Nigerians planning to pursue higher education in the United Kingdom will need to provide evidence of additional funds for living expenses following an increase in the financial requirements for student visa applicants, effective November 30, 2026.
The revised thresholds, announced by the UK Home Office, require international students to demonstrate that they have sufficient money to support themselves during their studies, in addition to paying tuition fees and other applicable immigration charges.
Under the new rules, students attending institutions in London must show access to £1,570 monthly for living expenses, compared with the previous £1,529 requirement.
For a nine-month course, the total maintenance requirement in London will increase from £13,761 to £14,130, representing an additional £369.
Students studying outside London will also face higher costs, with the minimum monthly amount rising from £1,171 to £1,203. The required funds for a nine-month period will consequently increase from £10,539 to £10,827, an additional £288.
The maintenance funds are intended to cover students’ living expenses and are separate from tuition fees. Applicants must also account for the applicable visa application fee and Immigration Health Surcharge when preparing their budgets.
The adjustment means prospective Nigerian students will need to assess the financial requirements for their chosen institutions carefully and provide acceptable evidence that the required funds are available when submitting their applications.
The increase comes as international students remain an important part of the UK’s higher education sector. Figures cited in a report by Nairametrics showed that 685,565 international students enrolled in British higher education institutions during the 2024/2025 academic session, accounting for approximately 24 per cent of the total student population.
Of the international student population, about 622,000 came from countries outside the European Union, while approximately 63,600 were from EU member states.
Professor Padam Simkhada, Dean of Global Impact and Research at the University of Chester, was quoted as saying that international students contributed an estimated £41.9bn to the UK economy during the 2021/2022 academic year.
Despite their contribution, overseas students continue to contend with the high cost of accommodation and other living expenses, alongside restrictions on working hours and the challenges of securing employment.
The revised financial thresholds are therefore expected to require prospective students to plan their finances more carefully before applying for visas, as failure to meet the applicable maintenance requirement could affect their applications.
Source: PUNCH
