The United Kingdom has increased the minimum financial requirements for international students applying for student visas, requiring Nigerians planning to study in London to demonstrate access to at least £14,130 for living expenses over a nine-month period.
The revised requirements, announced by the UK Home Office, will take effect on November 30, 2026, and apply to eligible international student visa applicants, including Nigerians seeking admission to British universities. The increase is intended to reflect the minimum funds students must have available to support themselves during their studies.
Under the new rules, students studying in London will be required to show access to £1,570 per month, up from the previous £1,529. For a nine-month period, the total maintenance requirement will rise from £13,761 to £14,130, representing an increase of £369.
Students attending institutions outside London will also face higher financial requirements. Their monthly maintenance threshold will increase from £1,171 to £1,203, bringing the minimum amount required for nine months to £10,827, compared with the previous £10,539. This represents an increase of £288.
The maintenance funds are intended to cover living expenses and are separate from tuition fees. Nigerian applicants must therefore budget for their outstanding tuition fees, student visa application charges and the Immigration Health Surcharge, where applicable, in addition to the required living expenses.
Under the financial evidence rules, applicants generally need to demonstrate that the required funds have been held for at least 28 consecutive days, with the relevant period ending within 31 days of the visa application date. Acceptable evidence may include funds held in the applicant’s own bank account, a parent’s account, or qualifying financial sponsorship or student loan arrangements, subject to Home Office requirements.
The adjustment means prospective Nigerian students will need to review their finances carefully before submitting applications on or after the effective date. Those planning to study in London will need to demonstrate a higher amount than students attending institutions elsewhere in the UK, reflecting the different maintenance thresholds applied to the two locations.
The latest increase comes amid continuing concerns about the cost of studying abroad, including accommodation, transportation, food and other essential expenses. Nigerian students and their families must also contend with exchange-rate fluctuations when converting naira into pounds sterling to meet the financial requirements.
International students remain an important part of the British higher education sector. However, the rising cost of meeting visa requirements adds another financial consideration for applicants deciding where to study and how to fund their education.
The revised thresholds do not mean that applicants must pay the maintenance amount directly to the UK government. Rather, they must provide acceptable evidence that the required money is available to support their living expenses, alongside meeting the other conditions for a student visa.
Nigerians intending to apply for a UK student visa are advised to consult the official UK government guidance before submitting their applications, particularly if their application date falls close to November 30, 2026, when the new requirements are scheduled to take effect.
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