Destination United Kingdom: A Roadmap for Nigerian Students Seeking Education Abroad
Previously, I published an article titled “Destination Canada: A Roadmap for Nigerian Students Seeking Education Abroad” — Because many Nigerians have been migrating abroad for higher education in search of more than they are currently getting or think they deserve. The two most popular destinations are Canada and the United Kingdom (UK). There is a fair argument that the UK is Nigerians’ most popular study destination today. I will expand on why — but before we continue, my goal with this article, as with many other articles, is to make the information accessible.
This article is written from the POV of my brother, who migrated there for a Master’s degree. You don’t have to be planning to move to the UK to read this piece; you could be curious, or someone in your network or community might need this, so read, share and most importantly — enjoy :)
The UK has always been a magnet for international students, offering world-renowned universities, diverse learning environments, and a plethora of cultural experiences. In the next couple paragraphs, we walk through choosing the right institution, visa procedures, adapting to British academic life and making the most of this journey.
Let’s Begin –
The Process:
Before diving too deep into the process, a nice call out is that the UK is a viable option for many Nigerians because of its relatively “close” proximity to Nigeria compared to other popular destinations like the USA or Canada. It also has a relatively lower immigration barrier of entry.
• Admission Requirements: Each university in the United Kingdom has its admission requirements. Review these requirements carefully to ensure you meet the academic standards and prerequisites. Typically, you need to submit a combination of transcripts, letters of recommendation, a statement of purpose, and English language proficiency test scores (e.g., IELTS, TOEFL). For English language proficiency — Many universities waive this requirement for Nigerian students pursuing a master’s if you can prove that you studied English in your undergraduate degree or secondary school (high school). An Original Waec result will do in this case. A waec result is used to access English Language Proficiency against the CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference) in all 4 components. If your university still requires a test, prepare for these tests well in advance and aim for the required scores (the tests are relatively easy).
• Selecting a Course/University: Choosing a course is usually not too difficult because, for a master’s, you are either selecting a course related to what you studied in undergrad or a new/clear direction you want to proceed in. Picking the right course is essential because it will influence your statement of purpose to the university and your Genuine Intention to study form/Interview when applying for your CAS (Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies) and visa. For selecting universities, my brother had 4 factors that decided the universities he explored — Practical experience degree, reputation, location (this one is very important for immigrants), and the price (this is also very key because, unlike America, the UK does not offer a lot of scholarships and the exchange rate right now is extremely unfavorable. For context, 1 pound == 1024 naira. He researched top universities in his field, filtered based on the above criteria, and landed with 3 options. When applying for schools, the rule of thumb is never put all your eggs in one basket, so apply to as many as you can, at least 3. (PS: for the UK, it’s free, so take advantage of that). He ended up applying to the 3 universities. It took about 1 month (it could take longer) to get a response from the respective universities. He got accepted into all 3, but you only need one, so it was go-time after acceptance from his first choice.
• Offer/Tuition: For many immigrants, the tuition can be a huge blocker, especially now with ever-declining exchange rates. Studying in the United Kingdom involves tuition fees, accommodation, healthcare, and living costs. Research the estimated costs and create a financial plan tailored to you. Once you get your offer, which could be conditional or unconditional, depending on the school and the documents submitted, there are several steps to follow. If the offer is conditional, you will be required to provide some additional documents to make your offer unconditional/permanent (which also secures your place in the program) or in some cases, you will be required to pay a deposit from your tuition to secure your place (deposit price is not fixed and it varies depending on the school).
Once all of this is done, i.e., you have submitted the documents and paid the deposit, your school will send you an unconditional offer and communicate the next steps with you regarding your CAS (Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies).
• CAS & GI Form/Interview: CAS is a unique number which confirms you have been accepted on a course of study in the United Kingdom. It is an e-document that is generated by the Home Office (the lead government department for immigration and passports, drugs policy, crime, fire, counter-terrorism and police) and is essential to make a successful student visa application. When the time comes, your school sends you an email confirming CAS applications have been opened. Later, you’ll get another email with a link to the CAS shield inviting you to complete your CAS application process (remember, there is always a deadline for completing the CAS request process). More about CAS:
“A CAS will only be issued if the university is satisfied that the requirements of the Home Office in force for the time being are met and all the following apply:
- You have been offered and accepted a place without any conditions to study a full-time course at a University.
