The United Kingdom has raised the financial requirements for international students applying for study visas. Applicants studying in London will be expected to show access to at least £14,130 in living expenses from November 30, 2026.
Nairametrics reported on Wednesday that the revised maintenance requirements, introduced by the UK Home Office, will affect prospective international students, including Nigerians seeking admission to British universities.
Under the new rules, students must show they have enough money to cover their living costs during their studies. This is in addition to tuition fees and other visa-related costs.
The adjustment comes amid rising living expenses in the UK and growing financial pressure on international students.
Under the revised rules, international students in London will need to show access to £1,570 per month, up from the current £1,529.
For courses lasting nine months or longer, the maximum maintenance requirement for London will rise from £13,761 to £14,130, an increase of £369.
Students studying outside London will also face higher requirements, with the minimum monthly amount rising from £1,171 to £1,203.
The maximum nine-month maintenance requirement for students outside London will consequently increase from £10,539 to £10,827, a rise of £288.
These amounts are the minimum living expenses applicants must show when applying for a student visa, and they do not include tuition fees.
Applicants must also budget separately for the student visa application fee and the Immigration Health Surcharge, which gives access to the UK’s National Health Service under applicable rules.
The increase means Nigerian students planning to study in the UK must make additional financial provision before submitting their visa applications.
Applicants will need to make sure they meet the maintenance threshold for their university’s location and provide acceptable evidence that the required funds are available.
The financial requirement is separate from tuition fees. Prospective students must therefore account for both the cost of their education and the money needed to support themselves while living in the UK.
Students preparing their applications will also need to factor in the relevant visa charges and the healthcare surcharge when calculating their overall study budgets.
The new requirements come as international students continue to make a significant contribution to the UK’s higher education sector and wider economy.
According to figures cited in the report, about 685,565 international students were enrolled in UK higher education institutions in the 2024/2025 academic year, representing roughly 24 per cent of the total student population.
Of this number, about 622,000 came from countries outside the European Union, while around 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 about £41.9 billion to the UK economy during the 2021/2022 academic year.
Despite this contribution, international students still face financial challenges linked to accommodation costs, limited job opportunities and restrictions on working hours.
The revised maintenance thresholds will require prospective students to review their budgets and confirm that they meet the applicable financial requirements before applying for a UK student visa.
