The cost of living in a foreign country is one of the first things anyone would consider while looking to migrate. And if you are a student looking to study abroad, the expenses are of higher importance. Apart from the tuition fees, you will also have to pay for your visa, accommodation, food, clothing, entertainment, and more.
The United Kingdom has been among the top study destinations globally for decades. If you are among the students who aspire to study in the Queen's own country, figuring out and planning the expenses ahead of time is crucial. This, in turn, allows you to weigh your options and arrive at a practical and doable financial plan.
In this blog, we will be taking you through the various expenses and the average costs of being an international student in the UK. Read on to know more!
1. TUITION FEES
Graduating from recognized universities in the UK guarantees world-class education and global certifications alongside international career opportunities.
Tuition fees in the UK are reasonably priced based on various factors. The UK government and universities also offer scholarships and bursaries to encourage international students. Here is a table with the average tuition fees for different study levels.
| LEVEL OF STUDY | FEES RANGE |
| Bachelor's Degree |
£10,000 - £20,000 |
| Master's Program | £11,000 - £22,000 |
| Clinical Programs | £20,000 - £30,000 |
| AMBA accredited MBA | £20,000 - £30,000 |
| Masters by Research | £14,000 - £20,000 |
| Doctoral Programs | £15,000 - £20,000 |
Apart from these expenses you also have your English Language Programs, Pathway programs, and Pre-Master courses which vary in costs depending on the provider and test. |
2. ACCOMMODATION
Now, if you are going to be studying in the UK - you need a place to stay. Let's look at the rent and other expenses that you will incur.
There are so many wonderful cities to stay in and study in the UK. However, London being the capital of the UK is considerably more expensive than the other cities. Let's have a look:
| TYPE OF ACCOMMODATION | LONDON | OTHER CITIES |
| UNIVERSITY HOUSING | £727 | £515 |
| PRIVATE HOUSING | £848 | £505 |
In the case of private residences you also have to account for your utility bills that can cost 45£ a month in London when compared to 40£ in other cities.
If you chose to opt for a private residence you will have to pay local taxes and fees - apart from your rent and utilities. For instance, the council tax you need to pay to the government for collecting household wastes.
3. TRANSPORTATION
As a student, you are gonna travel to your university or explore the city on your day off - which brings us to the cost breakdown of transportation.
There are so many ways to travel in the UK, apart from your usual walking - you can also take the bus, the tube or hop on a bicycle and cruise through the streets. Here is a table of the average transportation costs across various cities in the UK:
| CITY | COST |
| London | £56 |
| Manchester | £47 |
| Birmingham | £45 |
| Liverpool | £45 |
| Leeds | £43 |
4. FOOD
The food in the UK is exquisite and it is only fair that it costs what it is worth.
If you are to choose university housing and catering, it would not just save you time and energy but would also be much cheaper.
However, if you decide to opt for a private residence you can run an average grocery bill of 120£ a month. If you would like to go out for a dinner, a restaurant bill can be about 20£ a person.
5. ENTERTAINMENT
As an international student, you are bound to make new friends. And it is only natural that you and your newfound friends would wanna go out for a movie or a concert. Which, we am sure makes you wonder how much it would cost. Well, allow me to answer that for you.
Movie tickets can cost about 10£ and concert tickets around 50£, which would be worth every penny when you consider all the fun you will be having.
We hope we answered all your questions about the expenses you can expect as an international student in the UK. If you would like to know more about studying in the United Kingdom, download our free study guide.
For further questions or guidance, get in touch with our guidance counselors by filling out the contact form and get expert counseling and assistance from migration agents for free.
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