UK Student Visa Changes 2026-27: What Indian Students Must Know

Published 2026-10-28 · 8 min read · By the Travlys visa team

Two UK rule changes land within five weeks of each other: higher maintenance funds for student visas from 30 November 2026, and an 18-month Graduate Route for applications from 1 January 2027. Here is what each means for Indian students heading to the January and September 2027 intakes.

Two UK rule changes affect Indian students right now. From 30 November 2026, the money you must show for a student visa rises to £1,570 a month in London and £1,203 a month elsewhere, for up to nine months. From 1 January 2027, the Graduate Route for bachelor's and master's graduates falls from two years to 18 months, based on the date you apply.

Both changes are already written into the Immigration Rules. The first comes from Statement of Changes HC 584, published on 3 September 2026. The second comes from HC 1333, published in October 2025. Neither is a proposal any more.

At a glance: New funds (London): £1,570 a month, up to 9 months, so £14,130. New funds (outside London): £1,203 a month, up to 9 months, so £10,827. Starts: applications made on or after 30 November 2026. 28-day rule: unchanged. Graduate Route: 18 months for applications made on or after 1 January 2027; 2 years if made before; PhD stays 3 years. Student visa fee: £558. Health surcharge: £776 a year. Dependants: research degrees and government-sponsored students only. Levy on universities: £925 per international student a year in England from 1 August 2028, subject to Parliament.

Change 1: higher maintenance funds from 30 November 2026

The UK links the student maintenance requirement to the loans available to home students, and updates it each year. HC 584 replaces £1,529 with £1,570 for London and £1,171 with £1,203 for the rest of the UK. The maximum accommodation deposit you can offset also rises from £1,529 to £1,570.

The rules include a clear transition. Any application made before 30 November 2026 is decided under the rules in force on 29 November 2026. So the date you submit and pay for your application decides which figure applies to you.

London, 9-month course or longer: £14,130 plus unpaid fees, up from £13,761 (an extra £369).
Outside London, 9-month course or longer: £10,827 plus unpaid fees, up from £10,539 (an extra £288).
Shorter courses: multiply the monthly figure by the number of months, rounding any part-month up.
London means: the City of London and the 32 London boroughs. Check where your campus actually is, not just the university's name.

You do not need to show maintenance funds if you have lived in the UK on a valid visa for at least 12 months before applying. Most Indian students applying from India do not fall in that group.

The 28-day rule has not changed

You must hold the full amount for 28 consecutive days, and the end of that period must fall within 31 days of your application date. If you rely on an official education loan or a sponsor award, different evidence rules apply. A common mistake is moving money in and out during the 28 days. Even one day below the threshold can lead to a refusal.

Note: As of 28 October 2026 the gov.uk Student visa money page still shows £1,529 and £1,171. The Immigration Rules (HC 584) are the legal source and set the new figures from 30 November 2026. Plan for the higher amount if you will apply on or after that date.

Change 2: Graduate Route cut to 18 months from 1 January 2027

The Graduate Route lets you stay and work in the UK after your degree without a job offer or sponsor. Appendix Graduate now says bachelor's and master's graduates get 2 years if they apply before 1 January 2027, and 18 months if they apply on or after that date. PhD and other doctoral graduates still get 3 years.

You must apply from inside the UK, while you hold or last held Student permission, after completing your course. Your university must have reported your completion to the Home Office before you apply. The Graduate application fee is £937.

Who should act before 1 January 2027

Students on one-year master's courses that finished in September or October 2026.
Students whose results are due in November or December 2026. Ask your university when it will report completion.
Anyone whose Student visa is still valid and who has already finished. You cannot apply after your Student permission ends.

Everyone starting a course in January or September 2027 will be on the 18-month rule when they graduate, unless the rules change again. Plan your job search around 18 months, not two years.

What has not changed

English language: B2 in all four skills for degree-level study, B1 for courses below degree level. The Home Office's planned new English test (HOELT) has not launched and no switch-over date has been published.
Dependants: allowed only for PhD, doctoral or research-based higher degrees of 9 months or more, and government-sponsored students. The amount is £845 a month in London or £680 outside, per dependant, up to 9 months. HC 584 did not change these figures.
Fees: the Student visa costs £558 from outside the UK and the Immigration Health Surcharge is £776 a year for students and their dependants.

The international student levy and the Immigration Skills Charge

The Department for Education confirmed on 13 July 2026 that a levy of £925 per international student per year will apply to universities in England from 1 August 2028, subject to Parliament. Each provider gets an allowance for its first 220 international students. Students do not pay it directly, but it may affect future fees and scholarships.

