UK Raises Student Visa Maintenance Funds For Nigerian Applicants From November 30

Nigerians applying for United Kingdom Student visas will need to show higher maintenance funds from 30 November 2026, following changes to the UK immigration rules. Applicants in London will be required to show £1,570 for each month of their course, up from £1,529, while those studying outside London will need £1,203, up from £1,171.

For the maximum nine-month proof period, the required funds will rise to £14,130 (about $19,100) for London-based study and £10,827 (about $14,630) for study elsewhere in the UK, increases of £369 and £288 respectively. The higher thresholds apply to applications submitted from 30 November 2026; applications made before that date will be decided under the rules in force on 29 November 2026.

Applicants must hold the funds in their account for 28 days before applying, and the maintenance evidence comes on top of tuition payments, the UK visa fee and the immigration health surcharge. The change is nationality-neutral, but it lands on one of the UK’s fastest-growing student markets: Home Office figures show the UK granted 26,060 Sponsored Study visas to Nigerian main applicants in the year ending June 2026, placing Nigeria third globally behind China and India and accounting for about 7 percent of the total. Overall Sponsored Study grants to main applicants fell 12 percent to 365,868 across all nationalities.

The revised thresholds are set out in the UK’s Statement of Changes to the Immigration Rules laid on 3 September 2026, which substitutes the new maintenance amounts in the Student route rules. Business Insider Africa and Legit.ng reported the change with a focus on Nigerian and other African applicants, noting that the reports do not establish how individual institutions or sponsors will adjust to the new levels.

The maintenance requirement covers living costs only, since tuition is evidenced separately. Prospective applicants planning study starts in early 2027 would submit under the higher thresholds if they apply on or after 30 November 2026, so budgeting for the additional £369 or £288 in documented living funds becomes part of the application plan, alongside the existing 28-day bank statement rule.

Sources: Business Insider Africa, Legit.ng, UK Home Office