What a UK student visa actually costs from Nigeria
The advertised visa fee is the smallest part of it. This is every compulsory cost, in the order you will actually meet them, plus the money you must prove you hold even though you never hand it over.
Figures assessed against official UK government sources on 20 September 2026.
The short answer
Two compulsory payments go to the Home Office: £558 for the visa application, and £776 per year of your visa for the immigration health surcharge.
On top of those sit a mandatory TB test, your tuition, and the money you have to prove you hold rather than spend.
£558
Student visa application fee when applying from outside the UK.
£776 / year
Immigration health surcharge, at the reduced student rate. Paid upfront for the full visa length.
The two fees you pay the Home Office
The application fee is £558 and is paid when you submit. It is not refunded if you are refused, which is the single best argument for getting the rest of your application right first.
The immigration health surcharge is £776 for each year of your visa. Students pay a reduced rate here: most other visa routes pay £1,035 a year. It buys you NHS access on the same terms as a UK resident, and it is paid in full upfront, not annually.
The surcharge is bigger than people budget for
It is charged across the length of your visa, not your course. A one-year master's normally comes with a visa that extends a few months past your end date, so you pay for that extra period too.
Budget for more than one year's worth even on a twelve-month course, and treat the exact figure the application quotes you as the real one.
The TB test, which is not optional from Nigeria
If you have lived in Nigeria for six months or more and you are applying for a visa longer than six months, you need a tuberculosis test before you apply.
It has to be done at a clinic approved by the Home Office. A certificate from any other clinic, however reputable, will be rejected. Costs vary between the approved clinics, so check the current list rather than relying on what someone paid last year.
Book it early. Waits at the approved clinics stretch considerably during the June to September student peak, which is exactly when you will need it.
The money you prove rather than spend
Separately from the fees, you must show you hold your first year of course fees plus living costs of £1,171 a month outside London, or £1,529 in London, for up to nine months. That is £10,539 or £13,761 of living costs on top of tuition.
You do not pay this to anyone. You prove it is there, held for 28 consecutive days in an account that allows immediate access. The proof of funds rules are covered in full here, and they are where most refusals actually happen.
Bringing family, and why most people no longer can
This is the change that catches people who planned their move years ago. Since January 2024, student dependants are only permitted if you are on:
- A PhD, other doctorate, or a research-based higher degree lasting nine months or more
- A government-sponsored course lasting longer than six months
A taught one-year master's, which is what most Nigerian applicants come for, does not qualify.
Where dependants are allowed, each one costs £558 plus their own health surcharge, and you must prove an extra £680 a month outside London or £845 in London, on the same 28-day basis.
When to spend it
You can apply up to 6 months before your course starts, and a decision from outside the UK usually takes around 3 weeks.
Work backwards from that. The TB test, the 28-day funds window and the CAS all have to line up before you can submit, and each one has its own queue.
Common questions
- How much is the UK student visa fee from Nigeria?
- £558 to apply for a Student visa from outside the UK. That is the application fee only. The immigration health surcharge is charged separately and is usually the larger of the two.
- What is the immigration health surcharge for students?
- £776 per year for students and their dependants, compared with £1,035 a year for most other visa routes. It is paid upfront for the whole length of your visa, not yearly, and it is what gives you access to the NHS.
- Is the health surcharge charged for my course length or my visa length?
- Your visa length, which is normally longer than your course. A one-year master's usually comes with a visa that runs several months past the end of the course, and you pay the surcharge across that whole period.
- Do I need a TB test to study in the UK from Nigeria?
- Yes. Anyone who has lived in Nigeria for six months or more needs a tuberculosis test for a UK visa lasting longer than six months. It must be done at a clinic approved by the Home Office, and a certificate from any other clinic will not be accepted.
- Can I bring my husband, wife or children on a student visa?
- Usually no, if you are doing a taught master's. Since January 2024 dependants are only allowed for PhDs, other doctorates and research-based higher degrees lasting nine months or more, or for government-sponsored courses longer than six months.
Does your own plan actually hold up?
Pathminder checks your dates, your budget and your documents against the rules on this page, and tells you what is missing before it costs you an application fee.
Check your planFree. No card required.
Where these figures come from
Every number on this page is taken from official UK government guidance, not from agents or forums. Rules change, so check the source before you apply.