UK Student Visa from Nepal (2026): Requirements, Fees, Funds and the New Rules

The rules for a UK student visa from Nepal have shifted a lot since the government's May 2025 immigration white paper, and two more changes land within the next two months. This guide sets out what actually applies in 2026: the requirements, the UK student visa fee, the money you must show in your account, and the cost in Nepali rupees. It keeps those rules apart from changes that were only proposed, and every number links to its official source.

Update (5 November 2026): for applications made on or after 30 November 2026, the money you must show rises to £1,203 a month outside London and £1,570 a month in London (UKCISA). From 1 January 2027, the Graduate visa also falls to 18 months for most graduates (gov.uk).

#UK student visa rules 2026: the short version

#1. How much money you need to show (bank balance)

You have to prove you can cover your course fees and your living costs. How much you need for living costs depends on the date you apply:

You show this for up to 9 months, plus any first-year tuition you haven't paid yet (UKCISA, September 2026; gov.uk: Student visa, money).

The 28-day rule: the money has to sit in the account for at least 28 days in a row, and that 28-day period must end within 31 days of the date you apply (gov.uk). If the balance drops below the amount on even one day, the 28 days start over.

Example, applying from Nepal on or after 30 November 2026: for a course outside London you need 9 × £1,203 = £10,827 for living costs. At Nepal Rastra Bank's selling rate on 5 November 2026 (NPR 204.71 to £1), that's about NPR 22.2 lakh, plus any unpaid tuition. In London it's 9 × £1,570 = £14,130, about NPR 28.9 lakh. The rate moves every day, so check the NRB exchange rate when you prepare your bank statement.

#2. UK student visa fee and health surcharge

• Student visa fee: £558, whether you apply from outside the UK or extend or switch inside it (gov.uk: Student visa). Before 8 April 2026 it was £524.
• Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS): £776 per year for students and their dependants, paid up front for the whole visa. A part year of 6 months or less costs half, £388 (gov.uk: healthcare surcharge).

Because your visa usually runs a few months past the end of your course, a one-year master's often means paying IHS for more than a year: 1 year and 4 months, for instance, is £776 + £388 = £1,164. The official IHS calculator gives your exact figure.

#3. Total cost of a UK student visa from Nepal

For a typical one-year master's outside London, applying on or after 30 November 2026 (rupee figures at NPR 204.71 to £1, NRB's selling rate on 5 November 2026):

Add the TB test, translations and courier costs on top. And to send tuition or living costs out of Nepal, you'll also need a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the education ministry.

#4. UK student visa requirements for Nepalese students

• A CAS (Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies) from a licensed university or college.
• The money in your account for 28 days, as explained above.
• English at CEFR level B2 for a degree-level course (B1 below degree level), shown through an approved test or your university's own assessment, depending on your sponsor (gov.uk: knowledge of English).
• A TB test certificate. Nepal is on the list of countries whose nationals need one for visas over 6 months (gov.uk: TB test). It's valid for 6 months from your chest X-ray and must come from an approved clinic in Nepal.
• Your academic documents, as listed on your CAS.
• Preparation for a credibility interview: universities and UKVI often interview Nepali applicants about their course, money and plans.

When to apply: from outside the UK, up to 6 months before your course starts. A decision usually takes about 3 weeks (gov.uk).

#5. The Graduate visa (PSW) is getting shorter

The Graduate visa, which many Nepali students call PSW (post-study work), lets you stay and work in the UK after a UK degree without needing a job offer. It lasts 2 years if you apply on or before 31 December 2026 and 18 months if you apply on or after 1 January 2027; PhD graduates still get 3 years. You apply from inside the UK, and it costs £937 plus the health surcharge (gov.uk: Graduate visa).

The October 2026 Budget says graduates of "high-compliance" universities will keep two years, but no list has appeared yet. All the details: UK Graduate visa: 18 months or 2 years?

#6. Working while you study

On a degree-level course you can usually work up to 20 hours a week in term time and full time during official vacations, unless your CAS or visa says otherwise (gov.uk: Student visa).

#Other changes from the September 2026 rules

From 8 October 2026, the Statement of Changes of 3 September 2026 also tightened the deadlines for giving your biometrics and changed the rules on fee waiver dates (UKCISA). The UK is also rejoining Erasmus+ from 2027.

#What was proposed but is not (yet) a student rule

The May 2025 immigration white paper floated several other changes, including:

• tougher compliance thresholds for universities that sponsor international students;
• a levy on universities' income from international students;
• making 10 years, not 5, the normal qualifying period for settlement (permanent residence). Update (2 November 2026): the government has since confirmed this, starting in December 2026 and running through 2027, and time on Student and Graduate visas won't count towards settlement. See UK ILR changes: 5-year vs 10-year routes.

Some of these still need legislation or consultation, and the details keep moving. Treat them as proposals until they appear in the official Immigration Rules or on gov.uk.

#Checklist before you apply

• CAS from a licensed sponsor.
• Money held for 28 days, at the rate for your application date.
• English test or other evidence your sponsor accepts.
• TB test certificate from an approved clinic in Nepal.
• Visa fee (£558) and IHS (£776 per year) budgeted.
• NOC for sending fees from Nepal.
• Preparation for a possible credibility interview.

#Frequently asked questions

#Sources

• UKCISA: Student update: changes to the Immigration Rules, September 2026 · Changes to the Student and Graduate rules (14 October 2025)
• GOV.UK: Student visa · Student visa: money · Graduate visa · Healthcare surcharge · TB test countries · Immigration white paper, May 2025
• Nepal Rastra Bank: foreign exchange rates (GBP selling rate NPR 204.71, 5 November 2026)

Hamropedia is not a registered immigration adviser. For your own case, check gov.uk and talk to your university's international student advice team.