In spite of the Covid-19 pandemic, application numbers from Nigeria to the UK, took a quantum leap as the UK has recently become a desired study destination to Nigeria applicants. The rise in numbers could be associated with the re-introduction of the Post Study Work permit, which allows international students stay back and work in the UK for a period of 2 years, on successful completion of either a graduate program (Bachelors, Masters) or 3 years Doctoral program (PHD).
The UK has also enjoyed the early bird advantage, as it has been recognised as one of the study destinations that is fully open to International Students and even throughout the Covid-19 Pandemic. It can be noted that Nigeria was not only the top 5 nationalities granted sponsored study visas but had a significant percentage increase among the top 5 nationalities*1. This goes to show the level of confidence that Nigerians have in the quality of the UK education system, as well as a positive response to the incentive of the post study work visa.
With the increase in the number of study visa application, also comes the challenges of determining the genuine intention of the visa applicants from Nigeria, between September 2021 till date, we have observed a recent turn of event of the UKVI requesting for additional documents from visa applicants, requiring them to explain gaps in study years or provide additional information as regards funds lodgement in bank account submitted for maintenance purposes. These requests usually come after a student’s application has been received by the UKVI, which on the long-run, adds to the waiting-time / turnaround time for visa application. It can be noted that some applicants are startled/ taken by surprise of the request, thereby being unable to respond properly, which has resulted to getting a refusal from UKVI.
This is 2022 and application numbers are not dropping compared to previous years, in fact, the numbers are rising sporadically. The experience from last September entry and this past January entry should make it imperative that applicants need to be supported not only to gain admission but also be able to obtain the study visa as well,as students’ enrolment rides on the wings of a successful visa outcome. At this time more than ever before, HEI should do well to ensure that intending students are properly supported in the most cost-effective way.
At WIN Education Nigeria, we are proud of the support and guidance we provide to our students, which helps them navigate the tough terrain of the visa application phase, thereby bringing them a step closer to the realisation of their dreams of obtaining a UK qualification and become a global player.
Some of the challenges that Nigerians confront in a bid to obtain their study visa:
- Application Turnaround: In the past year, agencies have had to deal with lot of waiting-time due to the application turnaround time with a lot of UK institutions. The reason for this is the shortage of manpower, as the number of manpower responsible for international applications pre-covid seems to be the same number of manpower attending to applications which has since more than tripled in volume, and has led to a lot of application not being attended to within the application turnaround timeframe.
- Meeting the Conditions on Offer: When applicants get a conditional offer, it brings them a step closer to their dream. However, in some instances, applicants are not able to progress further than this as they have a lot of bottlenecks to overcome with institutions here, in Nigeria. Some of the challenges they face ranges from difficulty in obtaining official documents like transcript, reference letters, international passport, error on WAEC certificate, etc. Where students get the conditional offer late, it leaves little or no time to obtain and provide all the documents required to meet the conditions on the offer and that invariably affects the desired outcome of the process.
- Payment of Tuition Deposit: One area that most Nigerians struggle with is the payment of tuition deposit. In Nigeria, foreign education is covered by CBN policy on accessing FX for offshore payment, it is worthy of note to mentioned that in some instances, the process can take as long as a month or two before payment can be effected via the commercial banks in Nigeria. The other options such as Online payment and Card payment are swift but seen by students as being more expensive compared to payment through the commercial bank.
- Tuberculosis Test: Scheduling an appointment for the TB test which is an important requirement from student visa applicants from Nigeria, is one area that has slowed down the visa application process for many. As early as June 2021, applicants encountered untold hardship in order to secure an appointment for the TB Test which a number of schools now request before issuing CAS to their offer holders who have met all other conditions on their offer. Students had to schedule their TB test appointment up to 6 weeks ahead.
- Biometric Appointment: For January 2021 entry, September 2021 entry and January 2022 entry, securing a biometric appointment had been a tug-of-war. We witnessed instances where applicants had to pass the night a couple of times at the Visa Application Centre before getting an appointment to have their biometrics done as part of the visa application procedures. At some points, applicants had to do a lot of monitoring of the visa application appointment calendar to ensure they can get a favourable date for the biometric appointment. While some of these challenges are not obvious to HEI, students had to also borne the consequence of a obtaining the visa fully without much consideration from the institution they seek to go to.
- Request for additional documents: Student visa applicants after meeting all the requirements of the point-based system still get required to provide additional information or documents in order obtain a study visa. A quite number of students had been handed a refusal because they did not respond appropriately to the mail from UKVI requesting for additional documents or information.
As our HEI partners are aware, the Nigeria market is both exciting and complex market. The challenges that applicants face is very daunting and requires both the support and understanding of stakeholders to navigate.
At WIN Education Nigeria, we ensure that all our students are given the required support that ensures that they get through the difficult terrain of obtaining their offer of admission as well as visa, to enable them commence their study at their choice university. Our services are provided absolutely free to our students. If there is ever a need to provide support and understanding for the rising number of applicants from Nigeria, now is the best time to do so, as this will also help to improve Institutional perception in the market.
Abiodun writes in from WIN Education Nigeria office.
