£3,000
Lowest confirmed PGT deposit (University of York)
£5,000+
What most UK universities charge Nigerian students
5
Verified low-deposit universities in this guide
✅
All deposit figures in this article are verified from official university websites
Every figure below was checked against the university's official .ac.uk international fees or admissions page in August 2026. We include the source so you can verify it yourself before paying. If a figure could not be confirmed from an official source, we have not published it.
For most Nigerian students planning the January (Spring) or September (Fall) 2027 intake, the single biggest immediate barrier to studying in the UK is not the annual tuition, it is the upfront deposit required before the university issues your CAS letter. Without the CAS, there is no visa. Without the visa, there is no UK. Most UK universities now charge Nigerian students £5,000 or more as a CAS deposit. This guide covers the universities that charge significantly less, all figures verified from official sources.
With the 2026 intake now winding down, applications for 2027 entry are open or opening across most UK universities. One honest note before you read on: a good number of universities had not yet published their official deposit figures for 2027/28 entry at the time this guide was last checked. Where that is the case, we have used the most recently confirmed rate (2026/27) as your planning baseline, since deposit amounts rarely swing by large margins from one year to the next. Always check the university's current page closer to your application date to confirm the exact figure for your intake.
What Is a UK Tuition Deposit and Why Does It Matter?
When a UK university offers you a place, they require confirmation that you are serious before processing your CAS (Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies). The CAS is a unique reference number you must have to apply for your UK Student Visa. Here is the full process:
Receive Your Unconditional Offer
Once your university accepts your application and all conditions are met (grades, English test, documents), they issue an unconditional offer letter for your chosen January or September 2027 intake.
Pay the Tuition Deposit
You pay the required deposit to confirm your place. For Nigerian students at most UK universities, this is between £3,000 and £8,000, or a percentage of your full first-year fees. This payment is typically non-refundable if you later withdraw, but most universities will refund it if your visa is refused by UKVI.
Receive Your CAS Reference Number
The university assigns your CAS, a unique reference number linked to your personal details, programme, and tuition. This is essential for your UK Student Visa application.
Apply for Your UK Student Visa
With your CAS and supporting documents, you submit your visa application online and attend your biometrics appointment in Nigeria.
Deposit Is Deducted from Your First Year's Tuition
When you arrive and pay your first year's fees, the deposit you already paid is deducted from the total. It is not an additional cost, it is an advance payment counted toward your tuition.
What the Market Really Looks Like for Nigerian Students
Before looking at the low-deposit options, it is worth understanding what Nigerian students typically face across the UK university market. This context explains why the universities below stand out:
| Structure | What it means for Nigerian students |
| Flat fee: £3,000–£4,000e.g. York, Sunderland, Teesside, Staffordshire, Cumbria | Best option: fixed amount, no surprises |
| Flat fee: £5,000–£5,500e.g. Sheffield Hallam, Hertfordshire, Salford, Northumbria | Common middle tier |
| Flat fee: £8,000e.g. University of Derby, Coventry University | High barrier |
| 50% of first-year tuitione.g. LSBU, UCLan, Leeds Beckett, Worcester | Often £7,000–£10,000 in practice |
| 65–75% of first-year tuitione.g. University of West Scotland | Can exceed £11,000 |
| Full first-year tuition upfronte.g. De Montfort University, Nigeria specifically | £16,000–£20,000 before CAS |
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Nigeria is not treated the same as other countries
Many UK universities have country-specific deposit tiers, and these tiers can change without much notice. Coventry University is a recent example: it used to place Nigeria in a discounted "Sub-Saharan Africa" deposit band, but as of mid-2026 it charges Nigerian, Ghanaian, and Kenyan applicants the same £8,000 rate as most other non-EU countries. A figure quoted for a European student, or one you read in an older article, may not apply to Nigerians today. Always check the university's country-specific page (look for a Nigeria page under International Students) or contact the admissions team directly. Every figure in this article is the confirmed Nigerian rate where available.
UK Universities with the Lowest Confirmed Deposits for 2027 Entry
The following universities have confirmed lower-than-market deposits for Nigerian students. All figures are sourced directly from official university websites, cited at the bottom of each card. Where a university had not yet published a 2027/28 figure at the time of writing, we show its current 2026/27 rate, which is the most reliable planning number available right now.
Undergraduate students: The University of York does not require a deposit from new undergraduate international students. This is confirmed on their official fees page and the policy is unchanged heading into the 2027 intake. You receive your CAS without paying a deposit upfront, which is an extremely rare policy in the UK market.
Postgraduate Taught (PGT) students: A flat £3,000 deposit applies for 2026/27 entry. York had not yet published a separate 2027/28 figure at the time of writing, so this remains the best available planning figure. It is the lowest confirmed flat-rate PGT deposit on this list. The £3,000 rate is standard for all countries except Ghana (which pays £12,000). Nigeria pays the standard £3,000.
