UK Postgraduate Student Visa Finances: Funds, the 28-Day Rule and Dependants from Sri Lanka

TL;DR: For most taught postgraduate students, the UK student visa is a solo route. Dependants are allowed only on research degrees such as a PhD, or for government-sponsored students. You must show first-year tuition plus £1,529 a month in London or £1,171 outside, for up to nine months, held for 28 days. Those monthly rates rise on 30 November.

The UK is a popular choice for a one-year Master's, and the course is short enough that many students plan to go alone and finish quickly. The financial side still catches people out. The money has to be the right amount, held for the right length of time, and shown in the right form.

Family is the other common question. The UK does not allow dependants on a taught Master's, however strong your finances are. This guide sets out what you need to show for yourself, how the 28-day rule works, and the narrow routes where a partner or children can join you.

Want to check your funds and course choice before you commit? Check your eligibility.

How much money you must show

Your total has two parts: the first year of tuition still unpaid, and maintenance for living costs. Maintenance is counted for up to nine months, even if your Master's runs for twelve.

Applications made before 30 November use £1,529 a month in London and £1,171 outside London. The rate depends on the date you apply, not the date of your CAS, your course start or your bank statement. If you apply on or after 30 November, you need the higher amount. Funds built up at the old rate do not count towards a fresh 28-day period at the new one, so a top-up close to your application date can leave you short.

"London" means the City of London and the 32 London boroughs. A campus just outside that boundary uses the lower rate.

A worked example: a £16,000 course fee

Take a one-year Master's with a course fee of £16,000 and no scholarship. Many universities ask for a deposit of about half the first-year fee before they issue your CAS, so confirm the figure with yours. The cost then falls into two stages: what you pay up front, and the show money you hold in the bank for 28 days.

This example uses £1 = LKR 437.76, which is approximate, so check the rate on the day you transfer. Living costs use the rates for applications made on or after 30 November.

The deposit is already paid, so it does not need to sit in the account. Only the show money does, and it must stay at or above that figure for 28 days in a row. If you apply before 30 November, the show money is £18,539 outside London (LKR 8,115,633) or £21,761 in London (LKR 9,526,095).

The money can sit in your own account or in a parent's or legal guardian's account, with proof of relationship and written consent. Add a buffer for exchange-rate movement, since the balance is judged in pounds on the day you apply.

Want a second opinion on whether your funds and account setup work before you apply?

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Accommodation paid to your university

If your university has already charged you for accommodation, a limited amount can be deducted from the maintenance figure. The cap is £1,529 now and £1,570 from 30 November. Only sponsor-arranged accommodation payments count.

The 28-day rule and acceptable evidence

The money must stay in the account for at least 28 days in a row. The last day of that period must fall within 31 days of the date you apply. If you apply on 1 January, the 28-day period must end no earlier than 1 December.

In practice, the balance must not drop below the required figure on any day of the period. A dip, even briefly, resets the count. Pay your tuition deposit before the 28 days begin, or build the deposit into the total you keep in the account.

Whose account can hold the funds

The safest position is a bank account in your own name. Funds can also be shown from a parent or legal guardian's account, provided you can prove the relationship and they give written consent for you to use the money. A loan or an official financial sponsor is another route, with evidence from the lender or sponsoring body.

Whichever route you use, keep the same source throughout. Move money between accounts before the 28 days start, not during them, and keep the paperwork that explains each large transfer.

Documents to prepare

• Bank statements or an official bank letter covering the full 28 days
• Your CAS, showing tuition and any deposit paid
• Proof of relationship and a consent letter if a parent's or guardian's account is used
• Loan or sponsorship letters, where relevant
• Explanations for large or unusual deposits

To stay on the safe side, use one or two accounts and avoid funds that appear shortly before the 28-day period.

Can you bring a partner or children?

Only in two situations. Courses starting on or after 1 January 2024 limit dependants to:

• Full-time postgraduate students on a PhD or other doctorate (RQF level 8), or a research-based higher degree, on a course of nine months or longer
• Government-sponsored students on a course lasting longer than six months

A taught Master's, including a one-year MSc, MBA or LLM, does not qualify, even with strong finances. Dependants are a husband, wife or civil partner, an unmarried partner, or a child under 18. Unless you have a genuine research background and a research offer, plan to travel alone. Our guide to UK student visa dependants covers the rules in more detail.

Extra funds per dependant

If you do qualify, each dependant adds to the amount you must show, on top of your own.

The same 28-day rule applies, and each person needs their own visa application. The application fee is £558 per person, and the healthcare surcharge is payable for each dependant as well.

For example, a PhD student studying outside London with a partner and one child would show £10,539 for themselves and £12,240 for two dependants, which is £22,779 before tuition. Rates change, so check the figure on the day you apply.

If you plan to apply for research

A strong research background helps. Admissions teams look for a relevant first degree, a clear research proposal and a supervisor who agrees to take you. A generic proposal rarely persuades. If research is a real goal, start with the supervisor and the topic, not the visa.

Applying from Sri Lanka

Most Sri Lankan applicants to the UK choose a one-year taught Master's, so plan for a solo move with the maintenance and tuition figures above. Funds usually come from family savings, fixed deposits or an education loan, and the account must hold the full amount for 28 days. Convert your target into pounds at the current rate with a buffer, and make sure any parent's account comes with proof of relationship and a consent letter. For related costs, see our guides on UK student visa maintenance funds and the 28-day rule.

FAQ

Can I bring my spouse on a one-year Master's?
No. Dependants are limited to PhD and research-based degrees, and government-sponsored students.

How much do I need for living costs?
£1,529 a month in London or £1,171 outside, for up to nine months, rising to £1,570 and £1,203 for applications made on or after 30 November.

Do I need to show tuition as well?
Yes. You show the first-year fee still unpaid, as stated on your CAS.

What if my balance drops below the amount during the 28 days?
The period resets, so the application is at risk. Keep a buffer above the target.

Can my parents' account be used?
Yes, with proof of relationship and written consent.

Which research degrees allow dependants?
A PhD or other doctorate, or a research-based higher degree, studied full time.

PS: A short Master's rewards early planning. Pick the right city, match your funds to the new rates and hold the money for the full period before you apply. Check your eligibility with Prosper.

Check your eligibility ›