The United Kingdom plans to introduce an annual £925 levy on universities in England for international students from August 2028, raising concerns that Nigerian and other overseas applicants could face higher tuition fees.
The proposed charge, equivalent to about $1,200, will apply to each international student above an exemption threshold of 220 students per institution. It will cover both new and existing international students, although universities, rather than students, will be responsible for paying the levy.
The UK Government expects the policy to generate £445 million, or approximately $594 million, in its first year, 2028–2029. Revenue is projected to rise to £465 million in 2029–2030 and £480 million in 2030–2031. The funds are intended to support England’s higher education and skills system.
Education Minister Josh MacAlister reaffirmed the government’s position on 19 October 2026, telling Parliament that consultations had been conducted and an impact assessment published in 2025. He said an updated analysis was expected shortly.
Under the proposed arrangement, the Office for Students will oversee implementation using university enrolment data, while the levy rate is expected to be adjusted annually in line with inflation.
Nigerian students among those affected
The policy could affect universities recruiting students from Nigeria, India, China, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Ghana, Kenya, Zimbabwe and South Africa.
Home Office figures cited in the report show that Nigeria recorded 26,060 sponsored study visas in the year ending June 2026. China recorded 86,368, while India received 82,523. Pakistan recorded 19,600 adult student visas, and Bangladesh received approximately 8,800.
International students also make a substantial contribution to the UK economy. Department for Education figures cited by Business Insider Africa indicate that students from India generated £5.3 billion in higher education export revenue in 2024, compared with £4.9 billion from China and £1.7 billion from Nigeria. International higher education students collectively generated an estimated £23.9 billion that year.
Although the levy will not be charged directly to students, universities could increase international tuition fees to recover the additional costs. This could make studying in the UK more expensive for Nigerian students already managing tuition, accommodation, travel and other living expenses.
Some universities have already announced fee increases. Birmingham City University raised fees for continuing international students by 2 per cent for the 2026–2027 academic year and plans a further 3.5 per cent increase for 2027–2028. The University of Bath has also advised some overseas students to budget for annual tuition fee increases of up to 8 per cent.
Universities raise concerns
The proposed levy comes amid tighter UK immigration rules and concerns about declining international student recruitment. Some institutions have warned that additional financial pressures could undermine their ability to attract overseas students and maintain their operations.
The University of Sunderland, for instance, is seeking to reduce its annual operating costs by £40 million amid weaker international recruitment.
Vivienne Stern, chief executive of Universities UK, criticised the proposed levy and questioned the government’s revenue projections, arguing that recent international recruitment trends made the forecasts unrealistic.
The policy was first announced in the UK Government’s 2025 Budget. Its implementation is scheduled for August 2028, giving universities time to prepare for the additional cost.
For prospective Nigerian students, the key concern is whether universities will absorb the levy or pass some of it on through higher fees. While no direct charge is planned for students, any resulting increase in tuition could affect the affordability of UK study options.
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