Proof of funds calculator for a UK student visa
Having the money is rarely the hard part. The rules turn on when it arrived and how long it sat there, so this works out both: the figure, and the dates it has to be in the account.
Figures assessed against official UK government sources on 3 October 2026.
The figure on your CAS, or your offer letter if you do not have a CAS yet.
A deposit only counts if your CAS shows it as paid.
£1,171 a month.
Capped at 9 even if your course runs longer. Most master's courses use 9.
You must show
£10,539
- Course fees to show
- £0
- Living costs, 9 months at £1,171
- £10,539
Optional. This works out when the money has to be sitting in the account.
What this is working out
Two numbers added together, then a set of dates counted backwards from when you apply.
- Course fees for your first year, as printed on your CAS, minus anything the CAS records as already paid
- Living costs at £1,171 a month outside London or £1,529 in London, capped at 9 months however long your course runs
The dates are the part people get wrong. The 28 days are counted back from your statement's closing balance, and that balance has to be no more than 31 days old when you apply. So money that arrives a fortnight before you submit does not qualify, however much of it there is.
What this cannot tell you
Whether the account qualifies. The money has to sit somewhere that allows immediate access, and overdrafts, stocks, pensions and cryptocurrency are all excluded, as are banks that are not regulated where they operate.
Whose money it is also matters: your own, your parents' with a letter of consent, or a partner's in limited cases. An uncle, a family friend or a sponsor outside those categories does not count.
Both are covered in the full proof of funds guide.
Common questions
- How much money do I need to show for a UK student visa?
- Your first year of course fees, as printed on your CAS and minus anything the CAS records as already paid, plus living costs of £1,171 a month outside London or £1,529 in London, for up to 9 months.
- When does the money need to be in my account?
- For 28 consecutive days, and the closing balance on your statement must be dated no more than 31 days before you apply. The 28 days are counted backwards from that closing balance, so the window is anchored to your application date rather than to when the money arrived.
- Does a deposit I have already paid reduce the amount?
- Only if your CAS records it as paid. A receipt from the university is not enough on its own, so check what the CAS actually says before subtracting anything.
- Is this calculator free?
- Yes, and it needs no account. The figures come from gov.uk and the page lists its sources.
Does your own plan actually hold up?
Pathminder checks your dates, your budget and your documents against the rules on this page, and tells you what is missing before it costs you an application fee.
Check your planFree. No card required.
Where these figures come from
Every number on this page comes from official UK government guidance, not from agents or forums. Rules move without notice, so confirm anything your application depends on at the source.