By Divine Sam

The United Kingdom has announced an increase in the minimum funds international students must show when applying for a student visa, a move that will require prospective students, including Nigerians, to make additional financial provisions before travelling to study.

The revised requirements, introduced by the UK Home Office, will take effect on November 30, 2026, with students expected to demonstrate that they have enough money to cover their living expenses while studying in the country, apart from tuition fees and other visa-related charges.

Under the new rules, students attending universities in London will be required to show access to at least £1,570 per month for living expenses, up from the current £1,529. For courses lasting nine months or longer, the maximum amount applicants must demonstrate will increase from £13,761 to £14,130, representing an additional £369.

Students studying outside London will also face higher financial requirements. Their minimum monthly maintenance amount will rise from £1,171 to £1,203, while the maximum amount required for a nine-month period will increase from £10,539 to £10,827.

The revised figures represent the minimum funds applicants must demonstrate to meet the living-cost requirement for a UK student visa. They do not cover tuition fees, which students must budget for separately.

Prospective applicants must also factor in the student visa application fee and the Immigration Health Surcharge, which provides access to the United Kingdom’s National Health Service under applicable rules.

For Nigerian students hoping to secure admission to British universities, the adjustment means that careful financial planning will be even more important before submitting visa applications. Applicants will need to meet the required threshold based on their university’s location and provide acceptable evidence that the money is available.

The increase comes as international students continue to play a significant role in the UK’s higher education sector, despite growing concerns about the cost of accommodation, everyday expenses and the financial demands of studying abroad.

Figures cited in the report show that approximately 685,565 international students were enrolled in UK higher education institutions during the 2024/2025 academic year, accounting for about 24 per cent of the total student population.

Of that number, roughly 622,000 students came from countries outside the European Union, while approximately 63,600 were from EU member states.

The economic contribution of international students has also been substantial. Professor Padam Simkhada, Dean of Global Impact and Research at the University of Chester, noted that international students contributed an estimated £41.9 billion to the UK economy during the 2021/2022 academic year.

Despite this contribution, many international students continue to face financial difficulties linked to accommodation costs, limited employment opportunities and restrictions on working hours.

With the new maintenance requirements due to take effect at the end of November, prospective students will need to review their budgets, confirm the applicable financial threshold and ensure they have sufficient funds to cover living expenses, tuition and other associated costs before applying for a UK student visa.