UK Universities Face £925 Levy Per International Student From August 2028
The UK government will charge universities in England £925 (about ₦1.2 million) annually for every international student enrolled, starting August 2028. The levy applies to all international students—including continuing ones—and targets the top three source countries: China, India, and Nigeria, which together account for 54% of sponsored study visas. Funds will support maintenance grants up to £1,000 yearly for disadvantaged domestic students in engineering and healthcare courses.
This hits Nigerian students hard. UK study visa applications have dropped 22% in the past year, and refusals jumped from 5,300 to 8,400 in early 2026. Universities are already withdrawing admission offers to avoid breaching the new 5% visa refusal cap—Nigerian applicant withdrawals hit 22.7% in H1 2026 versus 4.5% a year earlier. Since January 2024, most students cannot bring dependants, and the UK abandoned its 600,000-student target for a £40 billion education export goal.
The ₦1.2 million per-student cost will likely be passed through higher tuition or reduced admissions. If you're planning UK study for 2028 or later, factor this into your budget. Current applicants face tighter scrutiny and withdrawn offers now.
Will you accelerate your UK study plans before the levy hits, explore cheaper destinations like Canada or Germany, or negotiate scholarships that absorb the added cost?