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The short answer
Many UK universities let international students pay tuition in instalments, but each university sets its own schedule, minimum upfront payment and late-payment rules; the Home Office does not. Expect a deposit before the CAS, then instalments on dates in the university's fee policy. Fees still owed at application count towards the money you must show for your visa.
A UK master's can cost more than many Nigerian families can move in one transfer, especially when every pound has to be bought. Instalment plans help, but they come with conditions that are easy to miss in the excitement of an offer. This guide explains how instalments usually work, what has to be paid before your CAS, how they interact with your visa funds and what happens if you pay late.
Who sets the rules
Tuition instalments are a contract between you and your university. The Home Office sets the visa rules but not payment schedules. Each university publishes its own fee or tuition policy, usually on a "paying your fees" or "international payment" page, and the terms in that policy are the ones that bind you. Two universities in the same city can have very different rules.
How instalment plans are usually structured
Structures vary, but most fall into a pattern like this:
- A deposit after you accept your offer, often required before the university issues your CAS.
- A payment at enrolment or registration, sometimes a fixed share of the remaining fees.
- One or more further instalments on dates set out in the policy, often linked to terms or semesters.
- An option to pay in full, which some universities reward with a discount.
Some universities require international students to pay a larger share upfront than home students, or to pay by card or direct debit on fixed dates. Read the policy for your intake, not a previous year's.
What must be paid before the CAS
The CAS is the university's sponsorship of your visa, and the Home Office charges the university £55 for each one (fees table effective 8 October 2026). Many universities ask for a deposit before assigning a CAS. Some ask for more if the applicant intends to pay the rest in instalments. Your offer letter or the university's CAS page will say exactly what is required. See paying the CAS deposit from Nigeria.
How instalments interact with your visa funds
GOV.UK's Student visa money page says you must show your course fees for one academic year (up to 9 months) as stated on your CAS, plus living costs of £1,529 a month in London or £1,171 outside for up to 9 months, held for at least 28 days. An instalment plan does not reduce what you must show. Only money already paid and recorded on the CAS can affect the remaining fees figure.
In other words, if you plan to pay in three instalments, you still need to hold the unpaid fees in your account for the 28-day period, as well as living costs. Families who expect instalments to lower the visa threshold are often caught out.
Worked example
Example only, with invented figures. Kelechi's fees are £17,000 for a one-year course outside London. His university's policy, in this example, is a £4,000 deposit before CAS, then the balance in two equal instalments in October and January.
| When | Payment | Fees still owed |
|---|---|---|
| Before CAS | £4,000 | £13,000 |
| October | £6,500 | £6,500 |
| January | £6,500 | £0 |
When he applies for his visa, the CAS shows £4,000 paid. If the remaining £13,000 is what he must show, he holds £13,000 plus nine months outside London at £1,171, which is £10,539, a total of £23,539 for 28 days. The instalments after arrival do not change that figure.
Late payment
Late-payment rules are in each university's fee policy. Common consequences include a late fee, suspension of access to university systems, holding back results or a degree certificate, and in serious cases withdrawal from the course. Because withdrawal from a course can affect a student's sponsorship, a missed instalment is more serious for an international student than for a home student. If you know a payment will be late, contact the university's fees team before the due date and ask what it offers.
What to check first
- The university's current fee policy for your intake year.
- The amount needed before the CAS, and whether it is higher if you choose instalments.
- The instalment dates, amounts and accepted payment methods.
- Any late fee and the consequences of missing a payment.
- Whether a full-payment discount would cost you less than the exchange risk of paying in stages.
Where Pryme fits
Paying in instalments means buying pounds several times. A Pryme account holds GBP and NGN side by side, and Swap shows the rate and fee before you approve each conversion. For Nigerian school fees, see paying school fees in instalments in Nigeria.
Questions people ask
Can international students pay UK tuition in instalments?
Many UK universities allow it. Each sets its own schedule and conditions in its fee policy.
Do I need to show full tuition if I am paying in instalments?
GOV.UK says you show your first-year fees as stated on your CAS, plus living costs. Instalments you have not yet paid do not reduce that figure.
What happens if I miss a tuition instalment in the UK?
It depends on the university's policy. Consequences can include late fees, suspended access and, in serious cases, withdrawal, which can affect your visa sponsorship.
How much deposit do UK universities ask before CAS?
It is set by each university. Check your offer letter and the university's CAS or deposit page.
Sources
- Student visa: money (GOV.UK) · accessed Oct 2026
- Home Office immigration and nationality fees: 8 October 2026 (GOV.UK) · accessed Oct 2026
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