# Student visa: a worked example from Punjab with real numbers

One Student visa file from Punjab worked through line by line: the applicant, the figures in pounds and rupees, and what the officer decided.

Source: https://ukvisadesk.com/visas/student-visa/worked-example · Updated 2026-10-08 · Reviewed by UK Visa Desk counselling team, licence 849/DC/PTA/PLA/LC-3/2024 · UK Visa Desk, a brand of Pro Lifeset Overseas Private Limited, Patiala, India. WhatsApp +91 91155 80911, Mon to Sat, 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM IST.

## The file
Example: a Patiala graduate starting an MSc in Birmingham in January 2027

**The situation.** Harpreet Kaur, 23, a fictional applicant, finished a BSc in Computer Science at a Patiala college in 2025 and then worked for a year at a Mohali IT firm. She holds an unconditional offer for a 12-month MSc in Data Science at a Birmingham university starting on 18 January 2027. Tuition on the CAS is £19,500, of which she paid a £5,000 deposit, so £14,500 is still owed. She submits the online form on 3 December 2026, after the maintenance uplift, so the new outside-London rate of £1,203 applies. Her father, a government schoolteacher, has an education loan sanction and a savings account in his own name. The university assessed her English itself and said so on the CAS, so no separate SELT was needed.

| Item | Figure |
|---|---|
| Visa fee, Home Office table of 8 April 2026 | £558, about ₹73,840 at the Home Office rate of ₹132.33 per pound |
| Health surcharge at the student rate: 12-month course plus a 4-month wrap-up is 16 months, charged as 1.5 years | £1,164, about ₹1,54,032 |
| Tuition still owed per the CAS | £14,500, about ₹19,18,785 |
| Living costs outside London for an application on 3 December 2026: 9 x £1,203 | £10,827, about ₹14,32,737 |
| The same living costs had she applied before 30 November 2026: 9 x £1,171 | £10,539, about ₹13,94,626 |
| Total to hold for 28 consecutive days | £25,327, about ₹33,51,522 |
| Education loan sanction letter from a nationalised bank, in her name | ₹25,00,000, about £18,892 |
| Father's savings account, lowest balance across the 28 days | ₹9,00,000, about £6,801 |
| Funds evidenced against the requirement | £25,693, a margin of £366 |
| Standard decision time from biometrics at VFS Chandigarh | 3 weeks; priority of 5 working days costs £500 extra |

**Outcome.** Harpreet's visa was granted 15 working days after biometrics and she flew on 10 January 2027. Had her father's balance dipped to ₹8,00,000 for a single day in the 28, a common wedding transfer, the total would have fallen below £25,327 and failed ST 12.3. Had the loan letter said she was eligible rather than sanctioned, the university's Basic Compliance Assessment screen would have stopped the CAS before the Home Office ever saw the file. Had she been unable to name three modules and her Birmingham accommodation cost at the credibility interview, ST 5.1 would have ended it.

## The Home Office charges behind the figures
| Charge | GBP | INR |
|---|---|---|
| Student visa, main applicant application fee | £558 | ₹73,840 |
| Immigration Health Surcharge, 1.5 years at £776 a year | £1,164 | ₹1,54,032 |
| Each dependant: Student dependant (partner or child), each (optional) | £558 | ₹73,840 |
| Priority service (optional) (optional) | £500 | ₹66,165 |
| Super priority service (optional) (optional) | £1,000 | ₹1,32,330 |
| VFS user-pay centre appointment (optional) (optional) | £76.50 | ₹10,123 |
| UK Visa Desk all-in filing price, GST included |  | ₹24,999 |
| Required Home Office charges plus our filing price | £1,722 | ₹2,52,871 |

Fees effective 8 April 2026, verified 2026-10-08; converted at 132.33 INR per GBP (2026-10-08). Pass-through charges paid on gov.uk.

## FAQ
**How much money do I need to show for a UK student visa from India in 2026?**
Tuition still owed for the first year, as shown on the CAS, plus £1,529 a month in London or £1,171 a month outside London, for up to 9 months. That is £13,761 in London and £10,539 outside London for a 9-month course, on top of unpaid tuition. From 30 November 2026 the monthly figures are expected to be £1,570 and £1,203. Our maintenance calculator applies the right figure for your application date.

**What is the 28-day rule?**
The closing balance must stay at or above the required amount for every one of the 28 days before the final balance date. One day below the line resets the clock. The statement must also be no more than 31 days old when you submit the online form.

**Does an education loan sanction letter from an Indian bank count?**
Yes, if the loan is sanctioned, not just approved in principle, and the letter is from a bank regulated by the Reserve Bank of India. The letter should state your name, the amount, the course and that funds will be released. NBFC loans are accepted only where the lender meets the Home Office's definition of a regulated financial institution, so ask us before you rely on one.

Full guide: https://ukvisadesk.com/visas/student-visa.md

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UK Visa Desk is a brand of Pro Lifeset Overseas Private Limited, a visa consultancy licensed by the Government of Punjab, India. We are a private company, not affiliated with the UK Government, and we are not regulated by the UK Immigration Advice Authority. We serve applicants who are in India; applicants already in the UK are referred to a regulated UK adviser. We do not handle work visas. Information here is general, not legal advice, and no visa outcome is guaranteed.
We do not handle UK work visas. Applicants already in the UK are referred to a regulated adviser.