The UK Student Visa: Step-by-Step for Nigerian Applicants

Step 1: Get Your CAS

After you accept an unconditional offer and pay any deposit, your university issues a CAS — Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies. It is a reference number, not a paper certificate. You cannot apply for the visa without it, and each CAS states exactly how much tuition you have already paid. Check every detail on it; errors must be fixed by the university before you apply.

Step 2: Meet the Money Rules

You must show first-year tuition (minus what you have paid) plus living costs: 1,483 pounds per month for London courses or 1,136 pounds per month outside London, for up to nine months. The funds must stay in the account for 28 consecutive days, and the statement must be dated within 31 days of your application. The official rules are on GOV.UK — read them there, not on forums.

Acceptable funds include your own account, a parent's account (with birth certificate and consent letter), or an official student loan letter. Nigerian bank statements are accepted; make sure they are stamped and show the bank's contact details.

Step 3: Pay the Fees

Budget for two payments: the visa application fee (around 524 pounds) and the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) at 776 pounds per year of your visa, paid upfront. For a one-year master's you will pay roughly 1,164 pounds of IHS at application. The IHS gives you NHS healthcare access while you study.

Step 4: TB Test and Biometrics

Nigerian applicants must take a tuberculosis test at an approved clinic (IOM centres in Lagos and Abuja). The certificate is valid six months. After submitting the online form, you book a biometrics appointment at a visa application centre to give fingerprints and a photo.

Step 5: The Credibility Interview

Some applicants are called for a short video interview. Officers ask why this course, why this university, how it connects to your plans, and how you are funding it. Weak, memorised answers cause refusals. Strong answers are specific: name modules, explain the career step the degree enables, and know your own finances.

Processing Times and Priority Options

Standard processing is around three weeks from biometrics. Priority (about five working days) and super-priority services cost extra and open seasonally. Apply as early as your CAS allows — up to six months before your course starts.

Common Refusal Reasons

• Bank balance dipped below the requirement during the 28 days.
• Statement older than 31 days at the date of application.
• Unexplained large deposits.
• Poor credibility interview answers.
• Wrong TB certificate or missing documents.

Every one of these is avoidable with planning. Start your money preparation three months before you apply, follow the UKCISA guidance for international students, and read your CAS like a lawyer. The UK process rewards applicants who sweat the details.