UK Tuition Fees and Living Costs for International Students

The United Kingdom has always been one of the favorite destinations for international students. To make everything more clear for all the students who are planning to continue their studies in one of the most prominent countries in the world, we’ve written this post with all you should know about UK tuition fees and living costs for international students.

In this guide:

• University Tuition Charges in the UK
• Student Living Costs in the UK
• University Scholarships and Grants
• Most Affordable Universities in the United Kingdom
• Conclusion

University Tuition Charges in the UK

The United Kingdom like any other country in the world, has its own educational system and financial aspect of it. Up until now, you could be charged two types of tuition fees in the United Kingdom:

• the home status fee: in general, these are lower fees, paid by local students, Irish citizens, and students from the EU, EEA, and Switzerland,
• the international fee: higher fees, which are sometimes 2 or 3 times higher, paid by all the remaining non-EU/EEA students from all over the world.

Following Brexit, things changed significantly. Here are the main factors you need to know if you’re from the EU/EEA or Switzerland and plan to begin studying in the UK after 1 January 2022:

• If you arrive in the UK after 1 January 2022 and start your study program before 31 July 2022, you will still enjoy the ‘home fee status,’ and you’ll have the option to apply for a student loan.
• Arrive in the UK after 1 January 2022 and start your study program after 1 August 2022. You will NOT enjoy the ‘home fee status’ anymore, you won’t have access to student loans, and you’ll need to pay the total tuition fees established by each university individually.

These changes do not apply to Irish citizens or students who have started their courses before implementing this new policy.

UK Tuition Fees for Public Institutions

At public UK universities, tuition costs may vary a lot. The home fee usually ranges from 5,500 to 10,200 EUR per year. It depends on the university, the type of program, and the length of studies.

The international fee usually adds another 3000 to 8000 EUR to the initial home fee. It might be 2 or 3 times higher than the home fee in some cases.

This is all about public universities available to domestic and international student, but what about the private ones?

UK Tuition Fees for Private Universities

While some study programs at private universities have tuition costs comparable to those at public institutions, it’s generally true that private higher education is more expensive. Additionally, these institutions often don’t differentiate between EU/EEA and non-EU/EEA citizens.

Students can pay anywhere from 5000 to over 35,000 EUR per academic year. At both public and private universities, Business and Medical studies are the most expensive.

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Student Living Costs in the UK

Living as a student in the UK isn’t exactly cheap, but how much you end up spending depends on where you are planning to live.

In big cities like London, monthly living costs can quickly jump over 1500 EUR (about 1360 GBP). In smaller cities, you can live with a budget of 700 to 1200 EUR (about 635 to 1040 GBP) per month.

The national currency here is the pound sterling (GBP). At the time of writing this article, 4.55 GBP equals around 5 EUR.

Student Accommodation Costs

Many universities in the UK provide student residence halls. These living spaces offer great value for money and include the costs of utilities in the overall price. Student residence halls are most popular among first-year students.

After the first academic year, many future graduates choose to rent a private space, either alone or with other peers. This option is more expensive, but it offers a more accurate sense of what it is like to live in the real world:

• one-bedroom apartment outside the city center: 610 GBP per month
• one-bedroom apartment in the city center: 740 GBP per month
• three-bedroom apartment outside the city center: 975 GBP per month
• three-bedroom apartment in the city center: 1255 GBP per month

Monthly utilities will add another 90 to 160 GBP to your accommodation expenses.

Food Costs in the UK

Students will spend between 150 and 250 GBP on food and groceries. If you eat out and order food often, this budget will go up quickly.

The following are some of the average prices for food products in the United Kingdom.

• 12 eggs: 1.95 GBP,
• 1 liter of milk: 0.90 GBP,
• 1 kg of apples: 1.80 GBP,
• One loaf of bread: 1 GBP,
• 1 kg of bananas: 1.10 GBP,
• 1 kg of local cheese: 5.60 GBP,
• One meal at affordable restaurants: 12 GBP.

Transportation Costs; UK Tuition Fees

To commute daily, you can choose from various means of public transport; and most of them offer discounts to students or young people in general.

These discounts might vary from one area or city to another, but here are a few examples:

• Bus: 1.50 to 2.50 GBP for a one-way ticket,
• Subway: 30% discount for +18 years old students who buy the Oyster Student Card,
• Train: 30% discount for full-time students who buy a Young Persons Card, which usually costs 30 GBP.

