Nigerian students planning to study in the United Kingdom will need to demonstrate access to more than $19,100 (N25,244,267.10) for living expenses under new UK immigration rules taking effect from November 30, 2026.
The revised requirements increase the minimum maintenance funds international students must show when applying for a Student visa, with the biggest requirement applying to students studying in London.
Students studying in London will now need to demonstrate funds of £1,570 per month, up from £1,529. For a nine-month academic period, this amounts to £14,130, equivalent to about $19,100.
For students studying outside London, the requirement rises to £1,203 per month from £1,171. Over nine months, applicants will therefore need to show £10,827, or approximately $14,630.
The changes were presented to the UK Parliament on September 3 as part of amendments to the country’s Immigration Rules.
The new financial thresholds apply to international students generally, meaning applicants from Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, South Africa, Uganda, Rwanda, Egypt, Morocco, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Cameroon and other African countries will be affected.
Nigeria One of Britain’s Biggest Student Markets
The higher financial requirement is particularly significant for Nigerians because the UK remains one of the most popular destinations for Nigerian students seeking overseas education.
UK Home Office figures show that 26,060 Sponsored Study visas were granted to Nigerian main applicants in the year ending June 2026.
Nigeria accounted for 7% of all Sponsored Study visas granted to main applicants during the period, making it the UK’s third-largest source of international students after China and India.
Across all nationalities, the UK granted 365,868 Sponsored Study visas to main applicants in the year, a 12% decline from the previous year.
The new maintenance requirement therefore comes as the UK student-visa market is already contracting
Increased Financial Threshold
The maintenance funds are separate from tuition fees, meaning students must account for the cost of their course in addition to the money required for living expenses.
For a student studying in London, the new nine-month maintenance requirement is:
£1,570 × 9 months = £14,130, or approximately $19,100.
For a student outside London:
£1,203 × 9 months = £10,827, or approximately $14,630.
The increase is £369 for students in London and £288 for those studying elsewhere compared with the previous nine-month thresholds.
The required funds must generally be held for 28 consecutive days before the visa application, with the closing balance dated no more than 31 days before the application is submitted.
Applicants must also pay the Student visa application fee of £558 and an Immigration Health Surcharge of £776 per year.
