United Kingdom don increase the amount of money wey foreign students must show say dem get before dem fit receive student visa. From November 30, 2026, students wey wan study for London must show say dem get at least £14,130 to cover their living expenses.
According to report by Nairametrics on Wednesday, the new financial requirements come from UK Home Office and go affect students from different countries, including Nigerians, wey wan study for British universities.
Under the new rules, students must show say dem get enough money to take care of their living expenses throughout their studies. This money dey separate from school fees and other visa charges.
The increase come as the cost of living for the UK continue to rise, making am more expensive for foreign students to live and study for the country.
Under the new requirements, students wey wan study for London must show say dem get £1,570 for every month, instead of the former £1,529.
For courses wey last nine months or more, the highest amount students must show for living expenses don increase from £13,761 to £14,130. This one mean say students go need an extra £369.
Students wey wan study outside London go also face higher financial requirements. The monthly amount don increase from £1,171 to £1,203.
For courses wey last nine months or more, students outside London must now show say dem get up to £10,827 for living expenses, instead of the former £10,539. This na increase of £288.
These amounts na the minimum money wey students must show say dem get to support themselves while dem dey study for the UK. The money no include school fees.
Students must also prepare money for visa application fees and Immigration Health Surcharge, wey allow dem access the UK National Health Service under the applicable rules.
The increase mean say Nigerians wey dey plan to study for the UK go need to prepare more money before dem submit their visa applications.
Applicants must make sure say dem meet the financial requirement for the location of the university wey dem wan attend. Dem must also provide acceptable evidence to show say the money dey available.
Since the living expenses requirement no include school fees, students must calculate the cost of their education separately from the money wey dem need to survive while dem dey the UK.
The new requirements come as foreign students continue to play important roles for British universities and the country economy.
According to figures wey the report quote, about 685,565 foreign students attend higher institutions for the UK during the 2024/2025 academic year. This number represent about 24 per cent of all students for the country.
Out of this number, about 622,000 students come from countries outside the European Union, while around 63,600 come from EU countries.
Professor Padam Simkhada, wey be Dean of Global Impact and Research for the University of Chester, note say foreign students contribute about £41.9 billion to the UK economy during the 2021/2022 academic year.
Even with their contribution to the economy, foreign students still dey face money wahala because of high house rent, limited work opportunities and restrictions on the number of hours dem fit work.
The new financial requirements mean say Nigerians and other foreign students wey dey plan to study for the UK must review their budgets and make sure say dem get the required money before dem apply for student visa.
