Tier 4 visa applicants must have the correct amount of funds in their bank account
To apply for a Tier 4 (student) visa, you need to demonstrate to the UK Border Agency that you have a specific amount of money in your bank account for a 28 day period. This amount will vary depending on certain factors. This money is to show that you can pay for:
- Your tuition fees
- Your living expenses in the UK
Don’t wait until your visa is about to expire before checking how much money you will need to have in your bank account for the 28 day period before applying. ISAS strongly recommends that you begin to prepare for your tier 4 application at least 2 months before your visa expiry date.
The only exception to showing this money may be if you receive financial sponsorship covering all of your tuition fees and living costs from one of the following: the UK government, any other government, the university, the British Council or an international organisation, international company or an independent school.
If you receive this type of sponsorship it may not be necessary for you to demonstrate a specific amount of funds in your bank account and instead provide documents from your sponsor. Note that financial sponsorship from friends or family is not included here.
Whether you are funding your studies yourself or you receive sponsorship from one of the above organisations you need to check the following information carefully to find out what documents you will need to provide to UKBA and how much money will need to be in your bank account.
