Winning a UK scholarship — whether it is Chevening, Commonwealth, Edinburgh, UCL, or any other UK-based award — is a significant achievement. But your place at a UK university is not confirmed until you have a valid UK Student Visa in your passport. For many Nigerian scholars, the visa process is the most stressful part of the entire journey — and unnecessary mistakes at this stage can delay your arrival or, in the worst cases, cost you your scholarship entirely. This guide walks you through every step of the UK student visa application process for Nigerian applicants in 2026, including the documents you need, the fees to budget for, and the critical details that trip people up.
As a Nigerian applicant, it is important to understand upfront that Nigerian passport holders face additional scrutiny in the UK visa process. In the year ending September 2025, approximately one in four Nigerian student visa applications was refused. This does not mean the process is unfair or that your application will fail — it means you must prepare your documents carefully, meet every requirement precisely, and submit a complete, well-organised application. Nigerian scholarship holders who follow the process correctly have strong approval rates, particularly because their scholarship award letter and university acceptance work significantly in their favour.
Step 1 — Receive Your CAS Number From Your UK University
The Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies — known as the CAS — is the single most important document in your UK student visa application. Without it, you cannot apply. Your CAS is a unique reference number issued by your UK university or college after you have met all the conditions of your offer — academic requirements, language proficiency, and any other institution-specific conditions. It confirms that your institution is a licensed UK visa sponsor and that you have been formally accepted onto the course.
Your CAS statement will include your course name, start date, end date, institution address, and the tuition fee your university holds on record. Review every detail on your CAS carefully before submitting your visa application. The information you enter in the UKVI online application form must exactly match what is written on your CAS — course name, start date, tuition amount, and institution address. Any discrepancy, however small, is grounds for refusal.
For scholarship holders, the CAS is typically issued after your scholarship has been confirmed and your tuition fee payment has been arranged between the scholarship body and the university. Contact your scholarship programme coordinator if there is any delay, as you cannot proceed without it.
Step 2 — Understand the Full Cost of the Visa
The UK student visa involves several compulsory fees that Nigerian applicants must budget for carefully. These costs are separate from your tuition fees and living expenses:
- Visa application fee: £558 per applicant as of 8 April 2026, paid online when submitting your application
- Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS): £776 per year of your visa duration for students, paid upfront at the time of application. For a one-year Master’s programme, this is approximately £776. For a three-year undergraduate degree it is approximately £2,328. The IHS is calculated on your full visa length — which includes a short period before and after your course — not just the course duration itself
- Tuberculosis (TB) test fee: Approximately $95 USD for applicants aged 11 and above. The TB test must be conducted at a UK-approved International Organisation for Migration (IOM) clinic. In Nigeria, approved IOM clinics are located in Lagos, Abuja, and Port Harcourt
- Priority service (optional): £500 for priority processing within five working days. The standard processing time outside the UK is approximately three weeks
For scholarship holders, some of these costs — particularly the IHS — may be covered by your scholarship programme. Chevening, for example, covers the Immigration Health Surcharge as part of its award package. Check your scholarship award letter carefully to confirm which fees are covered before paying anything out of pocket.
Step 3 — Gather Your Required Documents
Before starting your online application, assemble all the following documents. An incomplete application is a common reason for refusal and for unnecessary delays:
- Your valid Nigerian passport — it must be valid for the full duration of your intended stay in the UK
- Your CAS number and CAS statement from your UK university
- Your scholarship award letter — this is critical for scholarship holders and must clearly state that your tuition fees are covered
- Proof of financial maintenance — evidence that you can cover your living costs in the UK. For courses in London, you must show £1,334 per month for up to nine months. For courses outside London, the requirement is £1,023 per month for up to nine months. These funds must have been held in your bank account for at least 28 consecutive days before you apply. For most scholarship holders, the scholarship award letter covering living expenses satisfies this requirement — confirm this with your scholarship programme before submitting
- Your TB test certificate from an approved IOM clinic in Nigeria
- Academic certificates and transcripts — including your WAEC or NECO results and degree certificates. All documents must match the qualifications listed on your CAS
- English language proficiency evidence — your IELTS, TOEFL, or equivalent score, unless your previous degree was taught entirely in English at a recognised institution
- A colour passport-size photograph meeting UKVI specifications
- Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) clearance certificate — required only for certain subjects in science, engineering, and technology at the postgraduate level. Check with your university whether your course requires ATAS clearance
Step 4 — Take Your TB Test
All Nigerian applicants for a UK student visa must undergo a tuberculosis test at a UK-approved clinic before applying. This is a mandatory requirement — you cannot submit your visa application without a valid TB test certificate. The test must be done at an IOM-approved clinic in Nigeria. The three approved locations in Nigeria are in Lagos, Abuja, and Port Harcourt.
Book your TB test appointment as early as possible after receiving your CAS. Results are typically available within a few days and the certificate is valid for six months from the date of the test. Do not delay this step — if your certificate expires before your visa application is processed, you will need to retake the test.
Step 5 — Complete Your Online Application Through the UKVI Portal
The UK student visa application is completed entirely online through the official UKVI portal on the UK government website at gov.uk. There is no paper application form for Nigerian applicants. Follow these steps when completing your online application:
- Select the Student visa route — formerly known as the Tier 4 Student Visa
- Enter your CAS number and personal details exactly as they appear on your passport and CAS statement
- Upload all required documents in the specified formats and file sizes
- Pay the visa application fee and the Immigration Health Surcharge at checkout — both are paid online at the time of submission
- Book your biometric appointment at a UKVI Visa Application Centre in Nigeria — centres are located in Lagos and Abuja
At your biometric appointment you will provide your fingerprints and a photograph. Bring all your original documents to the appointment — the visa application centre staff will scan and verify them. After your biometrics are submitted, your application is sent to UKVI for processing.
Step 6 — Track Your Application and Set Up Your UKVI eVisa Account
Standard processing time for Nigerian applicants is approximately three weeks from the date of your biometric appointment. You can track your application status through your UKVI online account. Once approved, you will receive an email notification and will be required to set up a UKVI eVisa account to access your digital visa. The UK no longer stamps physical visas in passports for most applicants — your visa exists as a digital record linked to your passport.
When you arrive in the UK, you will use your eVisa to confirm your right to study. Keep your UKVI account login details safe and accessible throughout your time in the UK.
Important Notes for Nigerian Scholarship Holders
- Apply for your visa as soon as you receive your CAS — do not wait until close to your course start date. Give yourself at least six to eight weeks before your intended travel date
- Dependant restrictions now apply — as of 2024, Master’s students can no longer bring spouses or children to the UK on a dependant visa. Only PhD and research-based postgraduate students may bring dependants
- The Graduate Route — which allows you to stay in the UK for up to two years after graduation to work — remains available to students who complete eligible UK degree programmes and submit their visa applications on or before 31 December 2026. From 1 January 2027 the duration for non-PhD graduates reduces to 18 months
- Never use an unregistered visa agent — use only UKVI-registered immigration advisers if you need professional help. Fraudulent agents are a serious problem in Nigeria and have caused many applicants to lose their fees and miss their scholarship start dates
Moreschooling will continue to publish updates on the UK student visa process as UKVI rules change. Bookmark this page and always verify current requirements directly on the UK government website at gov.uk before submitting your application.