Students Alarmed as UK Hikes Financial Requirements for International Scholars

Nairobi, Sept 16 – Recent changes to the UK’s student visa requirements have cast a long shadow over the dreams of many international students, especially those from East Africa. For the first time since 2020, the UK government has increased the financial proof needed to secure a student visa, creating a new barrier for those aspiring to study in one of the world’s second leading educational destinations.

Under the new regulations, students must now demonstrate they have enough savings to cover their living expenses for up to nine months. Specifically, students in London must show they have £1,483 (approximately Sh253,171) per month, while those studying outside London need to prove they have £1,136 (around Sh193,933) per month.

Currently, international students coming to study in London must show evidence of monthly savings of £1,334 and £1,023 outside of London. The new requirements, announced on September 10, 2024, will apply to students arriving in the UK starting January 2, 2025. The government also indicated that these financial thresholds will be regularly updated to reflect inflation and adjustments in domestic maintenance loans, according to UK home Office.

This increase is significant: the total required amount for a student in London is now over £13,348 (about Sh2,278,710), and for those outside London, it’s £10,224 (approximately Sh1,745,395). This change, tied to the rise in maintenance loans available to domestic students,  adds a severe financial burden on international students from economically constrained regions.

The impact of these new requirements is deeply felt by prospecting students from Kenya, South Sudan, Uganda, and other East African nations. Many families in these regions are already grappling with economic hardships, including inflation, unemployment, and rising living costs. The new regulations amplify these struggles, making it even more challenging for families to support their children’s educational aspirations abroad.

Ladu Sindani, a community volunteer and humanitarian from South Sudan, is facing numerous hurdles in his quest for education. Despite multiple offers from UK universities, Ladu has been unable to accept them due to financial barriers. Working tirelessly in his community, Ladu has applied for numerous full scholarships but has struggled to secure the necessary funding.

“My journey has been incredibly difficult,” Ladu says. “Coming from a low-income country like South Sudan, I struggle to make ends meet for food, medical bills, or family support.”

He fears that despite his relentless efforts to secure a fully funded scholarship for a Master’s in Public Health, the new maintenance requirements may permanently close the door to his dreams of studying abroad and eventually returning to contribute to his community. He says, “With these new costs, I’m already afraid that our efforts may be in vain, leaving most of us feeling discouraged and deprived of potential opportunities that once seemed within reach.” His story highlights the harsh reality for many East African students, illustrating the significant obstacles they face in pursuing higher education.

For Wendy Mangale and Charity Nyutho, aged 26 and 28 respectively, the new visa regulations pose a significant challenge to their aspirations. These determined Kenyan students fear that the new rules might turn their dreams of pursuing a master’s degree in the UK into an almost insurmountable struggle. Both have been working tirelessly to secure scholarships, particularly through the Commonwealth and the prestigious Chevening program, but with limited success due to stiff competition.

For Wendy, a Moi University graduate in Graphic communication and advertising now aiming to pursue a master’s degree in Public Policy, continues to grapple with the new financial requirement. “I grew up in a place where people’s needs are overlooked,” Wendy explains. Her ambition to pursue a degree that would empower her to make a real difference in her community now seems to be in jeopardy.

“I have been applying for Commonwealth and Chevening scholarships, but with such fierce competition, I hoped to find alternative sponsorship for tuition, living, and travel expenses,” says Wendy. “However, the new financial requirements mean that my family and supporters, who would step in if my full scholarship plans fall short, might struggle to provide proof of monthly maintenance all at once, hence my student visa eligibility and my dreams remain blurred for now.”

Similarly, Charity, an undergraduate with a first-class degree in Information Technology from Taita Taveta University, faces a bleak future for her further studies. Charity aspires to study for a master’s in Project Management or Information Systems and Cyber Security to address the growing global issue of cybercrime. “Cybersecurity threats are increasing,” Charity says.