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Extra Charges for Everyday Life in the UK

• entertainment, like cinema, concerts, theatre: 50 to 100 GBP per month,
• student visa fee: 348 GBP, which is one-time fee,
• IHS (Immigration Health Surcharge), which gives you access to the UK’s National Health Service: 470 GBP per year.

University Scholarships and Grants

In the United Kingdom, international students can apply for numerous scholarships and other types of financial support.

To be successful, you must meet the admission requirements. Scholarships are usually awarded based on different criteria:

• Nationality,
• Financial need,
• Previous Academic Achievement.

You can check out scholarship opportunities on your chosen university’s website. Make time to do some research to get helpful information.

Do you want to know about the Importance of Age for Admission and Student Visa? read this article:

Most Affordable Universities in the United Kingdom

Following a governmental decision in 2017, UK universities are allowed to charge domestic students with tuition fees up to GBP 9250. At the same time, universities independently set their tuitions’ policy for international scholars.

There are universities in the UK, which charge the same minimum for international students as for the home students.

So international students can find affordable Bachelors and Masters programs in the United Kingdom, usually under 5000 EUR per year. But most of them are only available to EU/EEA students at this cost.

Let’s look at some of the most affordable colleges and universities in the UK:

University of Stirling

The University of Stirling has built its reputation upon excellence and innovation. For its prospective students, it offers a high-quality education and a wide spectrum of study programs.

Despite being a highly reputed, this university is definitely one of the cheapest universities in the UK. Undergraduate students at this university will be charged GBP 12140. Tuition fees at the postgraduate level vary between GBP 13650 to and 18970.

Queen Margaret University; UK Tuition Fees

The campus of the Queen Margaret University is located just six minutes by train far from the wonderful city of Edinburgh, in the seaside town of Musselburgh.

At this university, you’ll find a wide range of study programs. The tuition it carries is fairly low in comparison to the British standard.

For the upcoming academic year, international students at the undergraduate level will be charged with tuition fees between GBP 12500 and 13500, while those at the postgraduate level will be charged much less.

Southampton Solent University

The Southampton Solent University study programs are sought after by numerous international scholars.

Its student population consists of students coming from almost 100 nationalities. The followings are tuition fees for international students in the upcoming academic year

University of West London; UK Tuition Fees

The University of West London enjoys a worldwide reputation as an excellent university. Its outstanding education and research are carried out on its modern campus that consists of brilliant facilities where everyone can improve.

However, with its fairly low tuition fees, the University of West London is one of the cheapest Universities in the UK. In most cases, the tuition fee is about GBP 12000.

Leeds Becket University

Based on the biggest financial district aside from London, and the vibrant city of Leeds, this university defines itself as a university with clear educational ambitions.

This university runs a number of partnerships with different organizations and companies around to ensure its students get the best opportunities to find a good job after completing their studies.

Currently, the university boasts over 28,000 students coming from almost 100 countries of the world. In addition, the Leeds Becket University has some of the lowest tuition fees among all British universities.

Teeside University; UK Tuition Fees

The reputation of the Teeside University is both nationally and internationally recognized. Through its rich scheme of study programs and high-quality teaching and research, the university guarantees to offers its student an exceptional education.

Its reasonable tuition fees make this university still more attractive to international students. The upcming academic year for an international foundation program will cost GBP 9750.

For a full-time undergraduate course, you will have to pay 11825 per an academic year. The postgraduate level starts at GBP 5875 in a part-time distance learning research degree and it ranges up to 17000 in the MBA.

Wrexham Glyndwr University

The Wrexham Glyndwr University is one of the youngest universities in the whole UK. But, regardless of its very short history, this university is highly valued for its quality of education.

Besides, it is a university easily affordable because it carries considerably low tuition fees for international students.

University of Bedfordshire; UK Tuition Fees

The University of Bedfordshire established in 2006, as a blending of the University of Luton and De Montfort’s University, two Bedford’s University campuses.

The institution enjoys a global appealing, hosting more than 20,000 students coming from over 120 countries. Besides being this highly reputed and valued university, it carries affordable tuition fees for the international students.

According to their actual tuition fee policy, international undergraduate students will have to pay GBP 11500 for a BA or BSc degree program, 12000 for an MA/MSc degree program and GBP 12500 for an MBA degree program.

You can find other accessible or affordable higher education institutions, but if you’re from the EU/EEA and start studying after 1 August 2022, you won’t benefit from the home fee status anymore.

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Conclusion

The UK has some of the best and most affordable educational institutions in the world. If you are an international student in the UK or are planning to continue your studies there, this article includes everything you need to know about tuition and living costs in the UK.