UK Study Costs Calculator
Going to university is a significant investment, requiring years of paying tuition fees, accommodation, and living expenses. Rightfully, many families wonder how much money to set aside for their child’s education, especially if their child studying in the UK from abroad and unfamiliar with UK living costs. Below is a calculator to estimate the cost of studying in the UK, taking into account tuition and living expenses. To calculate your estimate, simply input the details of your study arrangements.
Estimate your total investment for studying at a UK university
University Costs Calculator
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Important: These are estimates based on current data. Actual costs vary by university, lifestyle, and personal circumstances. For a more accurate estimate on tuition costs, international applicants are advised to check the fees for your specific course and university.
How to Use This Calculator
This calculator estimates the total cost of a full degree at a British university using the following details:
Status: Are you a home or international student? Tuition fees for home students are capped at £9,535 for standard full-time courses, while the same course could cost thousands more for international applicants.
Programme level: Are you looking to study at undergraduate or postgraduate level?
Programme duration: Most UK undergraduate degrees take three years, though medicine, integrated masters, and some Scottish degrees are longer. This significantly affects total cost.
Subject area: What type of subject are you looking to study? Some subjects are more expensive than others.
Study location: London and other large cities have higher living costs than small university towns.
Accommodation type: Private rented accommodation is typically more expensive than university halls.
Display currency: View your estimated costs in your preferred currency.
What Drives Differences in Cost?
Study Location
Where you study has a significant impact on your overall costs, particularly living expenses. London is the most expensive city in the UK for students, with average monthly living costs running £300 to £500 higher than most other university cities. Cities like Manchester, Edinburgh, and Bristol sit in the middle range, while smaller university towns such as Durham, St Andrews, and Canterbury tend to be the most affordable. Notably, Oxford and Cambridge fall somewhere between: college accommodation is heavily subsidised, which partially offsets the higher cost of living in those cities.
| Expense | London | Manchester | Durham | Oxford | Cambridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University halls | £900–£1,100 | £460–£910 | £635–£730 | £790–£990 | £700–£950 |
| Private rent (single room, shared) | £1,200–£1,500 | £440–£800 | £315–£500 | £700–£1,000 | £600–£900 |
| Monthly groceries | £150–£200 | £150–£250 | £145–£171 | £150–£200 | £150–£200 |
| Monthly transport | £100–£150 | £60–£83 | £20–£40 | — * | — * |
| Meal out (mid-range) | £15–£25 | £12–£20 | £10–£15 | £12–£20 | £12–£20 |
* Most Oxford and Cambridge students walk or cycle. Durham students primarily walk but may use buses occasionally due to the city's hilly terrain, at a discounted rate of £1.50 per journey.
Subject Area
Not all degrees cost the same. For international students, tuition fees vary significantly depending on the subject. Humanities, social sciences, and law tend to sit at the lower end, typically £15,000 to £25,000 per year. STEM subjects, engineering, and business degrees are generally higher, while medicine and veterinary science sit at the top of the range. International students at some universities pay upwards of £50,000 per year for a medical degree. This variation reflects the cost to universities of delivering laboratory-based and clinically supervised teaching.
Degree Level
Undergraduate degrees in the UK typically last three years, making them shorter and therefore cheaper in total than equivalent programmes in the United States, Australia, or Canada. Postgraduate taught degrees (Master's) usually last one year, while research degrees (PhDs) typically run three to four years. The level you study at affects not only annual tuition but the total number of years you will be paying fees and living costs.
Accommodation Type
Your choice of accommodation is one of the most controllable cost variables. University halls of residence are typically the most affordable option and are usually guaranteed for first-year students. Private student accommodation tends to cost more but often includes bills. Renting privately in the open market is generally the most expensive option, though sharing with other students can bring costs down considerably. At Oxford and Cambridge specifically, students are typically housed in college accommodation throughout their degree, which is subsidised and often better value than the private market.
