UK Student Visa Fees for Nepali Students: 2026 Guide
The UK student visa fee, IHS surcharge, TB test cost and maintenance funds a Nepali student needs — with the 28-day rule that causes most refusals.
What the UK student visa costs, in full
The UK student visa application fee is £558, paid once per application. On top of that comes the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) at £1,035 per year of the visa, a TB test at £65 for Nepalese applicants on courses longer than 6 months, and proof of maintenance funds — £1,483 a month for a London course or £1,136 a month outside London, held for up to 9 months regardless of how long the course actually runs. None of this includes the tuition fee on your Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS), or the deposit the university takes before it issues that CAS.
| Cost | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Visa application fee | £558 | One-off, paid with the application |
| Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) | £1,035 per year | Charged for each year the visa covers, not a single flat fee |
| TB test | £65 | Nepalese applicants, courses over 6 months, UKVI-approved clinic only |
| Maintenance — London institutions | £1,483/month, up to 9 months = £13,347 | Home Office minimum. See the note below on who counts as "London" |
| Maintenance — outside London | £1,136/month, up to 9 months = £10,224 | Same 9-month cap applies even to a 1-year masters |
Maintenance is in addition to the tuition shown on the CAS, not instead of it. Budget for both separately — a family that nets the two figures off each other ends up short at the bank-statement stage.
Proof of funds and the 28-day rule
The maintenance amount — £1,483/month London or £1,136/month outside London — has to sit in the account for 28 consecutive days, and that 28-day window has to end within 31 days of the visa application date. This is the single most common refusal point, more common than English scores or academic gaps. A student who tops up the account on day 20 and applies on day 25 has not met the rule, even though the balance on the application date looks correct.
If the funds are not in the student's own name, the application also needs the sponsor's relationship evidence, a consent letter, and the sponsor's own bank statements. Check whose name is actually on the account before the family starts the 28-day clock — a joint account or a parent's account held separately from the student needs the sponsor paperwork regardless of how the money was earned.
Documents the visa application needs
- Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) — issued after the deposit, carries the course, the fee and what's already been paid. Everything else is checked against it.
- Bank statements — covering the 28 consecutive days described above.
- Academic transcripts and certificates — NEB/+2 or bachelor's records, officially translated if required.
- English language evidence — IELTS/PTE/TOEFL as the course requires, or an approved national qualification where the institution accepts one.
- TB test certificate — from a UKVI-approved clinic, for courses over 6 months.
- Valid passport — with enough remaining validity for the course.
- Sponsor documents, if the funds are not in the student's own name.
- ATAS certificate, if the subject is a sensitive science or engineering postgraduate programme.
Requirements differ by course and institution, particularly the English band and whether a Secure English Language Test is specifically required — the free Master Reckoner matches a course against its own entry, cost and English requirements rather than a single rule of thumb.
Maintenance costs by city
The visa minimum is not the same as what students actually spend. London is the one place where the two are close; everywhere else, the Home Office floor sits below realistic monthly spending.
| Location | Visa minimum | Realistic spend | Typical rent |
|---|---|---|---|
| London | £1,483/month | £1,300 - £1,900/month | £800 - £1,300/month |
| Manchester | £1,136/month | £950 - £1,350/month | £550 - £850/month |
| Birmingham | £1,136/month | £900 - £1,300/month | £500 - £800/month |
| Belfast / Coleraine / Derry | £1,136/month | £800 - £1,150/month | £400 - £700/month |
| Bradford / Huddersfield | £1,136/month | £800 - £1,150/month | £400 - £650/month |
"London" for visa purposes is a Home Office definition tied to where the institution is registered, not how urban the place feels. Two campuses that both feel like London — or both feel like a commuter town outside it — can sit on different sides of that line, and it's worth £347 a month either way. Confirm which side the specific campus named on the offer letter falls on before budgeting, not after.
Dependants: the fee that usually doesn't apply
The visa system publishes a dependant maintenance figure — £845/month in London, £680/month outside London — but for most Nepali masters applicants it is irrelevant. For a taught postgraduate course starting on or after 1 January 2024, dependants are not permitted at all. The only routes that still allow a spouse or child are a PhD or other research-based higher degree, or government sponsorship on a course longer than 6 months. If a family is planning around bringing a spouse on a one-year MSc or MA, that plan needs correcting before any visa fee is paid, not after.
Official sources
Fee and maintenance figures in this guide are the published UK Visas and Immigration Student visa figures (gov.uk). For course-specific fee and English requirements referenced above, check the institution's own pages:
- University of Exeter — https://www.exeter.ac.uk/
- Ulster University — https://www.ulster.ac.uk/
- University of Bradford — https://www.bradford.ac.uk/
- University of Huddersfield — https://www.hud.ac.uk/
- Manchester Metropolitan University — https://www.mmu.ac.uk/
For a wider view of UK study options, see the UK study guide hub and the rest of our guides.
Common questions
How much does a UK student visa cost before tuition and living costs?
The visa application itself is £558. Add the Immigration Health Surcharge at £1,035 per year of the visa, and £65 for the TB test if the course runs longer than 6 months. None of these cover tuition or maintenance — they sit on top of both.
Do I need to arrange health insurance separately in the UK?
The Immigration Health Surcharge, at £1,035 per year of the visa, is paid during the visa application and gives access to the NHS for the length of the visa. It is not optional and is charged regardless of whether the student expects to use healthcare.
Can my spouse or children join me on a UK student visa?
Not on a standard one-year taught masters starting on or after 1 January 2024. Dependant visas are restricted to PhD and other research-based higher degree students, or government-sponsored students on courses over 6 months. The dependant maintenance figures (£845/month London, £680/month outside) only apply to those who qualify.
What if my bank statements don't cover the full 28 days?
The visa application is likely to be refused on maintenance grounds, which is the most common refusal reason overall. The fix is to wait until a fresh, uninterrupted 28-day period has passed with the full amount in the account, then apply within 31 days of that period ending — not to apply early and hope the gap is overlooked.