UK Government to Charge £925 Levy on International Students

The UK government has announced a new policy to charge universities in England a flat annual fee of £925 (N1,663,717) for every international student enrolled, effective from 1 August 2028. This measure directly impacts Nigerian, Indian, and Chinese students, who represent a significant portion of the international student population in the UK.

The Office for Students will administer the levy, with the collected funds reinvested into higher education and skills, particularly for maintenance grants aimed at disadvantaged domestic students. The policy arises from the substantial number of study visas issued to students from these three countries, which accounted for approximately 54% of all sponsored study visas for the year ending June 2026.

The announcement has faced criticism from the National Union of Students and the Russell Group, which represents 24 leading UK research universities, raising concerns about the financial burden on institutions that depend on international student fees. The consultation on the policy's design began on 26 November 2025 and concluded on 18 February 2026.