2027 Study Abroad Rule Changes: What Kenyan Students Must Know About the UK, Canada and Australia

If you are planning to start university abroad in 2027, three of the most popular destinations for Kenyan students have changed their rules in the past few months. None of these changes close the door, but each one affects how much money you need to show and how long you can stay to work after graduating. Here is a plain summary, checked on 21 October 2026.

United Kingdom: a shorter Graduate Route and higher funds

The Graduate Route lets you stay and work in the UK after your degree without a sponsor. For bachelor's and master's graduates who apply on or after 1 January 2027, it will last 18 months instead of two years. PhD graduates keep three years.

What matters is the date you submit your Graduate Route application, not your graduation ceremony. Most students starting a degree in 2026 or 2027 will finish after the change, so plan on 18 months.

The money you must show for living costs is also rising. For Student visa applications made from 30 November 2026, you need £1,570 a month if you study in London or £1,203 a month elsewhere, for up to nine months. That is £14,130 or £10,827, on top of any unpaid first-year tuition, and it must be held for 28 days.

Canada: CAD 23,448 and closer checks on where funds come from

For study permit applications submitted from 1 September 2026, a single student studying outside Quebec must show at least CAD 23,448 for living costs. This does not include tuition or travel, which you must also cover. Quebec has its own, higher requirement and needs a Quebec Acceptance Certificate first.

Visa officers now check the source of your funds in every application. Weak financial documents are the most common reason study permits are refused, and most of those refusals are avoidable with a well-prepared file.

Australia: a higher visa fee

Since 1 July 2026, the Student visa (subclass 500) application fee is AUD 2,500, up from AUD 2,000. The Temporary Graduate visa for post-study work now costs AUD 5,750. You need a Confirmation of Enrolment before you apply, and once studying you can work up to 48 hours per fortnight during term.

What to do now if you are aiming for 2027

• Start your budget with the full cost: tuition, living funds, visa fees and health cover, not tuition alone.

• Put your funds in place early. The UK requires 28 days of held funds, and Canada looks closely at how the money was built up.

• If post-study work matters to you, compare destinations on how long you can stay after graduating, not just on fees.

• Check every figure on the official government website before you apply, because these amounts are reviewed every year.

Get a free eligibility check

Not sure which destination fits your grades and budget under the new rules? Book a free session with a MultiWorld counsellor at Suite 702, 7th Floor, Krishna Centre, Woodvale Grove, Westlands, or chat with us on WhatsApp at +254 115 670 991. We also have offices in Kampala and Kigali.

Figures in this article were checked on 21 October 2026 and may change. Final visa decisions are made by each country's immigration authority.