- You meet the Home Office and University requirements for English Language ability.
- You have paid the full international tuition fee deposit or provided evidence of official financial sponsorship for course fees and met any other financial conditions of the University and the Home Office.
- You must provide evidence that you meet the Home Office’s maintenance (funds) requirement, known as proof of funds (POF). (If you are self-sponsored, the funds have to remain in your account for 28 consecutive days, and if this is from a parent or guardian — you will need a letter of sponsorship from your parent/guardian as well as legal documents which confirm parental or legal guardian status because the account is in their name. The 28-day period rule also applies).
- You have submitted a satisfactory Genuine Intention Form and/or successfully passed a Genuine Intention interview with the International Centre (Explanation to immigration about why you chose the UK, the school, course, plans after school etc., and these need to be in as much detail because the officer will review it in your absence).
- You have done your Tuberculosis test (TB) and gotten your result showing you are not with TB (This is also an important document for your student visa application).
- You have submitted your completed CAS request form and all supporting documents as stated on the form.” — Chester University.
• Student Visa /IHS: Upon receiving your CAS, you should apply for your visa as soon as possible. As stated in your CAS, the earliest time you can make your Student Visa application is six (6) months before the start date of your course. If you submit your visa application earlier than this time, it will be rejected by the UK Home Office. If you leave your application too late, you could miss your start date. The right approach is to prepare all the necessary documents so that you can submit your visa application as soon as you are eligible. The student visa application is available through the Gov.uk website. Upon filling in your information for your student visa, you will be required to pay the IHS fee, which is an Immigration Health Surcharge. This empowers you to access the UK’s National Health Services (NHS) like a UK permanent resident would. This fee costs 929.75 USD (as of the date this article was published). You must complete this IHS payment before paying your visa fee and submitting your student visa application. Hopefully, after making an appointment, you will submit all the necessary documents and whatever else is required and get a positive response. You can shift to planning for your trip to the United Kingdom!
• UK Planning (flight, accommodation, etc.): The moment you get the good news (congratulations!), it is time to start exploring flight tickets (as always, the earlier, the better), but more importantly, you cannot go to the UK without making some accommodation plans if you are not staying in the school’s accommodation which you might opt out of because it can be expensive. You will have to explore other options. There are several good rental website options you can explore & even Facebook marketplace. Some research here, and you should be good. The point to highlight here is the closer to campus you live, the more expensive it might be, but the more access you have to school resources like the gym or library, and also the easier it can be to “connect”, make friends and meet people. As an international student, those can be important, but if you are optimising for cost and securing somewhere farther, get as clear as possible on your commute plan (you don’t want to be missing classes. Distance is not an acceptable excuse by the home office if your attendance record is not great).
• Settle in the UK: Upon arrival, familiarise yourself with the university campus, academic resources, and student support services. Attend orientation programs designed for international students to meet fellow students, and check out organisations to help you find community. From my experience, many Nigerians I know have some family or friends in the UK, which can help, but if you don’t, you are not alone — step out of your comfort zone and connect with people around you. Community is essential, and you will need to put yourself out there to find one. Familiarize yourself with immigration regulations, health insurance requirements, and work permit options if you plan to work while studying.
Studying abroad can be great but also very difficult. Yes, on the one hand, you are in a new school, country, people, etc, which can be exciting. On the other hand, you are leaving behind most/everything you know (your country, home, food, friends, family, pets, and so much more), which can be tough. Different people handle it in different ways, but my top two things to focus on are focusing on your why/goal of why you migrated in the first place and finding a community or people that can support you on this journey (in person or online) and over time it does get better. Embrace the challenges, celebrate the successes, and make the most of every moment as you pursue your education in the UK.
Cheers!
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