The Immigration Skills Charge is paid by employers who sponsor Skilled Workers. It does not apply to student or Graduate visas, but it matters later if you hope to switch to a Skilled Worker job, because some employers weigh that cost before sponsoring.

Fewer students are applying

Home Office data published on 8 October 2026 show 352,500 main applicant study visa applications in the year ending September 2026, 19% lower than a year earlier. Dependant applications fell 31% to 15,700. News reports based on the Home Office monthly figures put September 2026 alone at about 71,600 applications, around 10% below September 2025. Fewer applicants does not lower the bar. Caseworkers still check funds, CAS details and credibility closely.

Timeline for January and September 2027 intakes

January 2027 intake

Now to 29 November 2026: apply on the old figures (£1,529 or £1,171 a month) if your CAS and 28-day funds are ready.
From 30 November 2026: the new figures apply. Make sure your 28-day balance covers £1,570 or £1,203 a month.
Processing: decisions from outside the UK usually take about 3 weeks. Faster options may be offered when you apply.
Travel: for courses longer than 6 months you can arrive up to 1 month before the start date on your visa.

September 2027 intake

Earliest application: 6 months before your course starts, so roughly March 2027 for a September start.
Funds: budget for at least £1,570 or £1,203 a month. The requirement is reviewed each year, so check again before you start your 28-day period.
After graduation: 18 months on the Graduate Route for a bachelor's or master's degree.

Common mistakes to avoid

Holding only the exact minimum. Bank charges or a currency swing can push you under.
Using a statement where the 28-day period ends more than 31 days before you apply.
Submitting just after 30 November 2026 with funds calculated on the old figures.
Assuming a taught master's lets you bring a spouse. It generally does not.
Leaving the Graduate application too late and losing the two-year grant.

How Travlys helps

Travlys files UK visas for Indian passport holders from ₹12,950 in service fees, with government fees extra. We check your CAS, funds calculation and 28-day evidence before you submit, and help you pick the right submission date around 30 November 2026. We have filed 5,000+ visas with a 98% approval rate. Message us on WhatsApp at +91 82009 18967.

Last checked: Rules were checked on 28 October 2026 against the listed sources: HC 584, Appendix Student, Appendix Graduate, gov.uk student visa pages, the Home Office fees table and Home Office statistics. Rules can change, so check gov.uk before you apply.

Frequently asked questions

How much money do I need for a UK student visa from 30 November 2026?

For applications made on or after 30 November 2026 you need £1,570 a month for study in London and £1,203 a month outside London, for up to nine months, plus any unpaid course fees on your CAS. That is £14,130 for London and £10,827 outside London for a course of nine months or more. Applications made before 30 November 2026 are decided on the old figures of £1,529 and £1,171.

Is the UK Graduate Route visa now 18 months?

Yes, for Graduate Route applications made on or after 1 January 2027, bachelor's and master's graduates get 18 months instead of two years. The cut-off is the date you apply, not the date of decision. If you apply before 1 January 2027 you still get two years. PhD and other doctoral graduates keep three years.

Can I still get a two-year Graduate visa if my course ends in 2026?

Yes, if you apply before 1 January 2027 and meet all the rules. You must be in the UK, still hold or have last held Student permission, and your university must have told the Home Office that you completed the course before you apply. If your results come out in December, talk to your university early, because the completion report has to be in before you submit.

How long must I hold funds for a UK student visa?

You must hold the money for at least 28 days in a row, and the 28-day period must end no more than 31 days before the date you apply. This rule has not changed. If the balance drops below the required amount on any day in that period, the evidence can fail, so keep a buffer above the minimum.

Can Indian students take their spouse or children to the UK on a student visa?

Only in limited cases. Since January 2024, dependants are allowed mainly if you are on a PhD, other doctoral or research-based higher degree of nine months or longer, or if you are a government-sponsored student on a course of six months or longer. Taught master's students generally cannot bring dependants. Each dependant needs £845 a month in London or £680 outside London.

Does the international student levy mean I will pay £925 more?

Not directly. The £925 per international student per year levy is charged to universities in England, not to students, and it is planned from 1 August 2028, subject to Parliament. Universities may factor it into fees later, but nothing changes for your 2027 visa application because of it.

Sources

Checked on 2026-10-28. Visa rules change; confirm on the official site before you travel.