African students planning to study in the UK will have to provide proof of funds to cover living expenses from November 30, 2026, under revised immigration rules announced by the British government.
The changes, presented to Parliament on September 3, increase the amount international students must demonstrate they can afford while studying in the UK. The new thresholds will apply to students applying under the Student visa route from the effective date.
Students studying in London will be required to show £1,570 per month, up from £1,529, while those studying outside London will need to demonstrate access to £1,203 per month, compared with the current £1,171.
For the maximum nine-month period, the required funds will rise to £14,130 for students in London and £10,827 for those elsewhere in the UK. This represents increases of £369 and £288, respectively.
The requirement applies to international students generally, meaning applicants from across Africa will be affected.
This includes students from Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Egypt, Morocco, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Cameroon.
The increase is significant for African students as the UK remains a major destination for those seeking higher education abroad.
Data from the Higher Education Statistics Agency show that thousands of students from African countries are enrolled at UK universities, while Home Office figures identify Nigeria as one of the UK’s largest overseas student markets.
In the year ending June 2026, the UK granted 26,060 Sponsored Study visas to Nigerian main applicants, accounting for 7% of the total and placing Nigeria third globally behind China and India.
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Overall, 365,868 Sponsored Study visas were granted to main applicants during the period, representing a 12% decline from the previous year.
The higher maintenance requirement comes as Britain continues to tighten its international student system, building on measures introduced since 2024 to curb what the government describes as abuse of the student route.
Since January 2024, most international students enrolled in taught postgraduate programmes have been barred from bringing dependants to the UK. They also face restrictions on switching to work visas before completing their studies.
The government has also raised concerns about some international recruitment agents accused of misleading prospective students about study and employment opportunities in the UK.
However, a 2024 review by the Migration Advisory Committee found no evidence of widespread abuse of the Graduate visa route, although it raised concerns about some recruitment agents and sub-agents.
The Home Office said the latest increase in the maintenance requirement is linked to the financial support available to domestic students.
The new thresholds have been aligned with maintenance loans for home students for the 2026/27 academic year and are expected to be reviewed annually.
Beyond the higher maintenance requirement, international students must also account for tuition fees, which are separate from the living-cost requirement and may need to be covered as part of their visa application.
Applicants must hold the required funds for at least 28 consecutive days, with the closing balance dated no more than 31 days before the visa application is submitted. Students must also pay a £558 Student visa application fee and an annual Immigration Health Surcharge of £776.
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