Study in the UK from Kenya: the cost in shillings and the money you must hold
A UK Student visa asks you to hold living money for 28 days in a row: £1,171 a month outside London or £1,529 in London, up to nine months, on top of any unpaid tuition. At today's rate that is KSh 1,830,403 to KSh 2,389,997. Both monthly figures go up on 30 November 2026.
Last checked 26 October 2026. Rates read 26 Oct 2026. Planning figures, not offers.
A year's cost, in shillings
These bands add tuition to living costs and convert at £1 = KSh 173.68, the rate read today. A university sets its own fees, so treat the figures as planning ranges.
| Level | Per year | Made up of |
|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate | KSh 4,515,654 to KSh 6,426,123 | Tuition £14,000 to £25,000 plus living £12,000 |
| Master's | KSh 4,515,654 to KSh 6,426,123 | Tuition £14,000 to £25,000 plus living £12,000 |
| Funds the visa asks for | about KSh 4,741,437 | £13,300 for living plus the first year's undergraduate tuition |
Show the data behind Figure 1
| Level | Lowest | Highest |
|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate | KSh 4,515,654 | KSh 6,426,123 |
| Master's | KSh 4,515,654 | KSh 6,426,123 |
Source: SchoolRegistry Pathways catalogue, rates read 26 Oct 2026.
- English
- IELTS 6.0 to 6.5 (UKVI) or a university-approved test
- Intakes
- September, January (many master's)
- After graduation
- Graduate visa: 18 months after a degree for most, longer for a doctorate.
- Bringing family
- Barred for undergraduate and taught master's students since January 2024.
A steady shilling, and a rising rule
The shilling has been far steadier against the pound than the currencies of many African countries, so most of what has changed for Kenyan families comes from London. A pound averaged KSh 150.79 in 2021 and costs KSh 173.68 today. In the same years the Home Office raised nine months of London living money from £12,006 to £13,761.
Put together, nine months of London living money went from about KSh 1.81 million in 2021 to about KSh 2.39 million now. Roughly 51% of that rise is the exchange rate and the rest is the new UK figure, a far more even split than in countries whose currencies have fallen sharply. The practical meaning is that a Kenyan family can plan with fewer surprises from the shilling, and should expect the next jump to come from the rule.
More Kenyans are applying, and the file is read harder
The British Council in Kenya reports that annual UK study visa approvals for Kenyans rose from 1,156 in 2021 to 2,210 in 2024, and that 7,525 Kenyan students enrolled at UK universities over a recent four-year period. Demand is growing while UK caseworkers ask more questions about where money comes from, so a clean, well-documented file matters more each year.
Where a Kenyan applicant gives biometrics
UK visa services in Kenya run through VFS Global. Reports describe a visa application centre in Nairobi and premium application centres in Mombasa and Eldoret. The tuberculosis test, which Kenya is on the UK list for, is reported to be done at approved clinics in Nairobi and Mombasa before you apply. Check VFS Global and the GOV.UK list of approved clinics before you book, because locations and rules change.
Points that apply to a Kenyan file
Kenya is not on the Home Office list of countries that get the lighter funds route, so you must show the money: your own bank account or a parent's with their written consent, held for 28 days, with the latest statement dated within 31 days of your application.
UKVI advised applicants in August and September 2026 that a cover letter may be needed to explain large or unexplained deposits and gaps since you last studied, and the advice was covered in the Kenyan press. If a relative abroad or the family business pays money in shortly before you apply, keep the transfer record and write a short note about the source. We have this from news reports of the UKVI notice, so confirm the wording on GOV.UK.
A mobile money balance such as M-Pesa is not a bank account. Do not plan around one without asking a counsellor.
For the full picture, with the year-by-year cost in shillings and a step-by-step plan for the 28 days, read the UK proof of funds guide.
No one can promise you admission or a visa.
Our job is to match your profile to universities it suits, prepare a complete and truthful file, and tell you what the visa will ask before you spend money. Governments decide visas. Pathways costs a family nothing, because our partner schools pay SchoolRegistry when a student we place enrols.
Keep going
Questions Kenyan families ask about United Kingdom
- How much money do I need to show for a UK student visa from Kenya?
- Outstanding tuition from your CAS plus £1,171 a month outside London or £1,529 in London, for up to nine months. At today's rate that is KSh 1,830,403 or KSh 2,389,997 before tuition. From 30 November 2026 the monthly figures are £1,203 and £1,570.
- How long must the money stay in the account?
- 28 days in a row, counted back from the closing balance on your latest statement, which must be dated within 31 days of your application.
- Where do Kenyans apply for the UK student visa?
- You apply online and give biometrics at a VFS Global centre. Reports describe a centre in Nairobi and premium centres in Mombasa and Eldoret; confirm on the VFS Global page for Kenya.
- Does my M-Pesa balance count as funds?
- A mobile money balance is not a bank account. Ask before you rely on it.
Source: GOV.UK and World Bank, 2026.