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The short answer
As at October 2026, GOV.UK sets the Student visa living-cost requirement at £1,529 a month for courses in London and £1,171 a month for courses elsewhere in the UK, for up to nine months. At the full nine months that is £13,761 for London and £10,539 outside London, added to any first-year tuition still unpaid on your CAS.
For Nigerian families planning a UK master's, the difference between a London course and one in Manchester, Leeds or Coventry is not just rent. The Home Office uses two separate living-cost figures, and the gap at nine months is more than £3,000. This guide shows both figures, what counts as London, and how to build the total you need to hold for 28 days.
The two figures
| Where your course is | Per month | Months counted (max) | Living costs at maximum |
|---|---|---|---|
| London | £1,529 | 9 | £13,761 |
| Outside London | £1,171 | 9 | £10,539 |
| Difference | £358 | 9 | £3,222 |
These figures are from GOV.UK's Student visa money page, checked in October 2026. The arithmetic: £1,529 x 9 = £13,761; £1,171 x 9 = £10,539. If you are boarding at a residential independent school, you pay boarding fees instead, and the amount appears on your CAS.
What counts as London
GOV.UK defines London as the City of London and the 32 London boroughs. The test is where your course is, not where you plan to live. A student at a campus inside a London borough uses the London figure even if they rent a room in Kent; a student at a campus in Surrey or Hertfordshire outside the boroughs uses the lower figure even if they commute from London.
Some universities have campuses both inside and outside London. Your CAS records the study location, so check it before you calculate. If anything on the CAS looks wrong, ask the university to correct it before you apply.
The nine-month cap
Living costs are counted 'for up to 9 months'. A one-year master's, a three-year degree and a four-year PhD all need the same maximum: nine months of living costs. You do not show money for the whole course.
If your course is shorter than nine months, you show living costs for the length of the course instead. Read the Home Office guidance on finances for student applications for how part months are counted, as rounding affects the total.
Adding unpaid tuition
The second part of the requirement is the course fee for the first academic year, up to nine months. The amount still to pay is on your CAS. Any deposit or instalment you have already paid, and that the university records on the CAS, reduces what you must show.
Worked examples
| London course | Course outside London | |
|---|---|---|
| First-year tuition | £22,000 | £18,000 |
| Paid before CAS | £6,000 | £4,000 |
| Unpaid tuition on CAS | £16,000 | £14,000 |
| Living costs (9 months) | £13,761 | £10,539 |
| Total to hold for 28 days | £29,761 | £24,539 |
These are examples. Your own numbers come from the CAS. Paying more tuition before the CAS is issued reduces the cash you must hold, but only if the payment is shown on the CAS.
Bringing a family member
Most students can no longer bring dependants; since January 2024 the route is limited mainly to postgraduate research students and government-sponsored students. If you do qualify, each dependant needs extra: £845 a month in London or £680 outside, again for up to nine months. That is £7,605 or £6,120 per dependant at the maximum. See our guide to who still qualifies to bring dependants.
The rules that apply to both figures
- 28 days: hold the total for at least 28 days in a row, with the end of that period within 31 days of your application. Our 28-day rule guide works through the dates.
- Exchange rate: naira balances are converted at the OANDA spot rate on the date of application under Appendix Finance. See which exchange rate counts.
- Account holder: your own account, a joint account, or a parent's or legal guardian's with proof of relationship and written consent.
- Access: the funds must be available immediately; locked deposits do not count.
- Nigeria is not exempt: Nigeria is not on the GOV.UK list of countries whose nationals may skip submitting financial evidence.
Steps
- Get your CAS and note the study location and the unpaid first-year tuition.
- Pick the right monthly figure: £1,529 for London, £1,171 elsewhere.
- Multiply by the months of your course, up to nine.
- Add the unpaid tuition, and the dependant amounts if you qualify to bring family.
- Hold the total in an account that meets Appendix Finance for 28 consecutive days, and leave a buffer for exchange-rate movement if the money is in naira.
- Apply within 31 days of the end of the 28-day period.
Where Pryme fits
A Pryme Personal Account holds NGN, USD, GBP and EUR with local details for each, and money stays in the currency it arrived in until you choose to Swap, with the rate and fee shown first. You can also generate a verifiable statement with VerifyDoc.ai. Appendix Finance requires funds to be held with an institution the caseworker can verify, so check that your evidence meets its conditions before you rely on it.
Questions people ask
How much money do I need for a UK student visa in London?
As at October 2026, £1,529 a month for up to nine months, which is £13,761, plus any first-year tuition still unpaid on your CAS, held for 28 days in a row.
How much is the UK student visa maintenance outside London?
£1,171 a month for up to nine months, which is £10,539 at the maximum, plus unpaid first-year tuition.
Is my university in London for the student visa?
Only if your course is in the City of London or one of the 32 London boroughs. Check the study location on your CAS.
Do I need to show funds for my whole course?
No. Living costs are capped at nine months, and tuition is for the first academic year only, as shown on your CAS.
Sources
- GOV.UK: Student visa – money (updated Oct 2026) · accessed Oct 2026
- GOV.UK: Immigration Rules Appendix Finance (updated Oct 2026) · accessed Oct 2026
- GOV.UK: Student visa – your partner and children (updated Oct 2026) · accessed Oct 2026
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