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UK student visa financial requirements will rise from November 30, 2026, increasing the living-cost funds international students must show

The United Kingdom will increase the minimum living-cost funds international students must demonstrate when applying for student visas from November 30, 2026, requiring applicants studying in London to show access to at least £14,130 for a course lasting nine months or longer.

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The revised requirements, introduced by the UK Home Office, will affect prospective students from Nigeria and other countries who plan to study at British universities.

The maintenance funds are separate from tuition fees and other visa-related charges.

Under the new rules, students studying in London will need to demonstrate access to £1,570 per month, up from the current £1,529.

For courses lasting nine months or longer, the maximum maintenance requirement will increase from £13,761 to £14,130, a rise of £369.

Students attending institutions outside London will also face higher thresholds.

Their required monthly living allowance will increase from £1,171 to £1,203, while the maximum amount for a nine-month course will rise from £10,539 to £10,827, an increase of £288.

The maintenance requirement is intended to demonstrate that applicants have enough money to support themselves during their studies. It does not cover tuition fees, which students must budget for separately.

Applicants must also account for the student visa application fee and the Immigration Health Surcharge, which generally provides access to the UK’s National Health Service under the applicable rules.

The changes mean Nigerian students preparing to apply for UK study visas will need to review their budgets and ensure they meet the relevant financial threshold based on where their university is located.

They must also provide acceptable evidence that the required funds are available.

International students remain an important part of the UK’s higher education sector.

Figures cited in the report put international enrolment at approximately 685,565 students during the 2024/2025 academic year, representing about 24 per cent of the total student population.

Of that number, around 622,000 students came from outside the European Union, while approximately 63,600 were from EU countries.

Professor Padam Simkhada, Dean of Global Impact and Research at the University of Chester, was cited as saying international students contributed approximately £41.9 billion to the UK economy during the 2021/2022 academic year.

However, international students continue to face financial pressures linked to accommodation costs, employment limitations and restrictions on working hours.

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With the revised thresholds due to take effect on November 30, prospective students will need to factor the increased maintenance requirements into their study plans alongside tuition fees, visa charges and healthcare costs.