The UK has Increased the International Maintenance Cost for International Students

The UK Home Office has raised the amount of money international students need to show for the first time since 2020. According to the new rules, international students must prove they have enough savings to support themselves for each month of their course, up to a maximum of nine months.

This new savings requirement is linked to the increase in maintenance loans for domestic students, but these loans haven’t been updated since 2020.

What is the Increased Amount of Maintenance Cost in the UK?

Under the new rules, students coming to London need to prove they have £1,483 per month to cover their living expenses. For students studying outside of London, they need to show they have £1,136 per month.

Right now, the amounts are lower: £1,334 per month for London and £1,023 for outside London.

Why the International Student’s Maintenance Amount has Increased?

Syed Nooh, Head of Global Insights and Market Development at UEA, told The PIE that it’s understandable why the UKVI has raised the maintenance funds required for international students. This change aligns with rising inflation and the overall increase in living costs in the UK. However, Nooh also warned that as other, more affordable study destinations attract international students, the UK might become a less accessible choice, especially for students from lower-income countries.

When the New Amount of International Maintenance Cost is Released?

The new rules, announced on September 10, 2024, will take effect for students arriving in the UK from January 2, 2025. The government plans to keep updating these financial requirements based on inflation and changes in domestic maintenance loans.

Under the new rules, students studying in London for nine months or more will need to show they have £13,348 in savings when applying for their visa.

Nick Skeavington, head of international student recruitment at the University of Exeter, believes this change alone might not have a big impact. However, he notes that it is part of a series of recent policy changes that are making it harder to recruit international students.

What Should be the Amount of the Proof of Funds in the UK Now?

Students can still reduce the amount of money they need to show if they’ve already paid for their UK accommodation, according to the government.

If you’ve been in the UK on another visa for at least 12 months by the time you apply, you won’t need to prove you have extra funds.

While some agree that matching the maintenance loan increases for domestic students is important to ensure students have enough money to avoid financial problems, Nooh also pointed out that students from developing countries might struggle to meet these higher financial requirements, which could make campuses less diverse.

Additionally, the NHS surcharge for students was raised by 66% to £776 per year on February 6, 2024. Besides tuition fees, which can be up to three times higher for international students than for domestic students, they also need to pay taxes on their work in the UK, as well as visa and biometric fees.

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