UK increases student visa financial requirements for foreign students

Thursday, October 29, 2026 - International students applying for UK student visas will face higher financial requirements from November 30, 2026, with applicants planning to study in London required to demonstrate access to up to £14,130 for living expenses.

The revised maintenance requirements, announced by the UK Home Office, will also increase the amount applicants studying outside London must show. The changes will affect prospective international students, including Nigerians, preparing to study at British universities.

Under the revised figures, students studying in London will need to demonstrate access to £1,570 per month, compared with the current requirement of £1,529. For courses lasting nine months or longer, the maximum amount required will increase from £13,761 to £14,130, a difference of £369.

Students studying outside London will need to show £1,203 per month, up from £1,171. Their maximum nine-month maintenance requirement will rise from £10,539 to £10,827, an increase of £288. The maintenance requirement covers living expenses and is separate from university tuition fees. Applicants must also pay the student visa application fee and Immigration Health Surcharge separately.

The healthcare surcharge provides access to the National Health Service under the applicable rules. The changes mean prospective students will need to account for the revised living-cost thresholds alongside tuition, visa charges and healthcare costs when preparing their study budgets.

Applicants must meet the threshold applicable to their university’s location and provide acceptable evidence that the required money is available. The increases come amid rising living costs and financial pressures on international students, including accommodation expenses and difficulties finding employment.

Figures cited in the reports show that 685,565 international students were enrolled at UK higher education providers during the 2024/2025 academic year, accounting for approximately 24 per cent of the student population. Around 63,600 were from European Union countries, while approximately 622,000 came from outside the EU.

The revised maintenance amounts establish the minimum living funds applicants must demonstrate for their visa applications, with tuition fees and other immigration-related charges remaining additional costs.