Student Update: Changes to the Student and Graduate Immigration Rules
14 October 2025
The Home Office has today published a Statement of Changes to the Immigration Rules (14 October 2025), introducing key updates that affect both Student and Graduate visa holders.
Below is a summary of the most important changes and when they will come into effect.
Increase to Maintenance Requirements (from 11 November 2025)
From 11 November 2025, international students applying for a visa under the Student route will need to meet higher financial (maintenance) requirements.
This means applicants must show a larger amount of money to demonstrate they can cover their living costs while studying in the UK.
New required maintenance amounts
£1,529 per month if you will be studying in London (up to a maximum of 9 months)
£1,171 per month if you will be studying outside London (up to a maximum of 9 months)
Additionally, the maximum amount that can be offset for accommodation will rise to £1,529 for applications made under the Student route on or after 11 November 2025.
For a detailed explanation of how the financial requirement works and what evidence you need, visit:
UKCISA – Student route: eligibility and requirements
Graduate Route Changes (from 1 January 2027)
The Graduate route will also see changes to the length of time graduates can stay in the UK after completing their studies.
From 1 January 2027:
Bachelor’s and Master’s degree holders will be granted 18 months of permission under the Graduate route (reduced from the current 2 years).
PhD and other doctoral graduates will continue to receive 3 years of permission — this remains unchanged.
These adjustments were first outlined in the Immigration White Paper published in May 2025 and are now confirmed through this latest Statement of Changes.
It’s important to note:
The new rules will only apply to Graduate route applications made on or after 1 January 2027.
Anyone who applies before this date will still receive the current 2-year permission.
For further information on the Graduate route, visit:
UKCISA – Graduate Route
What This Means for Students
If you plan to apply for a Student visa on or after 11 November 2025, make sure you prepare for the updated financial requirements.
If you will complete your studies before January 2027, your Graduate route application will still be under the current 2-year rule.
If you will finish your course after January 2027, your Graduate route permission may be limited to 18 months.
We recommend keeping an eye on updates from:
🔗 UKCISA – International Student Advice and Guidance
🔗 GOV.UK – Statement of Changes to the Immigration Rules (14 October 2025)
These sources will continue to provide the most up-to-date and official information on how these changes are implemented.