The main UK student visa cost is made up of three parts:
- the £558 visa application fee
- the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) of £776 per year
- proof that you can pay your first year’s tuition plus living costs
From 30 November 2026, the living-cost amount (called “maintenance”) rises to £1,570 a month in London and £1,203 a month outside London, for up to nine months.
If you’re planning a January or September 2027 intake from Nepal, the date you submit your visa application decides which maintenance figure applies. This guide explains every cost, shows the maths in pounds and Nepali rupees, and gives you a checklist so your financial documents are right first time.
UK student visa cost at a glance
| Cost | Amount (GBP) | Approx. NPR* | Paid to | When |
| Student visa application fee (outside the UK) | £558 | NPR 113,871 | UK Home Office | When you apply online |
| Immigration Health Surcharge (1-year master’s example) | £1,164 | NPR 237,537 | UK Home Office | When you apply online |
| Maintenance to show: outside London (9 months, from 30 Nov 2026) | £10,827 | NPR 2,209,466 | Not paid; must be held in the bank | 28 days before you apply |
| Maintenance to show: London (9 months, from 30 Nov 2026) | £14,130 | NPR 2,883,509 | Not paid; must be held in the bank | 28 days before you apply |
| First-year tuition still unpaid (shown on your CAS) | Varies by university | Varies | Held in the bank (or paid to the university) | 28 days before you apply |
| TB test (IOM clinic, Kathmandu or Jhapa) | USD 60 | Paid in NPR at IOM’s rate | Approved clinic | Before you apply |
*Illustration only, using Nepal Rastra Bank’s selling rate for GBP on 1 October 2026 (NPR 204.07 = £1). The Home Office converts foreign-currency funds using the OANDA rate on the date you apply, so keep a buffer for currency movement.
How much is the UK student visa fee in 2026?
The Student visa application fee is £558 if you apply from outside the UK, for example from Nepal. The fee is the same whatever the length of your course. You pay it online when you submit the application.
Two optional extras may be offered:
| Service | Extra cost | Typical decision time |
| Standard service | Included | Usually within 3 weeks (outside the UK) |
| Priority service | £500 | Usually within 5 working days |
| Super priority service | £1,000 | Usually by the end of the next working day |
Priority services aren’t always available at every visa application centre or at busy times, so check what’s offered when you book. You can apply up to 6 months before your course starts.
Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS): how much will you pay?
Students pay an IHS of £776 for each year of their visa, paid upfront when they apply. It gives you access to the NHS while you’re in the UK.
The key detail most students miss is that your visa is longer than your course. You can usually arrive up to one month before a course of more than six months. You also get extra time after the course ends: four months for courses of 12 months or more. The IHS is charged on the full visa length:
- Up to 6 months (applying from outside the UK): nothing to pay
- More than 6 months but less than 1 year: one full year (£776)
- More than 1 year: £776 for each full year, plus half a year (£388) for any extra period of 6 months or less, or a full year for any extra period of more than 6 months
| Course | Approx. visa length | IHS |
| 1-year master’s | ~17 months (1 + 12 + 4) | £1,164 (£776 + £388) |
| 2-year master’s | ~29 months (1 + 24 + 4) | £1,940 (£776 × 2 + £388) |
| 3-year bachelor’s | ~41 months (1 + 36 + 4) | £2,716 (£776 × 3 + £388) |
Your exact IHS is calculated automatically in the online application from your visa dates.
UK student visa bank balance: how much money do you need to show?
You must show enough money to pay your remaining first-year tuition fees plus living costs for up to nine months. The money must be held for at least 28 consecutive days.
New maintenance amounts from 30 November 2026
| Where you’ll study | Applications made before 30 Nov 2026 | Applications made on or after 30 Nov 2026 |
| London | £1,529/month → £13,761 for 9 months | £1,570/month → £14,130 for 9 months |
| Outside London | £1,171/month → £10,539 for 9 months | £1,203/month → £10,827 for 9 months |
These figures come from UK statement of changes HC 584 (3 September 2026). Applications made before 30 November 2026 are decided under the rules in force on 29 November 2026.
Which amount applies to you? It depends on the date you submit your visa application, not when your course starts. If you plan to apply in late November for a January 2027 intake, the safest approach is to hold the higher amount. That way a delayed CAS or appointment won’t leave you short.
If your course lasts less than nine months, you show maintenance only for the months of your course.
Tuition fees: why your university’s UKVI rating matters and what you need to show
You need enough to pay your course fees for one academic year (up to nine months). Your CAS (Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies) shows the fees and any deposit you’ve already paid. You only need to show the unpaid balance.
Accommodation offset
If you’ve already paid your university for its own accommodation and this is recorded on your CAS, you can deduct it from the maintenance you need to show. The deduction is capped at £1,529, rising to £1,570 from 30 November 2026.
Worked example: 1-year master’s outside London, applying on 2 December 2026
Tuition figures here are hypothetical. Fees vary by university and course.
| Item | GBP | Approx. NPR (204.07) |
| First-year tuition on CAS (hypothetical) | £16,500 | |
| Minus deposit already paid (hypothetical) | −£5,000 | |
| Tuition still to show | £11,500 | NPR 2,346,805 |
| Maintenance, outside London (9 × £1,203) | £10,827 | NPR 2,209,466 |
| Total to hold for 28 days | £22,327 | NPR 4,556,271 |
| Visa fee + IHS (paid separately at application) | £1,722 | NPR 351,409 |
The 28-day rule, explained simply
Your money must stay in the account for 28 consecutive days, and the balance must never drop below the required amount during that time. The last day of the 28-day period must fall within 31 days before the date you apply.