Additional Costs for International Students
International students face additional costs beyond tuition, accommodation, and living expenses. These include:
Visa and Immigration: The UK student visa costs £524. Applicants must also pay the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) upfront for the full duration of their course. At £776 per year, this amounts to £2,716 for a standard three-year undergraduate degree, since UKVI adds four months to the visa beyond the course end date. From January 2025, physical Biometric Residence Permits have been replaced by an eVisa, accessed through a UKVI account.
Travel: International flights home two to three times per year, plus UK domestic travel for interviews and university visits.
Course Materials: Textbooks and supplies typically cost £150 to £300 per year, varying by subject.
Initial Setup: Winter clothing, kitchen equipment, bedding, a UK SIM card, and opening a UK bank account. These one-off costs add up quickly in the first year.
Other Expenses: Contents insurance, document translations, society memberships, and formal dinners.
Budget an additional £2,000 to £3,000 for your first year to cover setup costs, and approximately £1,000 to £1,500 per year thereafter.
Conclusion
Choosing where to study in the UK is a major financial decision, and for international families, it is often one made from a distance, with limited familiarity with the UK system and its true costs. Understanding the full picture early allows families to plan and budget with confidence, avoiding the surprises that catch so many unprepared in their first year.
While costs are important, they are only one dimension of the decision. Course quality, academic fit, teaching style, college culture, career outcomes and long-term return on investment all matter enormously. A degree from Oxford or Cambridge, for instance, carries a professional and personal value that extends far beyond the tuition invoice. Equally important is finding the right fit between a student and their institution, subject, and learning environment.
At First Class Education, our team of Cambridge and Oxford graduates has guided families from Singapore, Hong Kong, the UAE and beyond through every stage of this journey, from shortlisting universities and courses to securing offers at Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial and beyond. If you would like to explore how we can support your journey, we would love to hear from you.
Frequently Asked Questions
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For British citizens, the UK government has set the annual tuition fee at £9,535 regardless of university or course. For international students, annual tuition fee varies by institution and course ranging from approximately £12,000 for humanities/social sciences courses to £67,000 per year for medical degrees.
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Yes, tuition fees at Oxford and Cambridge are generally at the higher end of the UK range for international students, particularly for science, engineering and medical courses.
However, living costs in London can be very expensive, and should be factored into consideration when applying for universities such as UCL, LSE, KCL.
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Science and medicine degrees require laboratory facilities, equipment, smaller teaching groups, clinical placements (for medicine, veterinary medicine and dentistry) and highly specialised academic staff.
Medicine is particularly expensive due to the extensive hospital training and clinical supervision. Humanities courses normally require lectures, seminars and independent reading, which are less resource-intensive to deliver, and this is reflected in the cost. -
For international students, tuition fees are usually fixed for the duration of your course once you enrol. However, this depends on the university.
Some institutions include clauses allowing small annual increases linked to inflation. It’s important to check the specific fee policy in your offer letter before accepting.
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Yes. Most UK undergraduate degrees are three years (except medicine, which is typically five to six years).
This shorter duration can significantly reduce overall costs compared to countries like the US, where degrees are typically four years. Even if annual tuition is high, the total cost may still be lower because you are paying for one fewer year.
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International students on a student visa can work up to 20 hours per week during term time.
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The Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) is a mandatory fee paid as part of your UK Student visa application. It allows students to access the UK’s National Health Service (NHS).
The current rate is £776 per year of your visa.
For a three-year undergraduate degree, this typically adds over £2,000 to visa-related costs.
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To obtain a UK Student visa, you must show evidence that you can cover:
Your first year’s tuition fees
Living costs (set at a fixed monthly amount depending on location)
Funds must usually be held in a bank account for at least 28 consecutive days before applying. The financial documentation requirements are strict, so families should prepare carefully to avoid delays or rejections.
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Yes, but there are very few and they are highly competitive. In addition, funding is often partial rather than full, and some scholarships are tied to specific nationalities and subjects.
Some examples include:
Cambridge Trust Scholarships
Gates Cambridge Scholarship
Rhodes Scholarship (Oxford)
Clarendon Scholarship (Oxford)
College-specific awards
External scholarships such as the Jardine Foundation or Loke Cheng Kim Foundation