§ Hugh BayleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much money overseas students applying for a visa to study in the UK are required to show that they have available to support themselves while they are in the UK. [164155]
§ Mr. MullinThere is no set amount of money that overseas students need to show that they have available in order to gain entry clearance to study in the UK. The Immigration Rules state that students must be able to show that they have sufficient funds to pay for their course and accommodate themselves without working or help from public funds. There are two exceptions to this. A student can meet some of his/her costs through earnings from employment if that employment is either at a publicly funded institution of further or higher education which is itself providing and guaranteeing the employment or a sandwich course placement which the college or university can guarantee will be available to the student.
As a rough guideline the British Council estimates student living costs (excluding fees) for 2002–03 as £768 per calendar month (£6,912 per academic year, which is a nine month period) for a course in London and £600 per calendar month (£5,400 per academic year) for a course outside London. Offer letters from educational establishments often contain an estimated cost for living expenses and the Entry Clearance Officer can also use these figures as a guide.