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UK Student Visa Funds Rise on 30 November 2026: Should Kenyan Students Apply Before or After?

Writer: Eliud Njosh
Eliud Njosh
4 days ago
2 min read

The money you must show for a UK Student visa goes up for applications made on or after 30 November 2026. The change comes from the UK Statement of Changes HC 584. It does not affect tuition, but it raises the living-cost funds every new student must prove. Figures below were checked on 25 October 2026.

The new amounts

  • Studying in London: £1,570 a month, up from £1,529. For the usual 9 months that is £14,130, up from £13,761 (about KES 64,000 more).

  • Studying outside London: £1,203 a month, up from £1,171. For 9 months that is £10,827, up from £10,539 (about KES 50,000 more).

  • You must also show any unpaid first-year tuition, on top of these living funds.

The 28-day rule still applies

The money must sit in your account, or your parent's account, for at least 28 days in a row. The end of that 28-day period must fall within 31 days of the date you apply. If the balance drops below the required amount even for one day, the funds do not count.

Who is affected

  • January 2027 students who apply for their visa on or after 30 November 2026.

  • All September 2027 students, because you can only apply up to 6 months before your course starts. For a September course that means from about March 2027, so the new amounts will apply.

Can you apply early to use the old amount?

Only if you already have your Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) and your course starts within 6 months. In practice this helps some January 2027 students: if your CAS is ready and your funds have been held for 28 days, applying before 30 November means the current amounts apply. Do not rush an incomplete application to beat the date. A refusal costs far more than the difference in funds.

Other UK costs to budget for

  • Visa application fee: £558.

  • Immigration health surcharge: £776 for each year of your visa.

  • Graduate Route: for applications from 1 January 2027, bachelor's and master's graduates can stay and work for 18 months (PhD graduates 3 years).

What to do now

  • Use the new amount when you plan your budget, even if you hope to apply earlier.

  • Start holding the full amount at least 6 weeks before you plan to apply, so the 28 days are complete with time to spare.

  • Keep bank statements that clearly show your name, the account number, the balance and the dates.

Read our full guide to studying in the UK for entry routes from KCSE, IGCSE, A Levels and IB, visa steps and FAQs.

Get help with your UK application

Not sure whether to apply before or after 30 November? Get a free eligibility check or WhatsApp a counsellor on +254 115 670 991. We have offices in Nairobi, Kampala and Kigali.

Figures checked on 25 October 2026 against GOV.UK and Statement of Changes HC 584. Visa decisions are made by UK Visas and Immigration.

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