The United Kingdom has announced an increase in the monthly maintenance funds that international students must demonstrate to cover living expenses, a move that will affect applicants from Nigeria and 12 other African countries from November 30, 2026.
The British government, led by Prime Minister Andy Burnham, presented the changes to Parliament on September 3, 2026. Under the revised rules, students studying in London will need to show access to £1,570 for each month of their course, up from the previous £1,529. For students studying outside London, the monthly requirement rises from £1,171 to £1,203.
What Are the New Maintenance Requirements?
For the maximum nine-month period, students in London must demonstrate funds of £14,130 (approximately $19,100), while those elsewhere in the UK need to show £10,827 (around $14,630). These increases translate to an additional £369 for London-based students and £288 for those outside the capital.
The rules apply broadly to international students and will affect applicants from African countries including Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Egypt, Morocco, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Cameroon.
Nigeria's Significant Presence in UK Student Visas
Nigeria remains one of the UK's largest sources of international students. Home Office figures show that in the year ending June 2026, the UK granted 26,060 Sponsored Study visas to Nigerian main applicants. This accounted for 7% of all such visas, ranking Nigeria third globally behind China and India.
Across all nationalities, the UK granted 365,868 Sponsored Study visas to main applicants during the same period, a 12% decline from the previous year.
Broader Immigration Tightening
The increase is part of broader efforts by the British government to tighten its international student immigration system. Since January 2024, most international students enrolled in taught postgraduate programmes have been prevented from bringing dependants to the UK. Students also face restrictions on switching to work visas before completing their studies.
The government has also raised concerns about recruitment agents allegedly giving prospective students misleading information about study and employment opportunities. However, a 2024 review by the Migration Advisory Committee found no evidence of widespread abuse of the Graduate visa route, although it highlighted concerns involving some agents and sub-agents.
The latest maintenance requirement increase is linked to financial support available to domestic students. The government said the thresholds have been aligned with maintenance loans for home students for the 2026/27 academic year and are expected to be reviewed annually.
Additional Costs for Student Visa Applicants
Beyond the maintenance funds, applicants must budget for tuition fees, which are separate from the living-cost requirement. The funds used to meet the maintenance threshold must generally be held for at least 28 consecutive days, with the closing balance dated no more than 31 days before the visa application.
Students must also pay a £558 Student visa application fee and an annual Immigration Health Surcharge of £776. For Nigerian and other African students planning to study in Britain, these changes mean significantly higher upfront financial requirements before beginning their UK education journey.