- A longer statement is fine (for example three months), as long as it covers a full 28-day period that meets the rule.
- Electronic statements are accepted, as well as paper ones.
- Documents not in English need a certified translation.
- Funds in NPR are converted to GBP using OANDA’s rate on your application date. If the rupee weakens, an amount that was “just enough” may fall short, so hold a margin above the minimum.
Whose money can you use?
| Source of funds | Allowed? | What you’ll need |
| Your own bank account | Yes | Statement or bank letter in your name |
| Your parent’s or legal guardian’s account | Yes | Proof of relationship (such as a birth certificate showing your parents’ names) and a letter of consent from the parent |
| Education loan | Yes, if it meets UK rules | A loan letter showing it’s from a government scheme or an academic or educational loan scheme, and that funds will be available before your course starts (or paid to the university) |
| Official financial sponsor or scholarship | Yes | Sponsor letter or CAS reference showing who pays and how much |
| Uncle, aunt, sibling or family friend | No | Their funds can’t be counted directly |
For Nepali students:
- Regulated banks only. The bank must be regulated by the financial regulator where it operates. For banks in Nepal, that’s Nepal Rastra Bank.
- Keep a clear paper trail. Hold funds in the right name early and keep records of where the money came from. Large last-minute transfers between family members can raise questions in a credibility interview, even when the 28-day rule is met.
- The NOC is separate. Nepal’s Ministry of Education issues a No Objection Certificate (NOC) through its online portal (noc.moest.gov.np). It’s needed for studying abroad, including for sending tuition fees, so plan time for it alongside your visa preparation.
Other costs to budget for before you fly
- TB test: required for UK visa applicants from Nepal coming for six months or more. Approved clinics are IOM in Kathmandu and Jhapa (Damak) at USD 60 for applicants aged 11+, and Norvic International Hospital, Kathmandu at NPR 7,800. The certificate is valid for 6 months. Clinics can get busy between June and October.
- English test fees: IELTS or PTE, these vary by test and test centre.
- Flights and your first weeks in the UK: your maintenance funds are an immigration minimum, not a full budget. Rent deposits and setting-up costs are often due early.
Financial documents checklist
- CAS checked: course fees, deposit paid and any accommodation fees paid are correct
- Right maintenance figure used for your application date (before or after 30 November 2026)
- Funds held for 28 consecutive days without dipping below the required total
- Statement end date within 31 days of your application date
- Account in your name or a parent’s/legal guardian’s name
- Parent’s funds: birth certificate (or other proof of relationship) and a signed consent letter
- Loan letter meets UK requirements (if using a loan)
- Certified English translations of any non-English documents
- Buffer above the minimum to cover NPR/GBP exchange movement
- TB certificate from an approved clinic (valid for 6 months)
Common student visa refusal reasons that lead to refusals
- The balance dips below the required amount for even one day during the 28-day period.
- The statement is too old. The 28-day period ends more than 31 days before the application date.
- The old maintenance figure is used for an application submitted on or after 30 November 2026.
- A relative’s account is relied on that UK rules don’t accept, such as an uncle’s or a sibling’s.
- Parental evidence is missing. There’s no consent letter or no proof of relationship.
- The tuition balance is miscalculated because the deposit on the CAS was ignored or counted twice.
- Exchange-rate movement isn’t allowed for, leaving NPR funds just short after conversion.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much bank balance is required for a UK student visa from Nepal?
You must show your unpaid first-year tuition (from your CAS) plus maintenance for up to nine months. From 30 November 2026 that’s £1,570 a month in London (£14,130 for nine months) or £1,203 outside London (£10,827), held for 28 consecutive days.
What are the new rules for UK student visas in 2026?
The maintenance requirement rises on 30 November 2026 to £1,570/month (London) and £1,203/month (outside London). Separately, the Graduate visa will be 18 months instead of two years for applications made on or after 1 January 2027 (PhD graduates still get three years).
Can I use a 3-month bank statement for a UK student visa?
Yes, if it covers a full 28-day period in which the balance never fell below the required amount, and that 28-day period ended within 31 days of your application date.
How much is the UK student visa fee?
£558 for applications from outside the UK. Optional priority (£500) or super priority (£1,000) services may be available. The Immigration Health Surcharge (£776 per year) is paid on top.
Do I pay the IHS for the whole course at once?
Yes. The IHS is paid upfront when you apply, for the full length of your visa, including extra time before and after your course. For a typical one-year master’s, that’s £1,164.
Can my uncle or brother show funds for my UK student visa?
Not directly. UK rules accept funds held by you, your parent(s) or legal guardian(s), plus eligible loans and official sponsorship. Other relatives’ money would need to be moved into an acceptable account and held for the full 28 days.
How long does a UK student visa take from Nepal?
GOV.UK says you’ll usually get a decision within three weeks when applying from outside the UK. Priority options may be faster. Apply as early as you can, up to six months before your course starts.
Can I get a 2-year post-study visa in the UK?
Only if you apply for the Graduate visa on or before 31 December 2026. Applications from 1 January 2027 get 18 months (three years for PhD graduates). Most students starting in 2027 should plan for 18 months.
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Plan your UK budget with an Education Global advisor
Working out the right figure for your course, city and application date can be stressful, especially around a rule change. Education Global’s advisors can check your CAS figures, review your financial documents against the current GOV.UK requirements and help you plan your timeline for a January or September intake. Speak with an Education Global advisor or explore studying in the UK.
Visa decisions are made by UK Visas and Immigration. Good preparation reduces avoidable mistakes, but no adviser can guarantee a visa outcome.