According to government policy, international students heading to the UK are required to prove they have enough savings to support themselves “for each month of their course (up to nine months),” as stated by the Home Office. The required funds are linked to the maintenance loans available to domestic students, but these amounts haven’t been adjusted since 2020. Under the new regulations, students planning to study in London must show they have £1,483 per month, while those studying outside of London will need to demonstrate £1,136 per month in funds. Let’s learn more about the new update on international student maintenance in the UK.

Current UK Maintenance Schedule Vs. UK Maintenance Schedule 2025

The maintenance requirements will be updated to match the maintenance loans provided to home students for the 2024–2025 academic year, taking effect from 2 January 2025.

The revised amounts will be:

• £1,483 per month for students studying in London.
• £1,136 per month for students studying outside of London.

For London-based students, this marks an increase of £149 per month, while for those studying elsewhere in the UK, the rise will be £113 per month. This adjustment aims to help international students better manage rising costs for accommodation, food, transport, and other essentials during their studies in the UK.

Current Maintenance Levels

At present, the monthly maintenance amounts for international students are:

• £1,334 per month for students studying in London.
• £1,023 per month for students studying outside of London.

UK Hikes International Student Maintenance: What’s Behind The Change?

“On one hand, it is understandable that the UKVI has decided to increase the maintenance funds requirement for international students to align with rising inflation and the general increase in the cost of living across the UK,” – Syed Nooh, Head of global insights and market development.

• The statement made by Syed Nooh mentioned above is absolutely true and to support this data, here is an overview of the inflation in the UK as to August 2024: 

• In August 2024, the UK’s Consumer Prices Index including owner occupiers’ housing costs (CPIH) went up by 3.1% over the past 12 months, the same rate as in July. On a monthly basis, it rose by 0.4%, also unchanged from last year. 

• The Consumer Prices Index (CPI), which excludes housing costs, rose by 2.2% over the year, again unchanged from July.

• The biggest reason for the increase in inflation came from higher airfares, which rose this year but fell the previous year. However, lower prices for fuel, restaurants, and hotels helped balance things out.

• The core inflation rates (which exclude energy, food, alcohol, and tobacco) saw a slight rise. For CPIH, it went up by 4.3% in the year to August, while core CPI rose by 3.6%. Goods prices fell, but the cost of services like rent and transport went up.

Why is this related to the increase in UK student maintenance?

The rise in inflation, particularly in services like housing, transport, and living expenses, has made it more expensive to live in the UK. This is why the UK government has increased the student maintenance requirement – to help international students keep up with the rising costs and ensure they have enough money to cover essentials during their studies. The higher inflation rates directly contribute to the increased maintenance amounts for students studying in and outside of London. 

Important Considerations for the UK Student Maintenance Increase

When considering the recent increase in UK student maintenance requirements, it’s crucial to take a wider view of the broader financial and policy changes affecting international students. However, there are still ways to offset these costs, such as accommodation deposits and exemptions for students who have been in the UK on other visa routes for 12 months or more. 

• The increased maintenance requirements should be considered in the broader context of recent changes to UK visa policies, particularly those affecting dependents.
• Currency and affordability issues are more pressing for students from key markets like West Africa and South Asia, making it harder to meet new maintenance thresholds.
• The substantial rise in the NHS surcharge this year adds another financial burden for international students.
• Students can reduce the required maintenance amount if they’ve paid a deposit for UK accommodation, helping to ease the financial load.
• If a student has been in the UK on another visa route for at least 12 months at the time of their application, they are exempt from showing maintenance funds.

Budgeting for Future Students

Students planning to apply for UK visas from 2025 onwards will need to account for these updated maintenance requirements when organising their study and living costs. While tuition fees are a key expense, the overall cost of studying in the UK is largely driven by day-to-day living costs like accommodation, food, transport, and other essentials.

To meet the new financial thresholds, students should start preparing early. This may involve exploring options such as part-time work, scholarships, or student loans to secure the necessary funds.