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The short answer
Under the CBN's 2026 Foreign Exchange Manual, parents in Nigeria can buy dollars at an authorised dealer bank to pay tuition of up to $25,000 per semester directly to a UK university, using Form A with the admission or enrolment letter, the fee schedule and the student's passport. Living costs are paid separately, up to $5,000 a quarter to the student, and pre-university schooling is not eligible for this route.
For many Nigerian families the cheapest legitimate dollars for UK tuition come through the bank, using Form A, rather than the parallel market. The rules changed with the fourth edition of the CBN Foreign Exchange Manual, effective 1 June 2026. The summary below comes from Nairametrics' report of 4 June 2026 and law-firm commentary, and from a Nigerian bank's own school-fees page; banks apply the manual in their own ways, so the parents' bank has the final word on documents.
The limits under the 2026 manual
| Payment | Limit reported | Paid to |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition | Up to $25,000 per semester (previously $15,000, two semesters a session) | The institution directly |
| Maintenance | Up to $5,000 per quarter, billed separately | The student |
| Personal travel allowance (PTA) | $4,000 per quarter for adults 18+, at least 75% electronic | The traveller |
Nairametrics reported that nursery, primary, secondary, foundation and A-level fees are not eligible for the tuition route. A UK boarding school or a pre-degree foundation year therefore cannot be paid this way; only university-level study qualifies. The PTA is a separate allowance for travel, not a school-fees channel.
Documents the parents' bank will ask for
- Proof of admission or enrolment (offer letter, CAS or enrolment confirmation).
- The university's fee schedule or invoice showing the amount due.
- The student's passport data page.
- Student ID for returning students.
- First-degree certificate for postgraduate study.
- A completed Form A.
Union Bank's school-fees page, as an example of one bank's list, also asks for the school's bank details, a signed debit instruction, a valid ID and a letter of indemnity if the applicant's name differs from the student's, and requires the customer to hold an account funded with the naira equivalent. It gives no timeline.
How it works, step by step
- The student gets the invoice from the university finance office, with the international bank details and the student reference to quote.
- The parent funds a naira account at an authorised dealer bank with the naira equivalent plus charges.
- The parent completes Form A and submits the documents.
- The bank buys the dollars and remits to the university's account, quoting the student reference.
- The student checks the university account and forwards the bank's confirmation to the finance office if the payment is not matched within a few days.
Currency and the UK side
UK universities bill in pounds. The manual's limits are stated in dollars, and the bank may remit in pounds or dollars depending on the university's details; ask the bank which, because a dollar payment into a pound account will be converted by the university's bank at its own rate. Allow for a small shortfall from conversion and intermediary charges, and ask the university how it handles underpayments before the deadline.
A worked example
Example only. A master's course costs £18,000, split into two instalments of £9,000. At an illustrative $1.25 to the pound, each instalment is $11,250, within the $25,000 per-semester limit. The parent funds the naira equivalent at the bank's rate on the day, plus charges, and the bank remits each instalment directly. Separately, the student can receive up to $5,000 a quarter for living costs, $20,000 over four quarters.
Common problems
- An invoice without international bank details. Ask the finance office for the details for payments from overseas before the parent goes to the bank.
- No student reference on the payment. The money arrives but is not matched to the student; always quote it.
- Paying for a foundation year. Reported as ineligible; check the course level before applying.
- Names that do not match. If the parent's name differs from the student's, some banks want an indemnity letter.
- Leaving it to the deadline. Banks give no fixed timeline, so start weeks before the fee is due.
Where the High Commission comes in
The Nigeria High Commission in London runs student registration and issues letters some students use for FX purposes; its consular page says visitor visa holders and British passport holders are not entitled to FX letters, and lists the documents, including the final acceptance letter showing tuition and maintenance. See student registration at the High Commission in London.
Where Pryme fits
Pryme is not an authorised dealer bank and does not process Form A. For maintenance money and family support, a Pryme multicurrency account opened from the UK lets parents pay a student in naira locally while the student chooses when to convert. Outside Nigeria, Pryme's services are provided through regulated partners. See also receiving naira from parents for UK fees, receiving money into a UK student account and the Nigeria library's Form A and Form M explainer.
Questions people ask
How much can Nigerian parents send for UK university fees through Form A?
Nairametrics reported up to $25,000 per semester under the 2026 FX Manual, paid directly to the institution.
Can Form A be used for UK boarding school or A-level fees?
No. Nairametrics reported that nursery, primary, secondary, foundation and A-level fees are not eligible.
What documents are needed for Form A school fees?
Proof of admission or enrolment, the fee schedule, the student's passport page, student ID for returning students, a first-degree certificate for postgraduates and Form A.
Can maintenance be sent to the student's UK account?
Yes, separately from tuition, up to $5,000 a quarter, according to reports on the 2026 manual.
Sources
- Nairametrics: CBN raises tuition fee remittance limit to $25,000 (4 Jun 2026) · accessed Oct 2026
- TheCable: CBN FX Manual 2026 (3 Jun 2026) · accessed Oct 2026
- Mondaq (Pavestones Legal): the CBN Foreign Exchange Manual 2026 (24 Jun 2026) · accessed Oct 2026
- Union Bank: FX for school fees · accessed Oct 2026
- Nigeria High Commission London: Consular services · accessed Oct 2026
This article is general information, not financial, legal or tax advice. Products described are provided under the terms on this site and are subject to regulation and eligibility.