UK Introduces £925 Annual Levy on International Students, Nigerian Students Among Those Affected

The United Kingdom plans to introduce an annual £925 ($1,200) levy on universities in England for each international student above a specified exemption threshold from August 2028, a move that could affect institutions admitting students from Nigeria and other major overseas markets.

The measure, first unveiled in the UK government’s 2025 budget, was reaffirmed by Education Minister Josh MacAlister, who said the funds raised would be used to support England’s higher education and skills system.

The Department for Education confirmed that the proposed charge would cover both newly admitted and existing international students.

MacAlister disclosed that consultations had been held and an impact assessment published in 2025, with a revised analysis expected to be released shortly.

He further maintained that a planned increase in domestic tuition fee caps could provide about £6 billion in additional revenue for education providers over five years, while the international student levy is projected to cost less than £1 billion.

Under the policy, the first 220 international student enrolments at each university will be exempt from the charge. Institutions will pay £925 per year for each overseas student beyond that threshold.

The Office for Students will be responsible for administering the scheme using enrolment records. Government projections indicate that the levy could raise £445 million ($594 million) in 2028–2029, increasing to £480 million ($641 million) by 2030–2031.

Figures from the Home Office show that Nigeria recorded 26,060 sponsored study visas in the year ending June 2026. China topped the list with 86,368 visas, followed by India with 82,523. Pakistan recorded 19,600, while Bangladesh received about 8,800.

With Nigerian students representing one of the largest international student populations in the UK, the new policy has raised the prospect of further tuition fee increases if universities transfer some of the levy’s cost to students.

Data from the Department for Education revealed that Nigerian students contributed £1.7 billion to the UK’s higher education export revenue in 2024. Students from India generated £5.3 billion, while those from China contributed £4.9 billion. International students accounted for an estimated £23.9 billion in total.

Several universities have already outlined increases in fees for overseas students. Birmingham City University increased charges for continuing international students by 2 per cent for 2026–2027 and plans another 3.5 per cent increase for 2027–2028.

The University of Bath, meanwhile, has advised international students who enrolled in 2026 to prepare for annual fee increases of as much as 8 per cent.

The developments come as some British universities have withdrawn admission offers to applicants from Nigeria, Pakistan and Bangladesh over concerns about meeting tighter student visa sponsorship requirements.

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