UK Student Visa from Nigeria: 2026 Requirements, Proof of Funds in Naira and Fees

Last checked against official sources: 5 October 2026

The UK is still the first choice for many Nigerian students, and one-year master’s degrees make it faster than most destinations. But the rules have tightened. Most postgraduate students can no longer bring dependants, the money you must show has gone up, and the Graduate visa is about to get shorter. This guide sets out what GOV.UK says today, converts every amount to naira, and shows where Nigerian applicants most often get refused.

This is general information, not advice on your personal case. Always confirm every detail on the official GOV.UK pages linked below before you pay a deposit or an agent.

UK Student visa at a glance (2026)

Question	Official answer
Who can apply?	Anyone 16 or over with an offer from a licensed student sponsor, enough money, and the required English.
Visa fee	£558 per person, from outside the UK.
Health surcharge (IHS)	£776 per year for students and their dependants.
Living costs to show	£1,529 a month in London or £1,171 a month elsewhere, for up to 9 months, held for 28 consecutive days.
English	CEFR B2 for degree level and above; B1 below degree level.
Bring family?	Only if you’re government-sponsored on a course over 6 months, or on a PhD/doctorate or research-based higher degree (for courses starting from 1 January 2024).
Work while studying	Usually up to 20 hours a week in term at degree level; 10 hours below degree level.
After graduating	Graduate visa: 2 years if you apply on or before 31 December 2026; 18 months from 1 January 2027 (3 years after a PhD).
Decision time	Usually 3 weeks from outside the UK.

Step 1: Get an offer and your CAS

You can only get a Student visa for a course with a licensed student sponsor, which covers most UK universities and many colleges. Once you accept an unconditional offer and meet the university’s conditions (often a tuition deposit), the university issues your Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS). It’s an electronic reference number that holds your course details, tuition fees and anything you’ve already paid.

• You can apply for the visa up to 6 months before your course starts.
• Check every detail on your CAS (name, passport number, fees, amount paid). Errors cause delays and refusals.
• Some master’s and PhD courses in sensitive science subjects also need an ATAS certificate. Your university will tell you. See GOV.UK documents.

Step 2: Prove your English

Nigeria isn’t on GOV.UK’s list of English-speaking countries that are exempt, so you usually need to prove your English. According to GOV.UK, you can do that with:

• A degree taught in English from outside the UK, such as a Nigerian degree, confirmed by an Ecctis assessment.
• A UK degree, or a UK GCSE or A level started before you were 18.
• A Secure English Language Test (SELT): B2 for degree level and above, B1 below degree level.
• For degree-level study, your university can assess your English itself and may accept a different test or evidence, as long as it is equivalent to B2. Ask your university what it accepts before you book IELTS.

Step 3: Show the money (where most refusals happen)

You must show you can pay your course fees for 1 academic year (up to 9 months) and support yourself. The tuition amount is the figure on your CAS, minus anything you’ve already paid. Living costs, per GOV.UK:

Where you’ll study	Per month	For 9 months	About in naira
London (City of London and the 32 boroughs)	£1,529	£13,761	₦24.6 million
Outside London	£1,171	£10,539	₦18.9 million
Each dependant, London	£845	£7,605	₦13.6 million
Each dependant, outside London	£680	£6,120	₦11.0 million

Worked example: a master’s student outside London with £15,000 of tuition still unpaid must show about £15,000 + £10,539 = £25,539 (about ₦45.7 million). Pay part of your tuition early and that amount drops. Use your own CAS figures, not this example.

The 28-day rule

• The money must stay in the account for at least 28 days in a row. Your balance must never drop below the required amount, even for one day.
• The end of that 28-day period must be within 31 days of the date you apply.
• GOV.UK’s example: if you apply on 1 January, the funds must have been there for 28 days ending no earlier than 1 December.
• Accounts in a parent’s name are generally accepted with a letter of consent and proof of relationship, such as your birth certificate. Official loans and sponsorship letters are accepted too. Check the full financial evidence guidance.

