There are a growing number of international students from Nigeria seeking admission at UK University admission. But majority of Nigerian students do not know how to apply for admission at UK Universities and what documents to submit & which information to provide. They often do not have enough information and are not aware of appropriate document requirements and where to send those. The motto of this article is to provide Nigerian students detailed guidelines about applying to UK University for admission.

Admission application channels

Please note that universities in the UK process admission via UCAS, UKPASS, Central Applications Board (CAB) & BarSAS for certain Law courses, direct application via email, online application system and through education agents.

For international students, it is of utmost importance to know the application process and admission requirements as applying through incorrect channel or submitting incomplete or inappropriate documents or information often results in failure to secure an offer or delay in offer or non-response from universities. If you do not know the process clearly, it would be highly beneficial for you to take professional help and support from official education agent.

Applying for admission via university agent

Most of the UK universities have official appointed agents to avoid incomplete applications, errors in applications and save time. Besides, agents can provide precise and necessary information to make students informative so that they can apply for admission with clear knowledge about their prospective studies in the UK. This is also effective, efficient and economic for all parties.

Applying for university admission via Total Student Care (TSC)

British Council trained and award winning professional educations agent Total Student Care (TSC) can maximise your chance for admission at UK universities by providing you appropriate professional advice on the admission process and helping you to submit error-free application with relevant and required documents and information to secure your offer letter.

To apply to our partner universities, please send clearly scanned copies of your documents as attachment via email to: admission@totalstudentcare.com and we will do the rest for you (pdf format is preferable and a single document should not be more than 1 MB in size, name documents type i.e. Bachelor certificate, passport copy, CV etc. before attaching). All documents must be in English.

You may not have all necessary documents available in one go when emailing us first. Try and send as many documents as possible and send others later but as soon as possible. Our team will guide you with this. You can find some useful information in our Guide: Apply to study in the UK from Nigeria about higher studies in the UK.

Required documents for admission application from Nigeria

Please send academic certificates and transcripts that are applicable and relevant to you i.e. qualifications that you have achieved (if you are only bachelor qualified, masters certificate and transcript is not applicable to you). Please check UK University entry requirements for different level of qualifications at the bottom of this article.

Required documents for Nigerian students who want to apply for PhD/MPhil course

Students who have previous visa refusal/s for any country under any category

• All documents detailed above (as applicable)
• Copy of visa refusal letter/s
• Administrative review/appeal decision letter (if done)
• CAS statement/Visa letter issued by the University if the refusal/s was/were for study visa
• Your own statement defending the refusal reasons

Students who were in the UK/other country for study before

• All academic progress i.e. certificates/transcripts achieved in the UK/other country
• Home country qualification certificates & official academic transcripts (as applicable, see above)
• All visa letters & CAS statements used for entry clearance & visa extension
• Entry clearance & BRP copies/Visa copy/copies
• Copy of relevant passport pages including page stamped by home country immigration at airport when arrived
• Two academic reference letters on official letterhead, recently dated and signed
• Work experience letter (if any)
• National Youth Service/Internship completion letter/certificate (if undertaken)
• Documents related to activities undertaken after your return to home country
• Up-to-date CV
• Documents related to change of name i.e. birth certificate, affidavit, newspaper publication etc.

Other document requirements

  If you have already selected your course and university, you need to send a ‘Personal Statement’ along with the above documents. If this is not ready at the first place, send it as soon as possible. Please check our Personal Statement writing guidelines to write your unique one. 

  Registration confirmation letter from awarding/professional body i.e. ACCA registration, nursing council registration etc. if you are applying to study one of these courses.

  You may also require providing portfolio of works for art/design/architecture courses and audio/video recordings for some other specialist courses.

Additionally, if you have undertaken any personal/professional/career development training, received award for outstanding achievements, attained any extracurricular activities, documents related to these will give further strength/merit to your application.

Information required for admission application

We have international student admission assessment form to take the above information alongside other necessary information – our team will send the form to you after initial consultation.

You must proactively provide any other relevant information or documents that are not covered above but you deem it necessary. You must give true information and copy of genuine documents only. You are responsible and must bear any consequence for any false information and unauthentic/fake/counterfeit/forged documents you provide. Please note we assume that you give us your unconditional consent to use the information and documents you provide for admission and related purposes.

General Entry requirements for Nigerian students to study at UK universities

Academic requirements

MPhil and PhD courses

- Masters or above qualification from a recognised University of Nigeria or other countries

- Bachelor honours degree from a recognised University of Nigeria or other countries

Masters courses

- Bachelor honours degree or above qualification from a recognised University of Nigeria or other countries

Bachelor curses

- Nigerian National Diploma, Ordinary National Diploma or Diploma or UK A Levels or International Baccalaureate or recognised UK foundation qualification and

- Senior Secondary School Certificate (SSSC) or a West African Senior School Certificate (WASSC).

Bachelor Foundation/University preparation courses

- Senior Secondary School Certificate (SSSC) or a West African Senior School Certificate (WASSC) or UK O Levels

English language requirements

- To study at a UK University for bachelor or above levels qualification, you need to have at least Grade C6 in English on the WAEC/NECO Senior School Certificate Examination or UK A levels or a degree from UK or a majority English Speaking country

- To study a bachelor foundation/ University preparation course, you will require IELTS or other UKVI approved SELT with score of at least B1 Level or UK O Levels

- Certain courses i.e. PhD/MPhil, nursing and midwifery, medicine etc. may require higher level English requirements

Some universities may not accept NECO qualification as an English Language proficiency Our trained team members

Our trained team members will advise you on universities and courses you will qualify for once we receive and assess your documents.