UK hikes visa proof of funds to over £14,000 for Nigerian students, others

United Kingdom has increased the minimum proof of funds required for Nigerian and other foreigners applying for student visas, raising the amount from £13,761 to £14,130 for living expenses.

The updated financial requirements are set to take effect on November 30, 2026, and would affect every international student seeking admission to UK universities amid rising living costs.

Under the new arrangements, international students planning to study in London must show they can access £1,570 per month for living expenses for courses lasting nine months or longer, a £41 increase from the previous £1,529.

Meanwhile, students studying outside London must demonstrate access to £1,203 per month for living expenses, amounting to £10,827 for a nine-month course. The existing requirement, a minimum of £1,171 per month, will be phased out; it currently totals £10,539 per year but will increase by £288 from November 30.

In the report released by the government, 685,565 international students enrolled in UK higher education institutions during the 2024/2025 academic year, representing 24 per cent of the total student population.

Meanwhile, the UK government is proposing to impose an annual levy of £925 per international student on British universities by 2028 as 10 Downing Street seeks to tighten immigration rules and raise grant funds for domestic students. British universities, however, warn that declining international student enrollment threatens the viability of the proposed levy.