Step 4: TB test and other documents

• A valid passport and your CAS.
• Proof of funds (bank statements, loan or sponsor letter).
• A TB test certificate from a Home Office–approved clinic. Nigeria has IOM centres in Lagos, Abuja and Benin City plus approved private clinics in Lagos. See GOV.UK: TB clinics in Nigeria.
• An ATAS certificate if your course needs one.
• If you’re under 18: consent from both parents (or one with sole responsibility) and your birth certificate.
• Written consent from your sponsor if a government or official body paid your fees and living costs in the last 12 months.

Step 5: What it costs to apply, in naira

Cost	Pounds	About in naira
Student visa fee	£558	₦999,000
Health surcharge, 1 year	£776	₦1.39 million
Health surcharge for a typical 1-year master’s (visa usually about 16 months, so 1.5 years charged)	£1,164	₦2.08 million
TB test	US$94 at IOM (paid in naira) or ₦120,000 at listed private clinics	about ₦120,000–₦130,000

Step 6: Apply online

1. Apply on GOV.UK no more than 6 months before your course starts.
2. Pay the visa fee and health surcharge online.
3. Prove your identity with the UK Immigration: ID Check app or at a visa application centre. You’ll be told which.
4. Upload your documents. The usual decision time is 3 weeks.
5. If approved, you get an eVisa (a digital status) and can travel up to 1 month before a course longer than 6 months.

Can you bring your spouse or children?

For most Nigerian master’s students, no. Since courses starting on or after 1 January 2024, according to GOV.UK, you can only bring dependants if you are:

• a government-sponsored student on a course longer than 6 months, or
• on a PhD/doctorate or research-based higher degree (such as an MRes) lasting 9 months or more.

Each dependant pays £558, the £776-a-year health surcharge, and must show their own living-cost money.

Working while you study and after graduation

• During term: usually up to 20 hours a week at degree level or above, and 10 hours below degree level (UKCISA). Your visa conditions state your exact limit. Breaking it can cost you your visa.
• Graduate visa: after you successfully finish, you can usually stay to work or look for work for 2 years if you apply on or before 31 December 2026, but only 18 months if you apply on or after 1 January 2027. PhD graduates get 3 years.
• Many Nigerians use the Graduate visa to find a sponsoring employer. See our UK Skilled Worker visa guide for the salary rules you’d need to meet.

Is the UK right for you?

• Good fit: you want a one-year master’s, can show the funds from a clear source, and are happy to travel without family.
• Think again: if you must bring your spouse and children, or if the funds depend on borrowed money.
• Compare: our Canada study permit guide (spouse work permits for longer master’s) and Germany Opportunity Card guide.

Frequently asked questions

How much money do I need for a UK student visa from Nigeria?

Your unpaid first-year tuition, plus £1,171 a month outside London or £1,529 a month in London, for up to 9 months. That’s £10,539 (about ₦18.9m) or £13,761 (about ₦24.6m) for living costs, held for 28 days in a row.

How much is the UK student visa fee in 2026?

£558 from outside the UK, plus the healthcare surcharge of £776 per year.

Can I bring my wife or husband on a UK master’s?

Usually not. Since 2024, only government-sponsored students and those on PhD or research-based higher degrees can bring dependants.

Do Nigerians need IELTS for a UK student visa?

Not always. A Nigerian degree taught in English, confirmed by Ecctis, can prove your English, and universities can assess degree-level students themselves at B2 equivalent.

How long is the UK Graduate visa now?

2 years if you apply on or before 31 December 2026, then 18 months for applications from 1 January 2027. PhD graduates get 3 years.

How many hours can I work on a UK student visa?

Usually up to 20 hours a week during term at degree level, and 10 hours below degree level. Check your visa conditions for your exact limit.

Your next step

Work out your exact total from your CAS (tuition owed + living costs for London or outside London), then plan your 28-day window so the full amount is in place well before you apply. Read the GOV.UK Student visa pages again on the day you apply.

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AbroadPath Africa is an independent information website, not a visa agency, education agent or immigration adviser, and is not connected to the UK government. Only UK Visas and Immigration decides visa applications. See our Disclaimer.