“With a degree in Cyber Security, I could help protect virtually everybody from individuals to institutions from cybercrime.” Yet, the recent hike in maintenance requirements feels like “another subtle rejection, sealing the fate of my dreams.” She adds, “Every last bit of hope is slipping away. This hike is crushing after so many rejections on full scholarship applications.”

The financial requirements not only affect students like Wendy and Charity but also impact others like Flavia Nabagereka from Uganda. Flavia’s ambition to advance her studies in pharmaceutical manufacturing has been put on hold due to the financial demands of studying in the UK.

“With high inflation in Uganda eating into my modest salary, gathering the revised amount needed for my education is nearly impossible without going into debt or even risking selling family land,” she explains. The added costs of travel and living expenses further exacerbate her financial burden.

The new visa requirements come at a time when the UK remains a top destination for international students. In the 2021/22 academic year, 679,970 students from non-EU countries were enrolled in UK universities, accounting for 24% of the total student population, according to a House of Commons report. China leads with nearly 100,000 students, followed by India and Nigeria, which saw significant increases in their enrollments.

India’s numbers rose from 17,800 to 87,000, while Nigeria’s increased from 5,500 to 32,900. Despite a record 484,000 student visas issued in 2022, there was a 5% decline in 2023, with recent data from various international student enrollment platforms as of May 2024 indicating a 30% drop in postgraduate enrollments for January 2024. This decline highlights the growing impact of financial barriers on international students.

The UK awarded 30 Chevening Scholarships to Kenyan students and 15 to Somali students this year for master’s degree studies at UK universities. A similar number of scholarships will be available for 2024/25, with applications closing on November 5. No data is available on applicants from other East African nations. Last year, 35 Kenyans and 16 Somalis received Chevening Scholarships, says a spokesperson at the British High Commission in Nairobi.

These scholarships are highly competitive, with Kenya having received over 1,500 applications and Somalia more than 290 for the 2023/24 cycle, according to various international student recruitment platforms.

Sylvia Njenga, Customer Relations Officer at Uniserv Education in Kenya, acknowledges the rationale behind the new requirements: “It’s to cushion students from the increased cost of living in the UK.” She encourages students to explore alternative funding options and leverage the flexibility offered by the new regulations, such as reduced proof of funds if accommodation is already paid for.

Despite some flexibility in the visa process, the increased financial requirements combined with the already stiff competition for scholarships leave many East African students feeling disheartened. For Wendy, Charity, Flavia, and Ladu, their future aspirations now hinge on a system that seems increasingly stacked against them.

Charity reflects on the cumulative challenges she has faced: “It hurts; I won’t lie—deeply. I’m trying so hard to stay positive, but it’s overwhelming. To come this far, only to feel everything slipping away… it’s truly heartbreaking.”

For Ladu, whose family has pooled their limited resources in the hope of securing a scholarship for further studies, earning his degree would not only be a personal achievement but also allow him to make a positive impact on his family and the community he is deeply involved in the remote areas of Jonglei State, in South Sudan

While the UK government remains a prominent destination for international students, prospective scholars argue that financial barriers should not stifle the aspirations of talented individuals wishing to contribute positively to their communities and beyond.

Ladu, Wendy, Charity, and Flavia’s stories underscore the real impact of these new regulations and highlight the need for greater support and consideration for students from economically challenged regions.

“It could benefit more disadvantaged students if the government considered lowering financial requirements for visas or even eliminating student visa requirements for certain countries, like Uganda or South Sudan. Furthermore, introducing measures like subsidized tuition fees, travel passes, or hardship funds could significantly ease the burden on students from underprivileged backgrounds,” shares Flavia.

In response, the UK Government said that while it greatly values the economic and academic contributions of international students, immigration must be managed through a fair system. “[Given] the rise in living costs, we are aligning the student maintenance requirement with [domestic] student loans to ensure international students have the required funds to support themselves in the UK,” said a spokesperson at the British High Commission in Nairobi in an email