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The short answer
A Nigerian undergraduate's budget should start from feeding, which is usually the largest line, then data, transport, printing and handouts, toiletries and a small emergency buffer. In the labelled example below a ₦60,000 month splits into ₦30,000 for food, ₦6,000 for data, ₦7,000 for transport and ₦5,000 for printing, with the rest for toiletries, airtime, emergencies and savings; students on NELFUND receive ₦20,000 a month for upkeep, which covers part of it.
Most students do not run out of money because they are careless. They run out because the money arrives as one transfer and leaves in a hundred small ones: a plate of food, a ₦200 bike, a handout, a recharge. A written budget, even a rough one, shows where the leaks are and gives you a clear figure to ask your parents or sponsor for.
The lines every student budget needs
- Feeding: the biggest line for almost every student, whether you cook in the hostel or buy from bukas.
- Data: lectures, assignments and group chats now run on it.
- Transport: campus shuttles, bikes, keke and trips home.
- Printing and handouts: lecturers' materials, assignments, project printing.
- Toiletries and laundry.
- Airtime for calls.
- Emergencies: a drug, a lost charger, a surprise departmental levy.
- Savings: small, but it builds the habit.
Worked example: a ₦60,000 month
| Line | Monthly amount | Per week (approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| Feeding | ₦30,000 | ₦7,500 |
| Data | ₦6,000 | ₦1,500 |
| Transport | ₦7,000 | ₦1,750 |
| Printing and handouts | ₦5,000 | ₦1,250 |
| Toiletries and laundry | ₦4,000 | ₦1,000 |
| Airtime | ₦1,500 | ₦375 |
| Emergency buffer | ₦4,000 | ₦1,000 |
| Savings | ₦2,500 | ₦625 |
| Total | ₦60,000 | ₦15,000 |
Check: 30,000 + 6,000 + 7,000 + 5,000 + 4,000 + 1,500 + 4,000 + 2,500 = ₦60,000, and ₦15,000 a week over four weeks is ₦60,000. Breaking feeding into ₦7,500 a week (about ₦1,070 a day) is what makes it workable: when Wednesday's spending is ahead, Thursday and Friday adjust.
Ways the example could change
- Cooking in a group of three and buying foodstuff in bulk at the start of the month usually stretches the feeding line further than buying every meal.
- Exam months need more for printing and transport; holiday months need less for food but more for the trip home.
- Final-year students should start a separate pot for project costs early in the session.
Where NELFUND fits
Students on the federal student loan can receive upkeep alongside institutional fees. NELFUND said in March 2026 that the upkeep allowance remains ₦20,000 a month and called reports of ₦25,000 misinformation, according to NAN. NELFUND's FAQ says upkeep is paid monthly to the student, and only to students who applied for both the institutional and upkeep loans at registration. It is a loan: the terms page says repayment starts two years after NYSC, by deduction of 10% of monthly salary. In the example above, ₦20,000 of upkeep covers a third of the month; our guide to budgeting a NELFUND upkeep loan builds a plan around it.
What to ask parents or a sponsor for
Parents respond better to a written plan than to "I need money". Give them three numbers:
- The monthly figure, from your budget, with each line shown.
- One-off session costs, such as handouts, departmental and faculty dues, textbooks and accommodation, listed separately so they are not mixed into the monthly amount.
- A small emergency reserve they hold or send once, so a crisis does not become a midnight call.
Ask for the monthly figure in one transfer at the start of the month rather than several small ones. From January 2026 the sender pays ₦50 stamp duty on each electronic transfer of ₦10,000 or more, while transfers under ₦10,000 are exempt, per Kuda's help centre. One ₦40,000 transfer costs the sender ₦50; four ₦10,000 transfers cost ₦200.
When money comes from more than one place
Many students receive money from parents, an uncle, a part-time job and, for some, NELFUND upkeep. Treat it as one income. Add up what is expected in the month, write it at the top of the budget, and fill the lines from that total. If one source is uncertain, such as a relative who sometimes sends money, do not plan around it; when it arrives, put it towards the emergency buffer or savings first.
If you earn from a skill on the side, such as hair, tutoring or design, keep that money in its own pot at first. It shows you what the side work really earns, and it stops a good week of sales from hiding an overspent feeding line.
Steps
- Track one ordinary week of spending in a notebook.
- Multiply each line by four and compare with the example.
- Write your monthly plan and the one-off list.
- Move savings and emergency money out of your spending account on the day money arrives.
- Check each Sunday whether you are ahead or behind for the week.
Where Pryme fits
A Pryme Personal Account lets you keep the week's spending in the main balance and park the rest in a Flexible Savings Box. You can buy airtime and data in the app, and the Personal Assistant can remind you of your weekly limit. Parents abroad can send money in pounds, dollars or euros through multicurrency accounts. See also budgeting with a money assistant as a student.
Questions people ask
How much does a university student need per month in Nigeria?
It depends on the school, city and whether you cook. Build your own figure from a week of real spending; the ₦60,000 plan here is an example, not a standard.
How much is NELFUND upkeep per month?
NELFUND said in March 2026 that upkeep remains ₦20,000 a month, paid monthly to the student, according to NAN.
How can I stop running out of money in school?
Split the month into weekly amounts, move savings out on day one, and keep one-off costs separate from feeding money.
How do I ask my parents for school money?
Show them a written monthly budget and a separate list of one-off session costs, and ask for one transfer at the start of the month.
Sources
- NAN: Students' upkeep allowance still ₦20,000, says NELFUND (30 Mar 2026) · accessed Oct 2026
- NELFUND: Frequently asked questions · accessed Oct 2026
- NELFUND: Student Loan Initiative terms · accessed Oct 2026
- Kuda Help: An important update about stamp duty (modified 5 Jan 2026) · accessed Oct 2026
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