Studying in the United Kingdom is about to become more expensive for international students, with London raising the amount applicants must show for living expenses when applying for a Student visa.
From November 30, students studying in London will have to demonstrate £1,570 ($2,124) per month in available funds, up from £1,529. Outside the capital, the monthly requirement will increase from £1,171 to £1,203.
Over the maximum nine-month period used for visa applications, the new threshold amounts to £14,130 ($19,100) for students in London and £10,827 ($14,630) for those studying elsewhere in the UK. Applicants must show that the money has been held for at least 28 consecutive days before applying.
The higher threshold comes on top of other costs facing international students, including tuition fees, a £558 visa application fee and an annual £776 Immigration Health Surcharge.
Nigeria stands out among African countries most exposed to the change. Britain granted 26,060 Sponsored Study visas to Nigerian main applicants in the year ending June 2026, making Nigeria the UK's third-largest source of such visas after China and India. Across all nationalities, 365,868 Sponsored Study visas were issued during the period, 12% fewer than a year earlier.
London says the adjustment is intended to bring the financial requirement closer to the level of maintenance support available to domestic students during the 2026/27 academic year. It also comes as Britain continues to tighten its international student system, including restrictions on dependants and changes affecting the transition from study to work routes.
For students from Africa, the practical consequence is clear: meeting the financial requirements for a UK education will require more money upfront, before tuition and other visa-related expenses are taken into account.
That matters beyond the cost of an individual degree. Education has long been one of the strongest links between Britain and African countries, particularly Nigeria, creating networks that extend into business, government and professional life. Higher financial barriers may not stop African students from choosing British universities, but they could gradually make access to the UK education system more dependent on family income and available financial resources.
