UK Student Visa Bank Statement Rules for Bangladeshi Students (2026-27)

Most UK student visa refusals we see in Bangladesh are not about the university or the course. They are about money: a balance that dropped for one day, a statement that was a few days too old, or an uncle’s account that the Home Office does not accept. This guide explains the bank statement rules in plain language, with the mistakes to avoid.

How much money must the bank statement show?

Your statement must cover two things at the same time:

1. Tuition: the fee for the first year (or the whole course if it is shorter than a year), minus anything you have already paid. Your CAS shows both numbers.
2. Living costs: a fixed monthly amount for the length of your course, up to a maximum of 9 months.

Visa application date	Outside London	London
Up to 29 November 2026	£1,171 a month, £10,539 for 9 months	£1,529 a month, £13,761 for 9 months
From 30 November 2026	£1,203 a month, £10,827 for 9 months	£1,570 a month, £14,130 for 9 months

“London” means the City of London and the 32 London boroughs. If your campus is there, you use the London amount even if the university’s main office is elsewhere. Only some students may bring family members (mainly postgraduate research students such as PhD students); if you can, you need extra money for each dependant (£680 a month outside London or £845 in London, up to 9 months). See can you bring family on a UK student visa.

Example: a one-year Master’s outside London, tuition £15,000, deposit paid £5,000, visa application in December 2026. Required: £10,000 tuition + £10,827 living costs = £20,827 (about BDT 34.7 lakh at £1 = BDT 166.66).

The 28-day rule, step by step

• The full amount must be in the account every single day for 28 consecutive days. If the balance falls below the required amount for even one day, the 28 days start again.
• The 28 days are counted back from the closing balance on your latest statement.
• That closing date must be no more than 31 days before the date you submit your visa application.
• You may spend money above the required amount; just never go below it.

Timeline example: you want to apply on 15 December. Your statement closes on 10 December. The money must have been in the account, at or above the full amount, from 13 November to 10 December.

Whose account can you use?

Account holder	Accepted?	What you also need
You (the student)	Yes	Nothing extra
Your father or mother	Yes	A letter from the parent confirming the relationship and that you may use the money, plus proof of the relationship, such as your birth certificate
Your husband or wife (partner)	Yes	Proof of the relationship, such as the marriage certificate
Brother, uncle, other relatives, friends	No	Move the money to your own or a parent’s account in time for the 28 days
Official sponsor or education loan	Yes	A letter from the sponsor or lender on official paper, meeting the Home Office rules

What the statement or bank letter must show

• Your name (or your parent’s or partner’s name)
• The account number and the bank’s name and logo
• The date of the statement or letter
• The balance, covering the full 28-day period

You can use printed bank statements, electronic statements, or a bank letter that confirms the balance for the 28 days. The account must be with a bank or financial institution regulated in its country and using electronic record keeping, so that the Home Office can check it.

What does not count

• Overdraft or credit card limits
• Shares, bonds, cryptocurrency, pension funds
• Money you cannot take out immediately. A fixed deposit (FDR) only helps if the bank confirms the money can be withdrawn at once; otherwise move it to a savings account before the 28 days start.
• Money that was not obtained legally, or that you cannot explain

Exchange rate: how BDT is converted

The Home Office converts a balance in taka to pounds using the OANDA spot rate on the date you apply. Exchange rates move, so keep a cushion of 3 to 5 percent above the required amount in BDT. On 11 November 2026, £1 was about BDT 166.66 (mid-market rate).

Do Bangladeshi students have to submit the bank statement?

Yes. Students from some countries (on the “differentiation” list) do not have to submit financial documents with the application, but Bangladesh is not on that list. Bangladeshi applicants should submit the evidence and keep the money in place until the decision. The only general exemption is for students who have already been in the UK with a valid visa for at least 12 months.

Seven mistakes that cause refusals

1. The balance dropped below the required amount on one day.
2. The statement closing date was more than 31 days before the visa application.
3. Money in a brother’s or uncle’s account.
4. A parent’s account used without the consent letter or birth certificate.
5. A large deposit made just before the 28 days with no explanation of where it came from. Keep papers for land sale, business income or savings.
6. The amount calculated with the old living cost figure after 30 November 2026.
7. Inconsistent amounts between the bank statement, the bank letter and what the student says in the credibility interview.

Financial questions also come up in the visa interview. See our UK student visa interview questions and common reasons for refusal.

Frequently asked questions

How old can the bank statement be for a UK student visa?

The closing date of the statement must be no more than 31 days before the date you apply. The 28-day period is counted back from that closing balance.

Can my father’s bank account be used for the UK student visa?

Yes. You need a letter from your father (or mother) confirming the relationship and that you can use the money, and proof of the relationship such as your birth certificate.

Can I use an education loan from a Bangladeshi bank?

Yes, if the loan letter is from a regulated lender, is dated no more than 6 months before your application, and confirms the amount, your name and that the money will be available before you travel.

What if my balance goes down during the 28 days?

If it goes below the required amount, even for one day, those 28 days no longer count. You must wait for a new full 28-day period.

Does the money have to stay after the visa is granted?

The rule is about the 28 days before you apply. In practice keep the funds until the decision, because the Home Office can ask for more evidence while it checks your application.