UK INCREASES STUDENT VISA FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS FROM NOVEMBER 30
Read Time:2 Minute, 43 Second
By ‘Balogun Ibrahim
The United Kingdom has announced an increase in the minimum financial requirements for international students applying for study visas, with applicants intending to study in London required to show access to at least £14,130 for living expenses from November 30, 2026.
According to Nairametrics, which reported the development on Wednesday, the revised maintenance thresholds introduced by the UK Home Office will affect prospective international students, including Nigerians seeking admission to British universities.
Under the updated requirements, applicants must provide evidence that they have sufficient funds to cover their living expenses during their studies, in addition to tuition fees and other visa-related charges.
The adjustment comes amid rising living costs across the UK and growing financial pressures on international students.
Under the new rules, students planning to study in London will be required to demonstrate access to £1,570 per month, up from the previous £1,529.
For courses lasting nine months or longer, the maximum maintenance requirement will increase from £13,761 to £14,130, representing a rise of £369.
Students attending institutions outside London will also face higher financial thresholds, with the minimum monthly amount increasing from £1,171 to £1,203.
Consequently, the maximum maintenance requirement for a nine-month course outside London will rise from £10,539 to £10,827, an increase of £288.
The specified amounts represent the minimum living expenses applicants must demonstrate when applying for a student visa and do not cover tuition fees.
Prospective students must also make separate provisions for the student visa application fee and the Immigration Health Surcharge, which provides access to the UK’s National Health Service under applicable rules.
The increase means Nigerian students intending to study in the UK will need to make additional financial preparations before submitting their visa applications.
Applicants are expected to meet the applicable maintenance threshold based on the location of their institution and provide acceptable evidence that the required funds are available.
Since the maintenance requirement is separate from tuition fees, prospective students must account for both their educational expenses and the cost of supporting themselves throughout their stay in the country.
They must also factor in visa charges and the healthcare surcharge when calculating the overall cost of studying in the UK.
The revised requirements come as international students continue to play a significant role in the UK’s higher education sector and wider economy.
Figures cited in the report indicate that approximately 685,565 international students were enrolled in UK higher education institutions during the 2024/2025 academic session, accounting for about 24 per cent of the total student population.
Of this number, approximately 622,000 students came from countries outside the European Union, while about 63,600 were from EU countries.
The Dean of Global Impact and Research at the University of Chester, Professor Padam Simkhada, noted that international students contributed approximately £41.9bn to the UK economy during the 2021/2022 academic year.
Despite their economic contributions, international students continue to contend with financial challenges, including high accommodation costs, limited employment opportunities and restrictions on working hours.
The revised maintenance thresholds will therefore require prospective students to reassess their budgets and ensure they satisfy the applicable financial requirements before applying for a UK student visa.
Happy
0 %
Sad
0 %
Excited
0 %
Sleepy
0 %
Angry
0 %
Surprise
0 %
0
0