If you want to start a UK degree in May 2027, you have about six months. That sounds like plenty, but the May intake is the UK’s smallest, and it closes early. At Cardiff Metropolitan University, for example, the May 2027 application deadline is 15 March 2027 and the course starts on 17 May.
And the application is only the first step. After that you need an offer, then a deposit, then a CAS, then a TB test, then funds held for 28 days, and only then the visa. Here’s how to fit it all in.
What the May intake is, and who it suits
UK universities usually take students in September, January and May. September has the most courses. January is the second largest. May has the fewest universities and courses, so you have less choice. One guide estimates about 20 universities run it.
May suits you if:
- your documents are ready now, or nearly ready
- you don’t want to wait almost a year for September
- the course you want is offered in May. Check this first.
November: get your documents moving
These take the longest, so start them now.
- Passport. It needs to stay valid well beyond your course dates. If it’s close to expiring, renew it now.
- Transcripts. Request them from your university today. Some Nigerian schools take weeks.
- Degree certificate or statement of result, plus your WAEC or NECO certificate.
- CV, and the names of two referees (academic or work).
- English. Some universities accept a WAEC or NECO English credit instead of IELTS, and others don’t. Ask your adviser before you book a test.
Work out your funds number this month too, because the amounts change on 30 November 2026. There’s more on that below.
December: choose your course and apply
- Shortlist two or three universities that run your course in May.
- Write your statement of purpose. Explain why this course, why this university and why now, in your own words.
- Submit your applications before Christmas. Universities slow down over the holidays, so an application sent in mid-December is often answered faster than one sent in February.
January: offers and conditions
Most offers arrive as conditional, which means the university wants one more document, such as a final transcript or an English result. Send it quickly. An unconditional offer moves you to the next step.
Remember that from 1 January 2027 the UK Graduate Route (the post-study work visa) drops from 2 years to 18 months for most graduates who apply from that date. A May 2027 starter applies after graduating, so plan for 18 months. Choose a course that leads to work you can actually find in that time.
February: deposit, CAS and funds
- Pay the tuition deposit by the university’s date. At Cardiff Met, the May 2027 deposit deadline is 2 April.
- The university then issues your CAS (Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies), which is the reference number your visa application needs.
- Put your funds in place. The money has to sit in the account for 28 days in a row, and the last day of that period must fall within 31 days of your visa application. If the balance drops below the required amount on any of those days, the count starts again.
- Book your TB test at an approved clinic. Nigerians applying for a UK visa of more than six months need one.
March and April: the visa
Apply for your Student visa once you have the CAS, the funds statement and the TB certificate. Check the current processing times on GOV.UK, and leave extra time. Book your flight once the visa is approved.
May: travel and enrol
Arrive before the start date, collect your BRP or set up your eVisa as instructed, and register at the university.
How much money will you need?
From 30 November 2026, the UK asks students to show:
| Where you study | Per month | For 9 months |
|---|---|---|
| London | £1,570 | £14,130 |
| Outside London | £1,203 | £10,827 |
That’s for living costs. You also need the rest of your first year’s tuition. Any deposit you’ve already paid comes off the total, and the CAS shows the figure.
The short version
- November: passport, transcripts, documents and your funds number.
- December: choose your course and apply.
- January: meet your offer conditions.
- February: deposit, CAS, funds held for 28 days, TB test.
- March and April: apply for the visa.
- May: travel.
Get the full checklist
We’ve turned this plan into a free May 2027 starter pack with a month-by-month timeline, the document checklist, the funds formula with worked examples, and the five most common refusal reasons.
Send PACK on WhatsApp to +234 703 869 4886, or comment PACK on our latest Instagram post, @pikiniceduconsult.
Rules change. We checked every date and figure in this post on 7 November 2026, against university and GOV.UK sources. Your adviser will confirm what applies to your course.
