What does UK study really cost? Honestly.
Tuition, living, and the one-off costs most guides hide. Build your own estimate with our calculator, then let us help you plan and fund it, free.
Your real cost is tuition plus living costs plus one-off costs like the visa, the health surcharge, flights and a deposit. It varies hugely by course and city. Our help is free, the rest is yours and the UK government's, and the trick is planning every part of it early.
Build your own estimate.
Type in your numbers. The total and the breakdown update as you go. Everything here is your editable estimate, not a fixed figure.
Read this. These are your own estimates in pounds. The actual visa fee, the Immigration Health Surcharge and the proof-of-funds maintenance amount are set by the UK government and change from time to time. We confirm the current figures with you, and can break the whole thing down in naira during your free consultation.
Three buckets, no surprises.
Every pound of your cost falls into one of three groups. Know them and nothing can ambush your budget.
Tuition
What the university charges for your course, usually paid for the year, often with a deposit up front. International fees vary widely by university and subject.
Living costs
Rent, food, transport, phone and the rest of daily life. This is where your city matters most: London is far dearer than the rest of the UK.
One-off costs
The visa fee, the Immigration Health Surcharge, flights, and your tuition deposit. Easy to forget, and they add up fast at the start.
London, or everywhere else.
The single biggest lever on your living costs is where you study. Outside London, the same lifestyle costs far less.
London
World-famous universities and a world-class city, with rent and daily costs to match. The UK government also sets a higher maintenance requirement for London study.
Outside London
Excellent universities across the country with noticeably lower rent and living costs, and a lower maintenance requirement for your visa. Your money simply goes further.
Six ways to make it lighter.
A UK degree is an investment, but there are real levers to bring the cost down. We help you pull every one.
Scholarships and bursaries
Government, university and external awards can cut tuition sharply, sometimes to zero. See UK scholarships.
Work part time
Most students can work up to 20 hours a week in term and full time in holidays, which helps with living costs.
Study outside London
The same degree quality with markedly lower rent and living costs, and a lower visa maintenance requirement.
A one-year master's
UK master's degrees often take just twelve months, so you pay for one year of tuition and living, not two.
Payment plans
Many universities let you pay tuition in instalments rather than all at once. We help you ask the right questions.
Plan early and well
Early planning means more scholarship deadlines open, better exchange-rate timing, and no costly last-minute scramble.
Budget traps.
The costs people forget are the ones that hurt. These are the traps we help you plan around.
Underestimating living costs
Rent and daily life cost more than most expect, especially in the first months while you settle in.
Forgetting one-off costs
The visa, the health surcharge, flights and the deposit land all at once, before you have even arrived.
Ignoring the exchange rate
The naira-to-pound rate moves. Planning early and watching the rate can save a meaningful amount.
No buffer for month one
You need money to live on before any part-time work or funds come through. Budget for the gap.
Leaving funds too late
The visa needs funds held for a set period. Move money too late and it will not qualify in time.
Relying on work for tuition
Part-time work helps with living, but it cannot be counted on to pay your tuition.
We help you build a full, honest budget before you commit, so there are no nasty surprises.
Plan My Budget FreeClear numbers, no sales pitch.
Money is where trust is made or lost. Here is how we earn it.
Our help is free
Planning, scholarship search and applications cost you nothing. The only money you spend is yours to keep control of.
Honest figures
We give you real, current numbers, including the costs other guides quietly leave out.
We find the savings
Scholarships, cheaper cities, one-year courses and payment plans, matched to your situation.
Visa-ready funds
We help you prepare proof of funds correctly and on time, so nothing is queried.
Naira and pounds
We break the whole cost down in both currencies so it makes sense from home.
Planned, not panicked
A clear budget months ahead beats a last-minute scramble every single time.
Cost questions.
How much does it cost to study in the UK from Nigeria?
Your total is tuition plus living costs plus one-off costs such as the visa, the health surcharge, flights and a deposit. It varies widely by course and city, which is why our calculator lets you build your own estimate. We confirm current government figures with you.
Is it cheaper to study outside London?
Yes. Living costs outside London are markedly lower, and the UK government sets a lower maintenance requirement for study outside London. Strong universities exist across the whole country.
Can I work to cover my costs?
Most full-time degree students can work up to 20 hours a week during term time and full time in holidays. This helps with living costs but should not be relied on to cover tuition.
Does Mafit charge for help with costs and funding?
No. Our planning, scholarship search and application support are free. The only money you spend goes to your university and the UK government.
Are there hidden costs?
The most overlooked are the health surcharge, the visa fee, flights, a tuition deposit and your first month before any work or funds arrive. We help you plan for all of them up front.
How much should I budget for living?
It depends heavily on your city, with London the most expensive. Use the calculator above to set your own monthly figure, and we will sense-check it with current numbers.
Plan it, then fund it.
UK Scholarships
Government, university and external awards that can fund a large part of your study.
The UK Student Visa
Proof of funds, the health surcharge and the credibility interview, explained.
How to Apply
The full application to a UK university, from course choice to your offer.
Get your numbers, straight.
Book a free consultation. We will build an honest budget with you, in naira and pounds, and show you exactly how to fund it.