The British Council has announced that starting from September 2023, Nigerians will be required to pay N107,500 for academic International English Language Testing System (IELTS) examinations.

Originally, the United Kingdom mandates citizens of countries seeking work or study opportunities in the UK to take the IELTS.

The current cost of the test in Nigeria ranges between N80,000 and N90,000, which is nearly three times the country’s minimum wage of N30,000.

The British Council stated that the price increase is essential to maintain high-quality standards for the testing experience.

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The new prices will be N107,500 for both IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training, N116,000 for UK Visas and Immigration, and N104,000 for Life Skills.

This change comes as the UK remains a popular choice for Nigerian students pursuing education abroad, with significant increases in enrolments over recent years.

In the 2020-21 academic year, the number of Nigerian students in UK universities increased by almost 64%, making Nigeria one of the top countries sending students to the UK.

The demand for study visas and dependent visas for family members of Nigerian students has also seen substantial growth.