Planning to study in the UK in 2026 or already studying there?

Then you may have seen headlines about new UK student visa rules and wondered what has actually changed.

The important thing to understand is that there isn’t just one new rule. Several changes and existing restrictions affect international students, including financial requirements, dependant rules, work conditions and the Graduate visa.

For Indian students planning to study in the UK, understanding the UK student visa rules before applying can help you prepare your finances and documents properly.

Important: UK immigration rules can change. This article reflects official GOV.UK information available in September 2026. Always check the latest official guidance before making a visa application.

What Are the Latest UK Student Visa Rules?

Here is a quick overview of the changes and rules students should know about:

1. The Financial Requirement Is Increasing

One of the newest changes to the UK student visa rules concerns the amount of money students must show for living costs.

Currently, the requirement is:

London: £1,529 per month
Outside London: £1,171 per month

From 30 November 2026, these figures increase to:

London: £1,570 per month
Outside London: £1,203 per month.

What does that mean?

For the maximum nine months used in the calculation:

These funds are in addition to the required course-fee amount shown on your Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS), unless an exemption applies. Applicants generally need to have held the required funds for a consecutive 28-day period.

Simple visual

LONDON
£1,529/month  ───────→  £1,570/month
                     30 Nov 2026

OUTSIDE LONDON
£1,171/month  ───────→  £1,203/month
                     30 Nov 2026

2. The Graduate Visa Is Changing in 2027

This is particularly important for Indian students choosing a UK degree.

Under the current rules, eligible graduates who apply for the Graduate visa on or before 31 December 2026 can receive two years.

For applications made from 1 January 2027, the Graduate visa will generally last 18 months for bachelor’s and master’s graduates.

A person who completes a PhD or another doctoral qualification can still receive three years.

The timeline

2026
Student Visa
     ↓
Graduate Visa
2 years (application by 31 Dec 2026)

2027 onward
Student Visa
     ↓
Graduate Visa
18 months
(Bachelor's / Master's)

PhD / Doctorate
     ↓
Graduate Visa
3 years

The Graduate visa allows eligible graduates to work in most jobs, look for work and be self-employed, subject to its conditions. It cannot itself be extended, although another visa route may be available later.

3. Can Indian Students Bring Dependants?

This is one of the most important UK student visa rules for married students and parents.

For postgraduate courses starting from 1 January 2024, dependants are generally permitted only where the student is studying a PhD, another doctoral qualification or a research-based higher degree.

There is also an exception for certain government-sponsored students studying eligible full-time courses lasting six months or more.

So, for example:

Taught Master’s → generally no new dependants

Research-based higher degree → may qualify

PhD/Doctorate → may qualify

This distinction is important when choosing a course.

4. Can Students Still Work Part-Time?

Yes, eligible students can still work under the UK student visa rules, but the permitted hours depend on the course and sponsor.

For a full-time degree-level course at a qualifying higher education provider, students can generally work:

Up to 20 hours per week during term time

Full-time employment can generally be permitted outside term time. Students on certain below-degree-level courses may have a 10-hour weekly limit, while some study routes do not permit employment.

Your visa conditions are what matter, so check them before accepting employment.

5. What About the UK Visa Brake?

A change that has attracted attention in 2026 is the UK visa brake.

However, this does not currently apply to Indian nationals.

The restriction applies to Student visa applications made from outside the UK where the main applicant is a national of:

• Afghanistan
• Cameroon
• Myanmar
• Sudan

The rules took effect for relevant applications submitted from 26 March 2026.

For Indian students, the key point is that this specific restriction does not currently cover India.

6. How Much Does the UK Student Visa Cost?

The current Student visa application fee is £558 for applications made either outside or inside the UK.

Students also normally have to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge.

The current student rate is £776 per year, with the total depending on the length of immigration permission.

Don’t forget these costs

University fees
      +
Living-cost funds
      +
Visa application fee
      +
Immigration Health Surcharge
      +
Travel & accommodation
      =
Total study-abroad budget

7. The Genuine Student Requirement Still Matters

Meeting the financial requirements alone does not guarantee a visa.

UKVI assesses whether an applicant is a genuine student. Caseworkers can consider factors including your personal and financial circumstances, the credibility of your source of funds and whether your circumstances make completing the course difficult. A credibility interview may also be used where applicable.

For Indian applicants, this means your course choice, academic history, finances and study plans should make sense together.

What Should Indian Students Do Now?

Before applying, create a simple checklist:

✅ Check your university’s CAS information

✅ Calculate the required maintenance funds

✅ Check whether your course allows dependants

✅ Check your permitted work conditions

✅ Understand how the Graduate visa timing could affect your plans

✅ Prepare evidence of funds correctly

✅ Check the latest GOV.UK rules immediately before applying

Final Thoughts

The latest UK student visa rules are important for Indian students because several areas have changed or are scheduled to change.

The biggest points to remember are the maintenance requirement increase from 30 November 2026, the Graduate visa reduction to 18 months for bachelor’s and master’s graduates from 1 January 2027, and the continuing restrictions on bringing dependants for most taught postgraduate students.

At the same time, eligible students can still work within their visa conditions, and the current visa brake does not apply to Indian nationals.

Don’t plan your UK education based on an old visa article or social-media post. Check the latest official rules before you apply.

For the most up-to-date information, use the official GOV.UK Student visa guidance and Immigration Rules.

Read our previous blog here!