UK · CHAPTER 7
The real costof studying in the UK.
International tuition typically runs from about £16,000 to £35,000 a year for taught master's and more for MBA, medicine and top universities. Add the £558 visa fee, the £776-a-year health surcharge and living costs of roughly £1,500–2,200 a month in London or £1,000–1,500 elsewhere.
Published by Althéa Consulting · Adviser: Harshita Kohli
Source review: · How to use our guides
- Visa fee
- £558
- Health surcharge (students)
- £776 / year
- Visa funds, London
- £1,529 / month
- Up to 9 months
- Visa funds, elsewhere
- £1,171 / month
- Up to 9 months
Tuition ranges
| Programme | Typical international fee / year |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's (arts, business) | £16,000–28,000 |
| Bachelor's (science, engineering) | £19,000–35,000 |
| Taught master's | £16,000–35,000 |
| MBA | £25,000–70,000+ |
| Medicine (clinical) | £40,000–70,000+ |
Monthly living costs
| Expense | London | Other cities |
|---|---|---|
| Rent (shared or halls) | £850–1,400 | £550–900 |
| Food | £250–350 | £200–300 |
| Transport | £100–180 | £40–80 |
| Phone, utilities, personal | £150–250 | £120–200 |
| Total | £1,500–2,200 | £1,000–1,500 |
One-time costs
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Student visa | £558 |
| Immigration health surcharge | £776 per year of visa |
| Tuition deposit | Often £2,000–6,000, set by the university |
| Accommodation deposit | Capped at 5 weeks' rent in England for most tenancies |
| TB test (India) | Required; paid at an approved clinic |
IN DEPTH · TAP A TOPIC TO OPEN
Full first-year budget
| Item | London | Outside London |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition (taught master's) | £18,000–38,000 | £16,000–28,000 |
| Visa fee | £558 | £558 |
| Health surcharge | £776 per year of visa | £776 per year of visa |
| Rent (51 weeks) | £9,000–16,000 | £6,000–10,000 |
| Food and essentials | £2,400–3,600 | £2,000–3,000 |
| Transport | £800–1,500 | £300–700 |
| Phone, laptop, books | £400–800 | £400–800 |
In rupees
At roughly ₹110–120 to the pound (check the current rate), a one-year master's outside London typically totals ₹30–45 lakh including tuition and living costs; in London, ₹40–60 lakh. Top business schools and MBAs cost more. Keep a 5–10% margin for exchange-rate movements.
Ways students cut costs
- Council Tax exemption for full-time students — ask your university for a certificate
- 16–25 Railcard or student travel cards for a third off rail fares
- Shared houses after the first year
- Cooking at home; Lidl, Aldi and Indian grocers are cheapest
- Student discounts with UNiDAYS and Student Beans
- Part-time work within visa rules
QUICK ANSWERS
Your questions, answered.
Plan for tuition of £16,000–35,000 a year for most master's, plus about £12,000–20,000 for a year's living costs depending on city, and visa and health-surcharge fees.
Full-time students are exempt. If everyone in your house is a full-time student, the household pays nothing; you need a student certificate from your university.
It is refunded if your visa is refused or you withdraw the application, but not if you leave the UK early after the visa is granted.
WHERE TO GO NEXT
Keep going: the pages that help next.
Each card says what you will find there. Looking for something else? See every page on the site.
UK GUIDE
Scholarships
Chevening, GREAT, Commonwealth and university scholarships for Indian students in the UK: what they cover, eligibility and deadlines.
UK GUIDE
Proof of funds & loans
UK Student visa maintenance funds, the 28-day rule, education loans from India and TCS on remittances explained for 2026–27.
UK GUIDE
Housing & student life
University halls, private student accommodation and shared houses in the UK: costs, deposits, Right to Rent checks and avoiding scams.
TOOL
Study abroad guide
Search every study-abroad answer by topic, plus a budget planner for your city.
FROM INDIA
Sending money abroad
Pay foreign university fees from India: LRS limit of USD 250,000, TCS from April 2026 (nil on loans, 2% above ₹10 lakh), Form A2, forex cards and TCS refunds.
TOOL
Compare countries
Compare countries on fees, living costs, visa rules and post-study work, in one table.
COMING SOON
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opens soon.
Althéa’s personal support for the UK is coming soon. Today we help students coming to study in France, and everyone already living in France.
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