Costs of Living in the UK
How much should an international student expect to spend on living expenses in the UK? Well first it is difficult to stipulate a fixed amount for your expenses, as it will all depend on your lifestyle and needs. The cost of living in the UK can vary subject on what part of the country that you are studying and what life style you have.
London lovers will be paying more than you would in other parts of the country. It’s also more economical to live in the northern part of England than in the south. In general, the costs vary greatly over the whole United Kingdom, which makes it difficult to set a cost of living in stone.
Here are some average costs for a student in higher education to give you an idea and help you plan your budget.
Tuition Fees
Students who do not meet the resident requirement and have not been a resident in the UK for three years do not qualify for Home Fees and therefore is considered an International student.
International undergraduate tuition fees vary considerably, starting at around £10,000 and going up to £35,000 or more for medical degrees. Remember that most UK universities offer shorter programs compared to countries such as the US and your education here will actually cost less than other countries.
There are many options of scholarships, bursaries and partial fee waivers at UK universities, they are normally highly competitive and most, though not all, are aimed at postgraduate level students. Ask your British Uni advisor for more details.
Accommodation
The cost of student accommodation can vary greatly depending on the type of accommodation you choose and the location. According to the NUS/Unipol Accommodation Costs Survey London has the highest average weekly rent of £157.48 per week and the cheapest rooms are in Northern Ireland for £83.01 per week. It’s important to look at the length of the contract, whether utility and internet bills are included and if there are travel costs between halls and campus.
Read more about Student Accommodation in the UK.
Travel Costs
If you chose to live from University you will need to include travel expenses in your budget. All the cities in the UK offer some great discounts for students which makes the public transport an affordable option, in London student can save 30% on London travelcards and Oyster. A monthly pass for most services around UK cost averages £55.
Food & Drink
British shops and supermarkets stock a very wide range of products and it’s easy to suit your budget without any trouble. In the UK you will be able to find food imported from other countries and food meeting religious requirements such as halal and kosher.
Food and drink can cost an average of £1,900 a year, but you can reduce the cost of grocery shopping by buying fresh food, planning your meals, sharing food with your housemates and shopping at budget supermarkets.
