Indian students planning to study in Britain face higher maintenance requirements from November, while the Graduate visa will be reduced to 18 months from 2027
Indian students planning to study in the United Kingdom will need to account for changes to visa requirements, including higher financial maintenance thresholds and a shorter post-study work period for most graduates from 2027.
Under the current UK Student visa system, applicants must have an offer from a licensed education provider, meet the required English-language standard and demonstrate that they have sufficient funds to support themselves. Applications from outside the UK can generally be submitted up to six months before the course begins.
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A key change will take effect on 30 November 2026, when the financial requirement for international students will increase
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The amount students must show for living costs will rise from £1,529 to £1,570 a month in London, and from £1,171 to £1,203 outside London
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For the maximum nine-month period, this means demonstrating funds of up to £14,130 in London or £10,827 elsewhere, excluding tuition fees
The UK government has also confirmed a change to the Graduate visa. Students who apply for the post-study route on or before 31 December 2026 can receive two years, while applications made from 1 January 2027 will generally provide 18 months. Doctoral graduates will continue to be eligible for a three-year Graduate visa.
The changes come as applications for UK study visas have declined. Home Office figures show that applications from main student applicants fell to 360,700 in the year ending August 2026, while applications from student dependants dropped to 17,000.
For Indian applicants, the changes underline the importance of checking financial requirements, visa documentation and post-study options before committing to a course.
