Immigration - Tier 4 Super Guide
Question 9: What finances do I need to show?
This is the most complicated part of the Tier 4 application process and the area where students make the most mistakes. So follow this carefully.
The Tier 4 finance rules
The UK Border Agency expects you to show the following:
| FINANCE CALCULATIONS | |
|---|---|
| Tuition fees: | 1st year's fees (or total course fees if your course is less than 1 year) |
| Living expenses | £800 per month (up to a maximum of 9 months) - no separate amount for accommodation required |
Money paid
Tuition fees paid
You can deduct any money you have paid towards tuition fees (for example, a deposit) from the total tuition fee amount.
If you are extending your visa after you have started your course, you will probably have paid most of your fees and you can deduct everything you have paid. If your programme is many years long, however, like an undergraduate degree or PhD, please be aware that if you are applying at the end of one year or in the summer, you will need to show the next year's tuition fees.
Accommodation fees paid
You can also deduct a maximum of £1000 of any money you have paid for University/INTO accommodation from the total living expenses money. There is not a separate accommodation amount that you need to show - the UK Border Agency calculation of £800 per month is intended to cover all accommodation and other living expenses. This is the case even if your accommodation is actually more than that amount. But you can only deduct accommodation fees paid from the total amount of living expenses if you are living in University/INTO accommodation. You cannot deduct money you have paid for private accommodation. If you have paid more than £1000 towards your accommodation, you can still only deduct the first £1000 that you have paid - you will still be required to show the remaining living expenses amount in your account.
Students with 'established presence' in the UK
If you have completed a course of more than 6 months on your current valid student visa, or if you are extending your visa to complete a course on which you have already been enrolled for 6 months, the UK Border Agency is likely to consider you to have 'established presence' in the UK. THis means that you have studied successfully in the UK for long enough that you have proved you can support yourself in the UK to a greater extent than new students. You will still need to show the full amount for tuition fees (with any deductions as explained above) but you can show just £800 x 2 months for living expenses. This rules applies to you regardless of whether or not you are applying inside or outside the UK, but you must have been studying the programme of 6+ months on your current student visa and that visa must not yet have expired at the point when you submit your application.
Dependants
If you have dependants in the UK with you, you will also need to show a minimum of £450 per month (up to the maximum of 9 months) for each dependant. You will therefore usually need to show £4050 for each dependant. If you have 'established presence' as mentioned above, your dependants should have this as well and can show £450 x 2 months or £900 total.
Examples
Don't worry - this can be confusing. Here are some examples to help you work it out. Make sure that you then read the next section about how to show this money which is extremely important - and the biggest reason that students are refused Tier 4 visas.
| Example 1: You are a new MSc Finance and Investment student. Your tuition fees are £15,500 for the whole 1 year programme. You have paid £2000 tuition fee deposit. | You will need to show: £15,500-£2000 = £13,500 for tuition fees + £7,200 (800 x 9 months - remember, 9 month maximum) for living expenses TOTAL: £20,700 |
|---|---|
| Example 2: You are a new INTO Pre-sessional student. Your course dates are 4 July - 9 September. You need to show living expenses for every month of your course, even if you are only studying for a few days of that month, so for visa purposes your course is 3 months long. Your course fees are £3,300 but you have paid them all. You have also paid £1,000 for accommodation. | You will need to show: £3,300 - £3,300 = £0 to show for course fees (you have paid them!) + £2,400 (£800 x 3 months) - £1000 = £1,400 TOTAL: £1,400 |
| Example 3: You are a PhD student who has already started your first year. Your tuition fees are £11,100 and you have paid £3,700 for the first term. You are living in a rented house off campus and have paid the landlord £6,000 for the whole year. | You will need to show: £11,100 - £3,700 = £7,400 + £7,200 (£800 x 9 months, remember you cannot deduct private accommodation!) TOTAL: £14,600 |
Next: Question 10: How do I show the funds available to me and how long do I need to show them for?
Tier 4 Frequently Asked Questions
- SSC Tier 4 Student Visa Application Checklist
- SSC PBS Dependant Visa Checklist
- Question 1: Do I need a visa?
- Question 2: Can I bring my family to the UK with me?
- Question 3: Where do I apply?
- Question 4: What is the application fee?
- Question 5: What application form should I fill in?
- Question 6: What is the UK Border Agency looking for?
- Question 7: How do I prove that I have an offer?
- Question 8: What qualifications do I need to show?
- Question 9: What finances do I need to show?
- Question 10: How do I show the funds available to me and how long do I need to show them for?
- Question 11: What immigration documents do I need?
- Question 12: What happens after I have submitted my application?
- Question 13: What if my application is refused?
If you have further questions please contact us.
