UK Student Visa from Nigeria: Requirements & Costs

A UK Student visa lets Nigerians study a full-time course at a UK university or college. It replaced the old Tier 4 route. The visa is built around two things: a CAS from your university and proof you can pay for the first year.

The application is online, but the decision rests on your money. The Home Office refuses student applications mostly on the financial requirement, not on academic grounds. Get the funds right and the rest is paperwork.

Step one: get your CAS

You cannot apply without a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS).

• It comes from a licensed student sponsor. Only universities and colleges on the Home Office register of student sponsors can issue one. Check your institution is licensed before you pay any deposit.
• You earn it by meeting conditions. Accept an unconditional offer, pay any required tuition deposit, and prove your English level (usually an approved SELT or a degree taught in English).
• It expires. A CAS must be used within 6 months of issue, so time your application around it.

The CAS is a reference number plus details of your course, fees and any money already paid. Those figures feed directly into your visa application, so they must match your evidence exactly.

The financial requirement

This is where most Nigerian applications succeed or fail. You must show:

• First-year tuition. The full amount for year one, minus any deposit already paid (your CAS will state what you have paid).
• Monthly maintenance funds. As of 2026 this is around £1,023 per month outside London and about £1,334 per month in London, for up to 9 months. Confirm the current amount on gov.uk.
• Held for 28 consecutive days. The money must stay in an eligible account for 28 days in a row, and the balance must not drop below the required total on any single day. The statement date must be within 31 days of your application.

The money can be in your own account or a parent’s, with a birth certificate and a letter of consent if it is a parent’s.

The other costs

• Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS). You pay this upfront for the full length of your visa. As of 2026 it is around £776 per year for students. This buys access to the NHS during your stay. Confirm the rate on gov.uk.
• Visa fee. Around £490 as of 2026, paid in Naira at the exchange rate shown when you apply. Confirm the live fee on gov.uk before paying.
• TB test. Required for applicants from Nigeria staying over 6 months. Book at an IOM-approved clinic in Lagos or Abuja before you apply.

How you apply

You complete the form online at gov.uk, then attend a VFS Global centre in Lagos or Abuja to give your fingerprints and photo. Bring your passport, CAS number, financial evidence and TB certificate.

Plan for about 3 weeks from your biometrics appointment. Priority upgrades exist at some centres for an extra fee. You can apply up to 6 months before your course starts, so apply early.

Why Student visas get refused

The same money mistakes account for most refusals:

1. Funds not held the full 28 days. The balance dipped below the required total on at least one day, or the window was too short.
2. Statements in the wrong format. Missing bank stamp, no account holder name, a date outside the 31-day rule, or an unrecognised currency without conversion.
3. A financial gap. The total shown is less than tuition plus maintenance once the deposit and any London rate are counted correctly.

Every one of these is fixable before you submit. The fix is always cheaper than a refusal and a fresh fee. For more on building your 28-day window, see our proof of funds guide. If you are travelling before your course, the UK visitor visa guide covers short stays, and you can compare other routes on the visa guides hub.

How Oya Visa helps

We check your CAS details against your evidence, confirm your 28-day window holds on every single day, and make sure your statements meet the exact format rules before you submit. We catch the financial gaps that trigger refusals while you can still fix them. See our pricing.