or living costs (maintenance) from an official financial sponsor, you must provide an original letter from them confirming how much they are paying to support you in the UK.
An official financial sponsor is usually your own country's government or an international company (or employer). It is essential that your sponsor meets the UKBA criteria and that the original letter is exactly as stated in the UKBA Tier 4 Policy Guidance. Further information is also available from the 'Your Finances' guidance from UKCISA.
'Low Risk' students
If you are from one of the countries listed below, you may not be required to produce any additional documents with your Tier 4 visa application:
Argentina, Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Croatia Hong Kong Japan New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan (if you hold a passport issued by Taiwan that includes the number of the identification card issued by the competent authority in Taiwan) Trinidad and Tobago, USA.
Please note that you are still required to fulfil the requirements (including having sufficient money in your account) even if you are not asked for documentary proof.
Your family (dependants)
Like you, any family living with you in the UK will also need to show that they have enough money for living costs (maintenance) during their stay.
The amount they are each required to show is detailed in the current 'policy guidance on dependants of PBS migrants'.
Your dependants can either provide a statement from a bank account in their own name showing the required amount, or you can show it in your bank statement - in addition to the money you are required to show. Your dependants' maintenance should be shown in exactly the same way as detailed above.
More information can be found in 'Your family's immigration' guidance from UKCISA.
Return to 'Applying for UK Entry Clearance'
I do not have the required amount of money
If you are not able to show the required amount of money in your account for a 28 day period before your visa expires then you should contact the Student Immigration and Financial Support Office as soon as possible for advice.