Refund policy: The deposit is refundable if your UK Student Visa is refused by UKVI, if your ATAS clearance is rejected, or if you cancel within 14 days of payment. This is one of the more favourable refund policies among UK universities.
Russell GroupBusinessLawComputer Science
✓ No UG Deposit
✓ Full Refund on Visa Refusal
Source: york.ac.uk/study/postgraduate-taught/fees/pay/fee-deposits/ (verified August 2026)
The University of Sunderland requires a £3,500 deposit before issuing a CAS. This applies to all international students including Nigerian applicants, and it is a flat rate rather than a percentage of fees. A lower £2,000 rate is reserved for EU applicants and does not apply to Nigerian students.
Once you arrive and enrol, the £3,500 deposit becomes the first part of your tuition fee payment, it is not a separate charge on top of your tuition. Remaining fees are typically paid in five equal instalments after enrolment.
Refund policy: Confirmed refundable on visa refusal, provided no fraudulent documents were submitted. Sunderland also operates a London campus, and Nigerian students can apply to study there at the same deposit rate.
NursingBusinessComputingLaw
✓ London Campus Available
✓ Refundable on Visa Refusal
Source: sunderland.ac.uk/how-do-i-pay-my-tuition-fees (verified August 2026)
Teesside University requires a £4,000 deposit before issuing a CAS. This is confirmed directly on their official international fees page for the 2026/27 academic year. Teesside has historically carried this rate forward with only small adjustments year to year, so it remains a solid planning figure for the 2027 intake.
Teesside's strongest differentiator is its refund policy: the official page states plainly that if your visa is refused, they refund your deposit in full, with no administration fee deducted. This is more generous than several other universities on this list.
Scholarship note: Teesside offers a £2,000 Global Excellence Scholarship for eligible international students. This is applied as a fee waiver against your first-year tuition, it does not reduce your deposit. You still pay the full £4,000 deposit, and the £2,000 saving comes off your tuition after you enrol.
ComputingCybersecurityBusinessMBA
✓ Full Deposit Refund on Visa Refusal
Source: tees.ac.uk/sections/international/fees.cfm (verified August 2026)
Staffordshire University's official Nigeria country page confirms a £4,000 deposit for full-time, on-campus international students. Distance learning programmes require no deposit. The university has a dedicated support structure for Nigerian and West African students, and its business and law programmes remain popular choices for the 2027 intake.
Important refund caveat: Unlike Teesside, Staffordshire retains a £1,500 administration fee if your visa is refused. This means you get back £2,500 of your £4,000 deposit on visa refusal, not the full amount. This is confirmed on their official deposit refund policy page. Factor this into your financial planning before paying.
Staffordshire also publishes separate January and September entry deadlines each year. If you are weighing up the Spring 2027 intake against September 2027, check its current international admissions deadlines page for the exact dates.
LawBusinessComputingNursing
⚠ £1,500 Admin Fee on Visa Refusal Refund
Source: staffs.ac.uk/international/your-country/nigeria and staffs.ac.uk International Deposit Refund Policy (verified August 2026)
The University of Cumbria states on its official international admissions page that you must pay a minimum deposit of £4,000 (for low risk countries) or 50% of the first year's tuition fees, whichever is higher. The key word is minimum, the actual deposit is whichever amount is greater.
For programmes with annual fees of £12,000, 50% would be £6,000, making the effective deposit £6,000, not £4,000. For programmes at or below £8,000 per year (rare), the £4,000 minimum would apply. Always confirm the exact figure with Cumbria's international admissions office for your specific programme before applying.
Cumbria has strong programmes in nursing, education, and business, and the university is based in Carlisle with some provision in London.
NursingEducationBusiness
⚠ Deposit May Exceed £4,000 Depending on Programme
Source: cumbria.ac.uk/study/international-students/how-to-accept-your-offer/ (verified August 2026)
🚨
Coventry University no longer belongs on a low-deposit list
Earlier guidance, including earlier versions of this article, listed Coventry University at a £4,000 deposit under its "Sub-Saharan Africa" tier. That has changed. Coventry's official deposit page, last updated in July 2026, now states that Nigeria, Ghana, and Kenya are excluded from the discounted regional rate and instead pay the same £8,000 as most other non-EU countries. If you see an older figure of £4,000 for Coventry anywhere online, treat it as outdated and confirm directly with Coventry's international admissions team before applying.
