Starting in January 2025, international students planning to study in the United Kingdom will face higher financial requirements, as announced by the UK Home Office on September 10, 2024.
Under the new rules, students aiming to study in London must show proof of savings amounting to £1,483 per month, while those studying outside London will need to demonstrate £1,136 per month.
These figures mark an increase from the current requirements of £1,334 per month for London-based students and £1,023 for students elsewhere in the UK.
The changes are associated with the maintenance loans available for domestic students, which have not been updated since 2020.
The Home Office stated that these financial requirements will be regularly reviewed in order to keep pace with inflation and increases in domestic maintenance loans.
Therefore, students studying a nine-month course in London will need to show a total of £13,348 in savings.
However, proof of funds can be reduced if students have already paid a deposit on accommodation.
Additionally, students who have lived in the UK for at least 12 months on another visa route will not need to provide evidence of savings.
This comes after the National Health Service in the UK increased its surcharge for visa applicants to £776 per year in February 2024, alongside other costs such as tuition fees and visa charges.
The move will undoubtedly place further financial burden on international students.
Despite these rising costs, the UK remains a popular destination for international students.
ID/MA
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