How much does it cost to study in the UK as an international student?
There is no single national price. Your total is the university’s tuition fee for your course and fee status, plus living costs in your city and the one-off costs of moving, including the visa application fee and health surcharge.
Budget for the whole course, not just the first year. Tuition, rent and travel can change in later years, and a placement or study-abroad year may be charged differently.
| Cost | What to check | Where to verify |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition | The fee for your exact course, intake and fee status, and any yearly increases | The university’s programme and fees pages |
| Accommodation | Rent for the full contract, the deposit and which bills are included | The university or landlord contract |
| Everyday living | Food, phone, local transport, course materials and personal spending | Local prices for your city |
| Student visa application | £558 from outside the UK, or to extend (checked 25 September 2026) | GOV.UK Student visa pages |
| Immigration health surcharge | £776 per year for students (checked 25 September 2026) | GOV.UK health surcharge page |
| Travel and setting up | Flights, first-month costs, bedding, warm clothing and a laptop | Your own quotes |
How are international tuition fees set?
Each university sets its own fees for international students, and they can differ by course, level and year of entry. Always use the fee for your exact intake, not an earlier year’s figure.
Get the answers in writing. A fee on any third-party site, including CourseToJob, should be checked against the university’s own page.
- What is the fee for my course and intake, and for which fee status?
- Will the fee rise in later years, and on what basis?
- How are placement years, study-abroad years or repeated years charged?
- How much is the deposit, when is it due, and when is it refundable?
- Can I pay in instalments, and is there a discount for paying early?
- Which costs are not included, such as field trips, materials or equipment?
Will I pay home or international fees in the UK?
Your university decides your fee status, using the fee rules for the UK nation where you study. Nationality alone does not settle it: your immigration status and where you have lived can both matter.
England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland each have their own rules, so the same person can be assessed differently depending on where they study. The university may ask you for information and documents before it decides.
If you think you might qualify for home fees, raise it before you accept an offer, and ask the university how to request a review if you disagree. UKCISA publishes detailed fee status guidance for each UK nation and runs an advice line for students.
How much money do I need to show for a UK Student visa?
Unless you are exempt, you must show your course fees for one academic year plus £1,529 a month for living costs in London or £1,171 a month elsewhere, for up to 9 months. You must hold the money for at least 28 days in a row (GOV.UK, checked 25 September 2026).
The 28-day period must end within 31 days of the date you apply. You do not need to prove you have this money if you have been in the UK with a valid visa for at least 12 months on the date you apply. If you have a student loan or financial sponsorship, you need evidence from the lender or sponsor, and family members need extra funds.
This is a visa evidence rule, not a realistic budget. Your actual costs can be higher, especially if your accommodation contract runs for longer than 9 months.
| Where you study | Per month | For 9 months |
|---|---|---|
| London | £1,529 | £13,761 |
| Outside London | £1,171 | £10,539 |
What should I include in a UK living-cost budget?
Base your budget on real prices for your city and the full length of your accommodation contract. Include one-off costs and an emergency fund, not just rent and food.
If you are still choosing, compare two or three cities. Rent can vary widely between UK cities and can change your total more than a small difference in tuition.
- Rent for every week of the contract, including any summer weeks
- The accommodation deposit and any rent paid in advance
- Energy, water and internet, if they are not included in rent
- Food, toiletries and household items
- A phone contract or SIM
- Local transport, and travel to placements if your course has them
- Books, software, equipment and printing
- A laptop, bedding, kitchen items and warm clothing
- Flights home, and visa or document costs later in the course
- An emergency fund you can reach quickly
What scholarships are available for international students in the UK?
Funding usually comes from three places: the university’s own scholarships, government-funded schemes (mainly for postgraduate study) and funders in your home country. The British Council’s Study UK site has a scholarships and funding section to start your search.
Chevening Scholarships fund one-year master’s degrees in the UK and are supported by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and partner organisations (Chevening, checked 25 September 2026). Commonwealth Master’s Scholarships are for candidates from eligible lower and upper middle income Commonwealth countries to take full-time taught master’s study at a UK university, and there are also Commonwealth PhD Scholarships (Commonwealth Scholarship Commission, checked 25 September 2026). Both are for postgraduate study.
For an undergraduate degree, start with each university’s scholarships page and any funding from your government or employer. University awards vary: some reduce tuition, some are paid as cash, and some are automatic while others need a separate application.
- Eligible nationalities, study level, subjects and intake
- Whether you need an offer before you can apply
- The deadline, which may be earlier than the course deadline
- The value, what it covers and how it is paid
- Whether it renews each year, and what results you need to keep it
- Any obligations during or after your course
Can I work part-time to pay for my studies in the UK?
You may be able to work, but Student visa conditions limit it. UKCISA’s guidance describes up to 20 hours a week in term time for degree-level study and 10 hours below degree level (UKCISA, checked 25 September 2026); your exact conditions are in your immigration permission.
Do not count on part-time earnings to pay tuition or to meet the visa money rules. Jobs are not guaranteed, hours can be irregular, and your course comes first. Treat any earnings as help with day-to-day spending.
Can graduate salary data tell me if studying in the UK is worth the cost?
Only partly. Official UK earnings data describes past UK-domiciled graduates, so it is not a forecast for international students and says nothing about visas or pay in your home country.
For context, the Department for Education’s LEO data for the 2023–24 tax year shows median earnings of £26,400 one year after graduating and £33,700 after five years for all first-degree graduates of GB higher education institutions. Differences between subjects are large. Use the figures to compare subjects, not to work out how quickly you could recover your costs.
Frequently asked questions
Do all UK universities charge international students the same tuition fee?
No. Each university sets its own international fees, and they vary by course, level and year of entry. Check the fee for your exact course and intake on the university’s own website, and ask whether it can rise in later years.
Is the Student visa maintenance amount enough to live on?
Not necessarily. The £1,529 a month in London or £1,171 a month elsewhere, for up to 9 months, is the evidence GOV.UK requires for the visa (checked 25 September 2026). Your real costs depend on your city, rent contract and lifestyle, and can be higher.
Do international students pay the immigration health surcharge?
Most people applying for a visa pay it as part of their online application. GOV.UK lists £776 per year for students and their dependants (checked 25 September 2026). Check the current amount before you apply.
Can international students get UK student loans?
GOV.UK student finance for undergraduates from England has nationality, immigration status and residence conditions. For UK nationals and people with settled status, these include living in the UK, Channel Islands or Isle of Man for 3 years before the first academic year of the course (GOV.UK, checked 25 September 2026). Use the official student finance checker for your situation.
Are Chevening and Commonwealth Scholarships for undergraduates?
No. Chevening Scholarships fund one-year master’s degrees, and Commonwealth Scholarships fund master’s and PhD study for candidates from eligible Commonwealth countries. For undergraduate funding, start with each university’s scholarships and funders in your home country.
Does CourseToJob decide my fee status or award scholarships?
No. CourseToJob is independent. Your university decides your fee status, and each scholarship provider decides its own awards.