Side-by-Side Comparison: Low-Deposit Universities vs. Market Average
This table shows how the universities in this guide compare to universities charging standard or high deposits for Nigerian students heading into the 2027 intake:
| University | Deposit for Nigerians |
| University of York (UG)Confirmed from york.ac.uk | £0 (no deposit) |
| University of York (PGT)Confirmed from york.ac.uk | £3,000 |
| University of SunderlandConfirmed from sunderland.ac.uk | £3,500 |
| Teesside UniversityConfirmed from tees.ac.uk | £4,000 |
| Staffordshire UniversityConfirmed from staffs.ac.uk/international/your-country/nigeria | £4,000 |
| University of CumbriaConfirmed from cumbria.ac.uk (minimum; may be higher) | From £4,000 |
| For context: what other universities typically charge Nigerian students |
| University of Suffolk | £5,000 |
| University of Winchester (Nigeria) | Min £5,000 |
| University of Salford | £5,500 |
| Northumbria University | £5,500 |
| University of Derby | £8,000 |
| Coventry University (Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya)Updated July 2026, no longer discounted | £8,000 |
| LSBU / Leeds Beckett / UCLan / Worcester | 50% of fees (~£7,000–£10,000) |
| University of West Scotland | 75% of fees (~£11,663) |
| De Montfort University (Nigeria) | Full first-year tuition (~£16,800+) |
🚨
Deposits are usually non-refundable if you withdraw, but refundable on visa refusal
If you pay a deposit and then change your mind or fail to meet conditions, most universities will not refund your deposit. However, almost all UK universities will refund it (fully or partially) if your Student Visa is refused by UKVI, as long as you can provide the official refusal letter and no fraud is involved. Always ask specifically about the visa refusal refund policy before paying, and get the answer in writing. Note that Staffordshire retains £1,500 as an admin fee even on visa refusal.
Deposit vs. Proof of Funds: What's the Difference?
These are two completely separate requirements. Many Nigerian students confuse them or try to plan for both at the same time without understanding how they work independently:
| Tuition Deposit | Paid to the university to confirm your place and receive your CAS |
| Amount | £3,000–£8,000 flat, or 50–75% of first-year fees (university-dependent) |
| When paid | After receiving your unconditional offer letter |
| Goes to | The university, deducted from your tuition when you enrol |
| Proof of Funds (Visa Requirement) | Shown to UKVI to prove you can financially support yourself in the UK |
| Amount required | One full year's tuition (as stated on your CAS) plus £1,171 per month for courses outside London, or £1,529 per month for courses in London, for up to 9 months |
| How long you must hold it | At least 28 days in a row, ending no more than 31 days before you apply |
| Goes to | Nobody. It stays in your own account and simply needs to be visible to UKVI |
⚠️
The maintenance funds figure changed in 2025 and is easy to get wrong
For several years UKVI used a flat £1,334 per month figure for all students regardless of location. That is no longer correct. The current published rates on gov.uk are £1,171 per month for courses outside London and £1,529 per month for courses in London, both for up to 9 months. If you are budgeting for your 2027 intake using an older guide or a figure a friend gave you from a previous year, double check it against the official gov.uk student visa page before you rely on it.
How to Plan Around Your Deposit for the 2027 Intake
- Where possible, pick a flat deposit rather than a percentage-based one. A flat £4,000 is predictable. A "50% of fees" structure on a £17,000 programme means £8,500, more than double what the flat-rate universities charge.
- Check for scholarships that reduce your tuition balance. Scholarships like Teesside's Global Excellence Award save money on fees, even if they do not reduce the deposit itself. Less fees owed means less total cash needed in your account for proof of funds.
- Apply early for your preferred intake, January or September 2027. Deposits are often paid after the unconditional offer, and some universities have deposit deadlines that determine your CAS issuance timeline. Applying early gives you more time to arrange the payment.
- Always ask about the visa refusal refund policy in writing. Before paying, email the admissions office and ask: "If my UK Student Visa is refused, how much of my deposit will be refunded, and how long will it take?" Keep the reply for your records.
- Do not assume last year's figure still applies. As the Coventry example shows, deposit rules for specific countries can change from one intake to the next. Confirm the current rate directly on the university's own page before you pay anything.
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Can I get a full deposit refund if my UK visa is refused?
It depends entirely on the university's policy. Some universities (e.g. Teesside, York) give a full refund on visa refusal with no deduction. Others (e.g. Staffordshire) keep an administration fee (£1,500) and return the rest. A small number of universities are non-refundable regardless of reason. Always confirm the exact visa refusal refund policy in writing from the admissions office before paying your deposit.
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Do I need to pay the full first year's tuition to receive my CAS?
No. At the universities in this guide, you only pay the deposit (£3,000 to £4,000) to receive your CAS. The remainder of your first year's tuition is paid after you arrive in the UK and enrol. The deposit is deducted from your total at that point. However, at some universities not in this guide, notably De Montfort for Nigerian students, you must pay the entire first year's fees upfront before CAS is issued.
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Why do some articles list lower deposit amounts than what universities actually charge?
Deposit requirements change fairly often, sometimes between intake cycles (January versus September), and sometimes because a university revises its requirements for specific nationalities, as Coventry did for Nigeria, Ghana, and Kenya in 2026. Figures that were accurate for the 2025 or 2026 intakes may no longer apply for 2027. This article verifies figures directly from official pages as of August 2026. Always check the university's own website for the current figure before applying.
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