Covenant University produced 371 First-Class graduates among 1,843 students at its 2026 convocation, with Etta Queendolin topping the class

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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.

Francis Olusegun graduates as UNILORIN’s best student with a perfect 5.00 CGPA, crediting consistency, self-belief and support from others

University of Ilorin Mathematics graduate Francis Olusegun has emerged as the institution’s best graduating student for the 2025/2026 academic session, earning a perfect 5.00 Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA).

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In an interview published by the Union of Campus Journalists, University of Ilorin, Olusegun attributed his achievement to self-belief, consistency and adaptability.

He said his first-year results convinced him that graduating with a perfect score was possible.

“I began to imagine graduating with a 5.00 CGPA after seeing my 100-level results. That was when the thought came to me that we could actually break the record,” he said.

Olusegun said becoming the overall best graduating student had been a personal ambition long before he set his sights on a perfect CGPA.

“I had set that goal for myself and believed that if I worked hard, I could achieve it,” he added.

Olusegun said he remained flexible with his study routine rather than follow a rigid timetable.

He revised lessons on the day they were taught, researched difficult concepts and used available tools to improve his understanding.

“Maintaining a perfect CGPA is not easy, but the first thing is that I had already won in my mind,” he said.

He also monitored his test scores closely because continuous assessment contributes to final grades.

He aimed to score above 70 per cent, giving himself a margin ahead of examinations.

His interest in Mathematics, which began in primary school, helped sustain his commitment to the subject.

“I have always enjoyed solving mathematical problems,” he said. “There is a connection between me and Mathematics, and that made it easy for me to choose it.”

The achievement comes as UNILORIN holds its 41st convocation ceremony for the 2025/2026 academic session.

Vice-Chancellor Professor Wahab Egbewole, SAN, said 16,152 graduands would receive degrees and other qualifications, including 365 students who earned first-class honours.

The ceremony was scheduled for October 21 to 23.

Olusegun acknowledged that social media sometimes distracted him, prompting him to step away from it when he needed to concentrate.

He said he also limited activities that did not align with his long-term ambitions.

One of his most difficult experiences came in his first year, when his phone became faulty and could not be repaired before his first-semester examinations.

A friend lent him another phone, allowing him to continue reading and practising.

Financial difficulties also affected his university experience.

Olusegun said he asked for help when he could not afford necessities, including food, rather than allow his circumstances to prevent him from pursuing his goals.

He said his parents were not educated and did not constantly push him academically, so much of his motivation came from within.

“My parents are not educated, so I cannot say that somebody was constantly pushing me academically. I pushed myself because I knew what I wanted to achieve,” he said.

He credited his parents, church members, friends and former students of his department with providing financial assistance, encouragement and academic guidance throughout his studies.

Olusegun described his perfect CGPA as a personal milestone and a starting point for further academic work.

He said he had consistently been the best graduating student from primary school through university and was the first person in his immediate family to earn a first-class degree.

He is considering pursuing a master’s degree or proceeding directly to a PhD, with research as his main priority.

“My next step is to further my education, either by pursuing a master’s degree or going directly for a PhD. I am interested in research, so that is the direction I want to explore,” he said.

His interests include mathematical biology and the use of mathematical models to understand and forecast infectious diseases.

He hopes such models can help public health agencies analyse disease patterns and allocate resources more effectively.

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Olusegun also wants to explore how Mathematics and artificial intelligence can be combined to address public health and epidemiological challenges.