The UK Student visa fee is only the first line in an international student’s budget. A Nigerian applicant must distinguish money paid to the Home Office from the immigration health surcharge, tuition, required maintenance funds and private costs such as a tuberculosis test or translation.
Application fee and timing
As checked on 23 September 2026, GOV.UK states that a Student visa application made outside the UK costs £558. The applicant pays online and each eligible dependant pays a separate application fee. Fees can change, so verify the Student visa page and payment screen immediately before submitting.
An overseas application can normally be made up to six months before the course begins. A decision is usually targeted within three weeks after the application and identity steps are complete, but extra checks can take longer. Paying early without a valid Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) or complete evidence does not protect the fee.
Immigration health surcharge
Most Student applicants pay the IHS in addition to £558. The online system calculates the amount from the visa dates and the student rate in force. Because permission commonly includes time before and after the course, multiplying tuition years by an annual IHS figure can produce the wrong total.
Each dependant who owes the surcharge has a separate calculation. Save the IHS reference and receipt. The charge supports access to covered NHS services after the visa begins but does not remove every possible prescription, dental or other patient charge.
Maintenance funds are not a fee
Financial evidence is money the student must demonstrate, not a payment to the government. Under the rules checked for this guide, an applicant normally shows course fees outstanding on the CAS plus living costs of £1,529 per month in London or £1,171 per month outside London, for up to nine months. Different rules can apply to an applicant who has already been in the UK with valid permission for the required period.
Where bank evidence is used, the required funds normally need to be held for 28 consecutive days, with the end of that period falling within 31 days before the application. Use the official currency-conversion rule, permitted account type and evidence format. A last-minute transfer can restart the holding period or create source-of-funds questions.
Always recheck the figures: maintenance levels and evidence rules can change. Do not confuse a university’s cost-of-living estimate with the minimum immigration calculation.
Tuition, CAS and deposits
The CAS states course information and the tuition fee paid or outstanding. A university deposit is a payment to the education provider, not the Student visa fee. Ensure any amount already paid appears correctly on the CAS or is supported in the form allowed by the rules.
Before applying, compare the CAS with the passport, qualifications, course dates and sponsor licence details. Correct an error through the university rather than submitting a contradictory form. Some postgraduate subjects require Academic Technology Approval Scheme clearance before the visa application; the course and nationality determine whether this applies.
TB, biometrics and other costs
A Nigerian resident applying for a course longer than six months will commonly need a valid certificate from a UK-approved tuberculosis clinic, unless an exemption applies. The clinic charge is separate. Use the current approved Nigerian list, not a general hospital certificate.
Also budget for an English-language test where the sponsor or route requires one, certified translations, travel to the identity appointment and any document-scanning or courier service genuinely needed. Optional visa-centre services do not improve the merits. Priority processing, when officially offered, changes the service target rather than the decision standard.
Dependants and a family budget
Not every Student can bring dependants. Current eligibility is limited by the type of government sponsorship or postgraduate research programme and other rule conditions. Check eligibility before calculating costs or accepting accommodation for a family.
For each eligible dependant, add a separate application fee, IHS, maintenance requirement, TB test where applicable and supporting-document costs. Relationship and financial evidence must also be prepared. A spouse’s or child’s refusal can disrupt the family plan even when the main student qualifies.
A sensible spreadsheet therefore has columns for the student, partner and each child, and rows for government fee, IHS, maintenance, tuition, TB, documents and travel. For the test process, see the UK TB test guide for Nigeria.
UK Student visa fee FAQ
What is the UK Student visa fee in Nigeria?
GOV.UK listed £558 for an application outside the UK when checked on 23 September 2026. Verify the official page before paying.
Is the IHS part of the £558 fee?
No. The immigration health surcharge is a separate payment calculated from the permission period and applicable rate.
Do I pay the maintenance funds to UKVI?
No. They are financial evidence that must meet the rules; tuition deposits and visa charges are separate transactions.
How long must Student visa funds stay in the account?
Where the standard bank-evidence rule applies, funds normally need to be held for 28 consecutive days, with the period ending within 31 days before applying.
Can every postgraduate student bring dependants?
No. Eligibility is restricted and depends on the course, sponsorship and current rules. Confirm it before paying any family application cost.
Official sources
Immigration rules can change without notice. Check the relevant authority before paying a fee, booking travel or submitting an application.