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The short answer
Parents in Nigeria have three main routes: buy pounds or dollars through their bank under the CBN's tuition window, which since 1 June 2026 allows up to US$25,000 per semester with Form A and admission documents; pay through a platform such as Flywire, which accepts naira and converts it; or send foreign currency they already hold in a domiciliary account. Whichever route, quote the student ID as the reference and keep the payment proof the university's finance office asks for.
A student at a UK university with parents paying from Nigeria is dealing with two systems at once: the CBN's rules for getting money out of Nigeria, and the university's rules for accepting it. Most delays come from the gap between them. This guide sets out the routes, the documents and the questions to ask before term starts.
Route 1: the bank's tuition window
Nigerian banks sell foreign currency for school fees abroad under the CBN Foreign Exchange Manual. Nairametrics reported on 4 June 2026 that the 4th edition, effective 1 June 2026, raised the limit to US$25,000 per semester for undergraduate and postgraduate tuition, paid through authorised dealer banks to eligible overseas institutions, up from US$15,000. The documents listed were:
- Form A, completed through the parent's bank.
- Evidence of admission or the course programme.
- The tuition fee schedule for the period.
- The student's international passport data page.
- A student ID card for returning students.
- A first degree certificate, or certified copy, for postgraduate students.
Our Nigeria guide explains how Form A works. Timing depends on the bank; Flywire's help page warns that the Form A route can take up to four months and advises asking the bank for a timeline.
Route 2: a payment platform that takes naira
Many UK universities use Flywire for international fees. Its help page on paying from Nigeria lists three options:
| Option | How it works | Timing (per Flywire) |
|---|---|---|
| Naira by bank transfer or card | Parent pays naira locally; Flywire's partner converts at the parallel rate | 3 to 5 business days to the university |
| Major currency by bank transfer | Parent obtains currency through Form A or holds it, and sends internationally | Form A can take up to 4 months |
| Foreign-currency card | Card in USD or another currency | Not stated |
Flywire says the naira option costs more than Form A but suits urgent or smaller payments, and that naira cards cannot be used for international transactions, so they select the domestic card option. Check your university's own fees page to see which platform it uses.
Route 3: foreign currency already held
Parents who already hold dollars or pounds in a domiciliary account can send them directly. TheNigeriaLawyer and Mondaq (Pavestones Legal) reported in June 2026 that the new FX Manual removed Form A for outward remittances from self-funded domiciliary accounts; reports differ on exactly what a US$10,000 daily figure covers, so the parent should ask the bank before a large fee payment. See sending from a domiciliary account to a UK account.
Choosing between them
By Flywire's own account, the Form A bank route costs less than paying naira through its platform, but it is the slowest and needs the most paperwork, so it suits fees invoiced well in advance. The naira platform route is quicker and simpler. Foreign currency already held is quickest of all if the parent has it. Many families combine them: the bank window for the main instalment, a platform for a late or smaller balance.
What the university will want
UK universities set their own rules for third-party payers, so read your institution's fees and finance pages. Ask in particular:
- Which reference to use. It is usually your student ID number; payments without it are slow to match.
- Whether a payment from a parent's account needs to be declared or authorised in advance.
- How refunds work on a payment made by someone else, for example if you withdraw or overpay.
- What proof the finance office accepts if a payment is in transit at enrolment.
- Whether the university issues the fee schedule or letter the parent's bank needs for Form A.
The Nigeria High Commission in London also runs a student registration process, which asks for an admission letter and a final acceptance letter showing tuition and maintenance, signed and stamped by the Registrar. Keep those documents to hand: the same letters serve the bank and the mission.
Worked example
Example only. Fees for the year are £24,000, invoiced in two instalments of £12,000. At an assumed GBP/USD rate of 1.30, each instalment is about US$15,600: over the old US$15,000 semester limit but within the new US$25,000. The parent applies through the bank for each instalment with the fee schedule, and pays the balance of living costs separately, since the tuition window is for fees.
Where Pryme fits
Parents in Nigeria can pay naira into a Pryme account, and the student in the UK can hold pounds in the same kind of account; Pryme accounts can be opened from either country. Swap shows the rate and fee before any conversion. Tuition paid to the university itself normally goes through the university's chosen route above. For living costs, see receiving money from Nigeria into a student account. Outside Nigeria, Pryme's services are carried out through regulated partners.
Questions people ask
How much can parents send for UK school fees from Nigeria?
Nairametrics reported that from 1 June 2026 the CBN allows up to US$25,000 per semester for tuition through authorised dealer banks, with Form A and admission documents.
Can my parents pay my UK university fees in naira?
Through Flywire, yes, if your university uses it: Flywire accepts naira by bank transfer or card and converts it at the parallel rate, arriving in 3 to 5 business days.
What documents do Nigerian banks need for tuition Form A?
Per Nairametrics, admission evidence, the fee schedule, the student's passport data page, a student ID for returning students and a first degree certificate for postgraduates.
Why is my fee payment from Nigeria not showing at my university?
Usually the reference is missing or the payment is still moving. Check the student ID was quoted and send the university the payer's proof of payment.
Sources
- Nairametrics: CBN raises tuition fee remittance limit to $25,000 (4 Jun 2026) · accessed Oct 2026
- Flywire Help: What payment options are available to pay from Nigeria? · accessed Oct 2026
- TheNigeriaLawyer: CBN grants domiciliary account holders unrestricted access (2 Jun 2026) · accessed Oct 2026
- Mondaq (Pavestones Legal): The CBN Foreign Exchange Manual 2026 (24 Jun 2026) · accessed Oct 2026
- Nigeria High Commission London: Consular · 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.