Opting to study in the UK is probably the best possible opportunity you are giving yourself. The flexible academic structure, the international recognition and the diverse student body from all around the world give you a dynamic chance to share your background and discover new thoughts and perspectives. In nutshell studying in the UK gives an edge to your resume and helps you grow as a competent individual in all aspects.
Tuition Fees in the UK
There are two types of fees charged by universities in the UK. One is for the UK/EU students which are home student fees and the other one is for the non-UK/EU students which is the international student fees.
- Fees for UK/EU students: for home students, this fee charged by the UK institutions can go up to a maximum limit of 9250 Pounds for undergraduate degree programs. Though it varies according to the university and the subject. Home students are also privileged to get a scholarship or funding either from the university or the research council or via a career sponsorship scheme.
- Fees for NON-UK/EU students: For international students, the fees for the courses under graduation usually start from 10000 Pounds for lecture-based courses and for certain specific courses in medicine and engineering, it can go up to 38000 pounds. For post-graduate programs, the course fee varies somewhat between 11000 to 32000 pounds depending on the lecture or laboratory-based
Below is the list of a few of the top affordable universities in the UK with an approximate annual fee structure:
| Affordable Universities | Annual International tuition fees (in UK Pounds) |
| Leeds Becket University | 9700 |
| University in Bedfordshire | 9750 |
| University of Wales, Trinity, Saint David | 10200 |
| Wrexham Glyndwr University | 10500 |
| York St. John University | 10000 |
Apart from the above, here is another list of the topmost universities in the UK with their respective latest fee structure:
| Top Universities | Annual International tuition fees (in UK Pounds) |
| University of Cambridge | 21,411-29,769 |
| University of Oxford | 9,391-30,540 |
| University College London (UCL) | 17,710-24,610 |
| Imperial College, London | 27750-29750 |
| University of St. Andrews | 9000-17,890 |
Scholarship and Funding: A large scale of scholarships are offered by the Government, individual universities, independent organizations and many charitable organizations. The official websites for academics of the UK government provide the details of scholarships available from the British Council and other organizations. If you are applying to one of your desired universities in the UK, it is always advisable to go through the overview of the support system and scholarships available in your own country. The only difficulty with UK scholarship programs is the fact that they are more widely available for master’s programs compared to undergraduate courses. However, it is always worth going through the official website of your chosen university as there might be a chance for the undergraduate students to have exceptional quality.
Here is a list of a few of the government-funded and non-governmental scholarships available for international students
- British Chevening Scholarships
- Commonwealth scholarships
- Commonwealth shared scholarship scheme at UK Universities
- Marshall Scholarships
- Euraxess UK
- Castle Smart Scholarship
Cost of living in the UK
Student Accommodation in the UK:
It is a tradition for international students to live in the university hall residence during the first year of their coursework. Many universities offer hall residences both with and without catering services. For catering services, the fee is included in the rent they charge. The students often shift in rented apartments in a group or single-handedly in the latter years of their coursework. University residence halls or shared accommodations are definitely more affordable.
According to one of the surveys done by the National Student Accommodation Survey 2017, students pay about 125 pounds per week on average for housing rent. It is notable, however, the cost of living in London is much high than in the rest of the UK. The house rent paid by a student in London costs about 185 to 190 Pounds per week. Another 70 to 80 pounds per month must be included for paying the bills for internet and other utilities.
UK Food Cost
On average you need to pay 30 pounds for food for a week. Once in a while, you may go to a pub or restaurant or indulge yourself in a night out with a group of friends. A single meal would cost you about 12 to 15 pounds whereas a night out can be as expensive as 30 pounds, that too outside London.
Transportation costs in the UK
If you are living at a distance from your university, you may include your transport cost between 10 to 15 pounds per week. Books and other course materials: Since tuition fees don’t include the books and other course material depending on lectured-based or laboratory-based course work, you are expected to spend about 30 pounds per month on this essential equipment. Apart from all the above expenditures, mobile and clothing are necessary on a regular basis. The mobile phone bill is likely to be 15 pounds monthly on average. Besides, the expenditure clothing and other little requirements might cost you around 35 to 55 pounds in a month.