Throughout the years, the United Kingdom has been one of the top study destinations for international students worldwide. This is due to its world-class education and top-notch institutions. In fact, most of its institutions usually rank in the top 20 to 50 of various world university rankings, such as the QS rankings, where five UK institutions ranked in the top 20. Aside from that, an education in the UK also opens up a wide range of opportunities for its graduates, such as better employability or the chance to work in the UK.
Despite all the good things the UK has to offer, many have complained about its exorbitant tuition fees, which have been a source of discussion and controversies in the past years. However, there are various financial assistance programs that students can access, and UK education has a lot of short program options for international students to enroll in.
To get a better idea of how much tuition fees and living expenses cost in the UK, here are some figures you can check.
Tuition Fees
Tuition fees in the UK vary depending on the institution, city location, the student’s program of choice, and citizenship status.
Generally, students from the UK, Irish citizens, Swiss citizens, and other members of the EU or EEA pay lower tuition fees in the UK, which are two to three times less than other nationalities.
However, due to Brexit, this policy may change soon.
Undergraduate Tuition Fees may cost between £10,000 to £38,000 per year for international students. Generally, humanities and social sciences degrees are cheaper, while medical degrees and other laboratory and clinical degrees tend to be more expensive. These are all the estimated costs in 2018.
Postgraduate Tuition Fees, on the other hand, may cost around £11,000 to £32,000, for lecture-based programs. Laboratory-based programs may cost around £12,000 to £27,000.
Living Cost
To get a UK Student Visa, international students must prove that they have the financial capability to live there. As a minimum, they are required to have at least £1,015 in their bank account for a one-month stay in the UK. However, depending on the student’s lifestyle, and location, they might need a bigger budget, especially if they are staying in London. For example, the average monthly total for London may cost around £1,130 to £1400, while a month in Belfast may cost around £742.
To have a better understanding of the average cost of expenses in the UK, here’s a quick breakdown from Numbeo.
| Food (restaurant) | £12.00 |
| Accommodation (1 bedroom apartment) | £609– £748.36 |
| Transportation (1-way ticket) | £2.50 |
| Utilities | £154.25 |
| Internet | £31.16 |
Financial Assistance, Part-Time Jobs, and Discounts
Non-UK students are unlikely to get a student loan from the government, thus, they are encouraged to apply for other financial assistance instead. Financial assistance may come in the form of scholarships or grants for studying and living in the UK.
To apply for one, it is better for the student to check their institution of choice to check if they are eligible for one.
Another way to finance their study or stay in the UK is through part-time jobs. Generally, international students are only allowed 20 hours of work every week and full-time during the holidays. To lessen their expenses, students may avail themselves of discounts from different establishments, including restaurants and transportation, through a valid ID, UK student discount cards, or international discount cards.
Want to learn more tips and facts about UK Education? Browse through MSM Unify’s articles to know more. To start, check out our article on 8 Interesting Facts About the UK for Students.
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