Universities in England will pay an annual levy of £925, equivalent to about $1,200, for each international student above an exemption threshold from August 2028, under a policy that could affect thousands of Nigerian students.

The levy, which covers both new and existing international students, is expected to generate £445 million, or about $594 million, in its first year, according to the UK government’s projections.

Education Minister Josh MacAlister reaffirmed the policy, which was first announced in the government’s 2025 budget, saying the revenue would support England’s higher education and skills system.

First 220 International Students Exempt

Under the proposed arrangement, universities will pay £925 annually for every international student beyond their first 220 overseas enrolments, who will be exempt from the charge.

The Office for Students will oversee the implementation using university enrolment data.

The government projects that revenue from the levy will rise to £480 million, approximately $641 million, by 2030–2031.

MacAlister said the government had conducted consultations and published an impact assessment in 2025, with an updated analysis expected shortly.

He also argued that a planned increase in domestic tuition fee caps could generate about £6 billion for higher education providers over five years, compared with a projected levy cost of less than £1 billion.

Nigeria Among Major Sources of UK Students

Figures from the UK Home Office showed that Nigeria recorded 26,060 sponsored study visas in the year ending June 2026.

This placed Nigeria behind China, which recorded 86,368 visas, and India, with 82,523. Pakistan recorded 19,600, while Bangladesh had about 8,800.

Nigerian students are among the largest international student groups in the UK, and the new levy could add to the financial pressures facing universities and overseas applicants.

Department for Education data showed that Nigerian students generated £1.7 billion in UK higher education export revenue in 2024. India accounted for £5.3 billion, while China contributed £4.9 billion.

International students collectively generated an estimated £23.9 billion in revenue for the UK.

Some Universities Already Increasing Fees

Some British universities have announced tuition fee increases for international students.

Birmingham City University raised fees for continuing international students by two per cent for the 2026–2027 academic year, with a further 3.5 per cent increase planned for 2027–2028.

The University of Bath has also advised overseas students who began their studies in 2026 to budget for annual fee increases of up to eight per cent.

Meanwhile, some UK universities have withdrawn admission offers to Nigerian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi applicants over concerns about compliance with stricter visa sponsorship requirements.