When choosing where to study abroad for your under-grad or postgrad degree programme, young adults wonder what is the cost of studying in the UK ? The UK is the first choice for a lot of students. The United Kingdom has been considered one of the most popular destinations for international students for quite a while. If you desire to study in the UK, then read further to discover the cost of studying in the UK and how to manage the cost of studying in the UK.
The cost of living in studying in the UK is crucial for international students as it can get quite hefty while having a lot of requirements. Managing living costs could be a daunting task for new international students, so that’s why we have eased you into managing the best stay for you while studying in the UK.
First things first, all international students should start out by outlining what costs and essential costs they will have to bear during their study programme. This will give an idea of what their monthly budget will look like during the term. To give a proper structure to your monthly budget, start off with putting together all your costs and expenses. We have laid it all out for you in six groups.
Let’s take a look at each one of them and delve into what costs will be incurred by international students while studying in the UK.
1. Accommodation Costs in the UK
The costs of studying in the UK for international students does depend on the type of accommodation they go for and the city they will choose to pursue their studies. Major metropolitans like London, are much more costlier than smaller cities and towns in the UK.
Average accommodation costs in the UK:
Average Monthly Costs London Other Cities
University Residence £700-800 £500-550
Private Housing £800-900 £500-600
Utility Bills £45-50 £40-50
To manage the cost of studying in the UK, International students can figure their budget out by deciding whether they want to live in university dorms, residences or go for private rooms or shared apartments. Most UK universities do offer on-campus accommodation for international students in their first year. On-campus living is considered to be the most preferred and economic option for international students.
In addition, going for on-campus residency adds convenience for new students as their universities are typically not far away. This also allows students to save on transportation costs too (which is an extra expense). You will primarily be given the option to live with a roommate if you like, or there are options at certain universities where you can get a private room with an ensuite bathroom. Various universities include food and utility costs within the accommodation package. This option does save you time with prepared meals and money.
Students who can afford to live in their own place, or in private or shared apartments are best suited to fit their own individual needs. If you opt for shared private accommodation, it is also another option to manage the cost of studying in the UK. This can be very cost-effective compared to living by yourself. By renting a room or apartment with people that you know or met through university, it will save you a load of money and allow you to build your network of people.
International students should also consider council tax in their monthly expenses while looking at their costs of studying in the UK. Council Tax in the UK is the cost associated with waste management and maintenance in their borough or area. International students are to pay attention to council tax and tax expenses in your monthly expenditure. You can also request your local council to offer your discounted rates as a student that is not originally from the UK.
2. Food Costs in the UK
There are no extra food costs involved for international students who opt for on-campus accommodation or to a minimum. Those students who are going for private rentals have to bear the food-related expenses all by themselves. To better manage your food expenses, grocery cards like a clubcard in Tesco allow you to have discounts on your food shopping. We will advise international students to see what food providers are available in the area and perhaps get more insights into groceries, or food subscription boxes like Gusto.
Dining out on a regular basis is not a way to manage costs while studying in the UK. If possible, it is better to treat yourself once in a while. The best and most cost-effective option is to prepare food in advance. To give you an overview of what your average meal plan would cost, here is a list of staple grocery items with their average cost.
Item Quantity Price
Bread 1 pack £0.71
Milk 1.13 L £0.81
Chicken 300 g £1.57
Eggs 6 £1.51
Rice 1 kg £1.51
Cooking Oil 1 L £1.11
Water 1.5 L £0.81
3. Transport Costs in the UK
Transport costs are the second most important costs to consider. Transport cost also varies from different cities and the mode of transport that you require to use adds to the cost of studying in the UK. Walking and cycling is a way to go for transport, but this only applies to students that live on campus and are close to their university.
Buses and trains are the most common mode of transport for the majority of students. Public transport is affordable, and students are often given further discounts. A smart way to go about this is to put through your railcard application that offers discounts for trains. It will be best advised to avoid frequent use of taxis or Ubers as they tend to be more expensive and can mount up as an expense for international students. Using travel cards for the city is also something students should definitely take advantage of when managing their costs when studying in the UK.
Here is an overview of the average transport costs in each city:
City Average Monthly Transport Costs
London £55-60
Manchester £45-50
Birmingham £45-50
Liverpool £45-50
Leeds £40-45
4. Cost of Entertainment in the UK
International students need to include entertainment costs in their monthly expenses plan as it helps unwind and give you escapism from your studies. Wi-Fi (needed for your studies), Sim, and TV-related costs will also fall under the entertainment category. There are various discount offers and mobile service providers to choose from when doing international calls, so do some thorough research before investing in a SIM or mobile data plan. Here is a list below of the average costs of entertainment sources:
Connectivity Average Monthly Cost
Pre-paid SIM package £10-15
TV License £156-160
TV + Wi-Fi package £50-55
Call Costs £0.15-0.5
Netflix , Amazon Prime, etc £5-14
5. Miscellaneous Costs and Expenses
Even though some people do not consider it in their monthly budgets, for international students to manage costs while studying in the UK, miscellaneous expenses are important to add. There will always be some extra expenses apart from your essentials of food, accommodation and transport. A major chunk of these expenses will be related to new clothes, items in the house, toiletries, stationery for uni and other day-to-day expenditures. The costs mentioned below can give you a rough estimate of miscellaneous expenses during the month:
Miscellaneous Items One-off Cost
Clothes £30-35
Household Items £30-35
Toiletries £20-25
Stationery £20-25
Insurance £50-55
To Conclude…
The costs of studying in the UK and managing costs while studying in the UK is very important to factor in for international students. Your monthly budget will give you a clear picture of what to be expecting and where to draw a line if you go over budget.
Keep in mind your monthly plan for all costs and expenses to ensure that you steer away from getting yourself into any sorts of loans or potential liabilities.
If you are still struggling with managing the costs of studying in the UK, we will be able to assist you at Kampus Group for advice.
Student life in the UK for one student can be very different to other regions. Your student life experience in the UK depends on the university you attend, the region of your university, and what you do with the time you’re here. Student life can be really exciting and educational, and it’s absolutely what you make it out to be with the couple years you’ve got.