A number of students from across the globe enroll at UK universities with the hopes of pursuing the career of their dreams. The UK is home to the world’s leading institutions offering extensive specializations and vibrant cities like London, Birmingham, Glasgow, and Edinburgh. However, the cost of studying and living for international students in the UK is expensive, but the courses are of shorter duration, and that mitigates the expenses when compared with the other countries. The UK’s cost of studying depends on the university and degree. Tuition costs of institutions have been growing gradually over the years. While humanities and social sciences degrees are less expensive in the UK, clinical degrees and laboratory studies are more expensive.
Let’s dive deeper into the expenses of education in the UK.
Cost of Studying in the UK: An Overview
An ultimate study destination, the UK attracts many international students due to its academic excellence, student life, quality of education, and exceptional job opportunities. Compared to the US and other countries, UK institutions offer shorter programs. A typical undergraduate degree program spans over three years, and a Master’s program duration is one year. The UK’s cost of studying at private and public universities varies between INR 3,89,112 to INR 27,23,693 annually. A number of fees and charges are incurred while studying in the UK. It is, therefore, crucial to plan the expenditure smartly. The cost of studying can be categorized into three parts:
Cost of Education
Living Expenses
Other Expenses
Cost of Education in the UK: Tuition Fees
One of the most significant and primary expenditures for an international student in the UK is tuition fees. The fees will likely vary from university to university, location, and the selected course. For an international student, the tuition fees for medical degrees and MBAs in the UK are higher when compared with the tuition fees for other programs such as humanities and social science.
The average tuition fee in the UK for different levels of degrees are as follows:
Type of Degree
Average Annual Fee (in INR)
Bachelors
INR 9,30,890 – INR 35,37,384
Masters
INR 10,23,979 – INR 27,92,672
PhD
Up to INR 16,75,603
The cost of a program in the UK varies from one university to another. Let’s quickly overview the average tuition fees at some of the top UK universities.
Institution
Average Annual Tuition Fees (in INR)
University of Oxford
INR 16,75,603 – INR 37,23,562
University of Cambridge
INR 14,89,425 – INR 46,54,453
Imperial College London
INR 14,89,425 – INR 33,51,206
University College London
INR 23,27,226 – INR 31,65,028
London School of Economics and Political Science
INR 14,89,425 – INR 27,92,672
Program
Average Annual Tuition Fees (in INR)
Business Analytics
INR 16,64,919 – INR 27,28,617
Data Science
INR 17,57,414 – INR 36,99,820
Computer Science
INR 18,49,910 – INR 39,77,306
MBA
INR 36,99,820 – INR 92,49,550
MBBS
INR 20,34,901 – INR 48,09,766
Pre-application Expenditure
The first important step is to appear for the qualifying examinations to study master’s in the UK. STEM courses require GMAT or GRE exam scores. All courses also require an English language proficiency score.
Students applying for their application in the UK are required to pay registration fees for the selected university. The applicant is expected to apply via the UCAS application website for their undergraduate program, whereas for the master’s or Ph.D. programs, they are required to apply directly via the university’s website. The student is required to pay INR 1861 – INR 8378 to apply to various UK universities. Students are often eligible for application fee waivers. The application expenditure depends on the number of courses and universities that the student is applying to.
Student Visa & Health Surcharge
The cost of a student’s visa depends on the type of visa they are applying for. The student has to pay an average of INR 32395 for the student visa. For students opting for NHS, an additional INR 43751 will be paid.
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Along with the above-mentioned expenses, students have to bear additional expenses with their multiple copies of documents or test scores.
Flight Tickets
It is advisable to book the flight tickets right after the visa is approved. Flight tickets may vary depending on the city, destination, or airline. For Indian students, a single-way airline fare for an economy class can go up from INR 27,887 to INR 31,794 or even more. A return ticket costs somewhere around INR 61,047 to INR 83,141 or more.
The post-arrival cost in the UK involves your tuition fees, cost of living, rent, housing, and other miscellaneous expenses.
Cost of Attendance
The cost of living in the UK depends solely on lifestyle choices. Many factors are considered to determine the cost of living, including accommodation, transport, food, and other miscellaneous expenses.
How much does it precisely cost to study in the UK? Every student has faced this question at every step of their study abroad journey. After considering all the expenses – per and post-arrival – the total cost an Indian student will have to bear ranges between INR 24,47,103 to INR 55,01,188 for studying in the UK. While this is just a rough estimate, the coat is likely to vary depending on a number of factors.
Let’s have a quick view at the total cost of studying in the UK:
Factors
Average Cost in Rupees
Healthcare
INR 46,900
University Tuition Fees
INR 9,99,467 to INR 37,97,976/ year
Living Expenses
INR 13,19,297 – INR 15,59,169/ year
Other Expenses
INR 49,973
In Conclusion
To sum it all up, pursuing a master’s program in the UK can be pretty expensive. There are multiple costs that must be considered, along with scholarships and part-time jobs in the UK. The overall study abroad experience is one that should not be missed, as it is an excellent destination in terms of academics and job opportunities. Rest assured, the study experience is likely to offer a high return on your investment after the completion of your program in the United Kingdom.
Now that you are aware of the multiple facets of the cost of studying in the UK, it is time to get started on procuring your loans to meet all the expenses. Get ready to make your study abroad dream a success!
Akansha Pandey
Akansha Pandey is a journalism graduate who is passionate about helping students achieve their academic, professional, and personal goals. She handles digital marketing and supports the process of guiding students to get admitted into their dream universities.
