-Students heading to London will need to show £14,130 for nine months, up from £13,761
Requirement for students outside London will rise to £10,827, excluding tuition fees
Change adds to financial burden for African students seeking British university education
The United Kingdom will increase the minimum living expenses international students must demonstrate from 30 November 2026.
Under the revised rules, students attending institutions in London will need to show £14,130 for nine months, up from £13,761, while the requirement for students outside London will rise to £10,827 from £10,539. The amounts exclude tuition fees.
The change adds to the financial requirements facing African students seeking British university education and was outlined in a UK Home Office statement of changes to immigration rules published on 3 September 2026.
According to the Home Office, the increase is intended to align the financial requirements for international students with maintenance loans available to domestic students during the 2026/2027 academic year.
The new monthly requirement for London will rise from £1,529 to £1,570, while the amount for students outside the capital will increase from £1,171 to £1,203. This represents an increase of approximately 2.7 per cent in both cases.
In dollar terms, students in London will need to show approximately $18,760, compared with $18,270 previously, while those outside London will need $14,370, up from $13,990.
What the Higher Requirements Mean for African Students
Prospective African students will need to show greater financial resources when applying for a UK student visa, particularly those relying on family savings.
The additional nine-month requirement amounts to approximately $490 (£369) for students in London and $383 (£288) for those studying elsewhere. Although modest compared with the existing threshold, it adds to the overall financial commitment.
Applicants must also demonstrate that they can cover outstanding tuition fees, making the total financial requirement considerably higher than the maintenance threshold alone.
The rules generally require applicants to hold the necessary funds for at least 28 consecutive days, with the end of that period falling within 31 days of their visa application.
However, some applicants qualify for exemptions or reduced documentary requirements. The UK government’s published guidance lists Botswana, Mauritius and Tunisia among countries whose nationals benefit from differential evidence arrangements. Eligible applicants may not need to submit financial documents initially, although immigration authorities can still request them.
The change comes against a backdrop of declining international student visa approvals. According to UK Home Office immigration statistics, the country granted 383,455 sponsored study visas, including dependants, in the year ending June 2026, representing an 11 per cent decline from the previous year and a 41 per cent fall from the peak recorded in 2023.
Nigeria remained one of the UK’s largest international student source markets, with 26,060 visas granted to main applicants during the period, accounting for approximately 7 per cent of the total.
The decline followed immigration restrictions introduced in January 2024, which prevented most international students on taught postgraduate courses from bringing dependants.
The new thresholds will apply to student visa applications submitted on or after 30 November 2026.
