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According to renowned and trusted international news media, the UK continues to be a top study destination and is second only to the US. Both countries collectively host 30% of international students, which isn’t great for those who want to pursue a successful career.
With the borders opening after COVID-19, The Universities and Colleges Admission Services (UCAS) predicts that the volume of international undergraduate applicants for the UK will grow by 46% to 208,500 by 2026.
Moreover, the cost of studying in the UK will be a topmost question for applicants who want to pursue a program in 2024. Here is a detailed description of the costs of studying in the UK.
Tuition Fee
Undergraduates
For international undergrads eyeing the UK, here’s the scoop on tuition fees: they range from £11,400 to £38,000 per year.
On average, you’re looking at about £22,200 annually. When it comes to how long you’ll be hitting the books, it’s typically three years in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, but lucky folks in Scotland get four years of academic adventures!
Postgraduate
International postgraduate students have to pay tuition fees between £9,000 – £30,000. The average cost is around £17,109 per year.
Many postgraduate degree courses can be accomplished in one year of full-time study. This offers career and financial benefits. A one-year master’s program generally takes fewer and lower associated costs. It brings the re-entry or faster entry into employment over a traditional two-year master’s program.
Average postgraduate tuition fees for international students
| Type of Degree | Tuition fees (£) | Tuition fees (US $)** |
| Classroom-based | 16,081 | 19,940 |
| Laboratory-based | 18,613 | 23,070 |
| MBA | 21,754 | 26,970 |
Comparison of tuition fees among different UK universities and courses
| University | Average Annual Tuition Fees |
| Cardiff Metropolitan University | £18,000 – £40,000 |
| University of Hertfordshire | £14,750 – £17,950 |
| University of Wolverhampton | £14,450 – £16,950 |
| Manchester Metropolitan University | £17,000 – £18,500 |
| University for Creative Arts | £17,500- £18,500 |
As an international student, when you come to study in UK without dependents, you may have to pay around £1300-£1400 every month in London or £900-£1300 in the rest of the UK. This would include your accommodation, groceries, bills, and a range of other living expenses during your studies.
Types of expenses
Student Halls
London: £848
Rest of UK: £664
Note- these costs are only for non-catered single occupancy student halls. If you want catered student halls, you’ll have to pay more.
Rooms in private accommodation (without bills)
London: £750
Rest of UK: £554
Note- the cost is for a room for one person in shared accommodation.
Household bills (gas, electricity, water, broadband, and TV license)
London: £140
Rest of UK: £80
Groceries
London: £155
Rest of the UK: £116
Socializing (dining out, going to cafes and bars)
London: £150
London average costs: Restaurant meal – £16, Takeaway coffee – £2.69
Rest of UK: £80
The rest of the UK average costs: Restaurant meal – £15, Takeaway coffee – £2.50
Public transport
London: £103*
*If you’re a full-time student in the UK with a National Railcard, you can get a 30% discount on standard tube and bus fares by using a Student Oyster Card. For students in Zones 1-2, a monthly Oyster card will cost £103.
Rest of the UK: £54
Mobile phone bill (Sim only plan)
London and the Rest of the UK: £18
Cost of Health Insurance
The UK offers one of the best healthcare systems globally through the National Health Service (NHS). You must pay a health insurance surcharge and visa fee, which is £470/year. Once accessing the NHS, students can get reduced dental care prices and free medical treatment at NHS health centers.
Graduate Visa
International students can choose various visa options to stay in the UK and work after completing their graduation course. A new popular option is the Graduate visa which offers you two years to stay in the UK. The application fee for a Graduate visa is £715, and you must also pay £624 for the healthcare surcharge for each year you spend in the UK.
Other costs
If you study in the UK for over six months, you’ll have to pay additional costs.
£363 for your UK student visa, allowing you to live and study in the UK until you complete your course (this is a one-off charge)
£470 for your Immigration Health Surcharge every year, which will cover the UK’s National Health Service – this is the charge after the 25 percent discount for student visa holders.
Scholarships and Financial Aid
Postgraduate funding
The three main UK government scholarships on offer are:
Wider UK government funding
You can visit the website of the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) website to learn more about the available funding.
Postgraduate studentships
Various universities provide fully-funded postgraduate studentships for PhD programs.
Institution-specific scholarships – funding
Numerous higher-education institutions in the UK provide their scholarship-funding programs. To know more click here
Getting admission to a foreign university is always a dream come true, but at the same time, you need to understand the costs associated with your application. You need to know various things before paying to any university in the UK. To know more, you can get in touch with our expert counselors, who can guide you and make you clear about all costing prospects. You just need to fill out a form.
