Cost of Studying in UK for Indian Students
- Last Updated on: February 13, 2026 by
- Sridhar Kongara
Total Cost of Studying in UK
Total Cost of Studying in UK for international students is around £11,400–£38,000 per year for undergraduate courses and about £9,000–£30,000 for postgraduate study, with laboratory, clinical, and premium professional courses often costing more. Living costs are primarily location-dependent, with typical monthly budgets of £1,300–£1,400 in London and £900–£1,300 outside London. On top of this, students usually pay a £524 Student visa fee and an Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) of £776 per year.
Overview
- Undergraduate and postgraduate fees differ, and lab/clinical based programs are generally more expensive than humanities/social sciences.
- Monthly budgets are typically higher in London than in the rest of the UK.
- Most students should budget for the visa application fee plus annual IHS.
- Part-time work can reduce living-cost pressure, but net take-home depends on Income Tax/NI thresholds. Separately, eligible full-time student households may reduce housing expenses through Council Tax exemption.
- Smart housing choices, student discounts, and budget habits are practical ways to lower monthly spend.
UK University Tuition fees for International Students
UK University Tuition fees for International Students depend on the university, course level, and subject area.
Course cost by study level
The table below summarizes common fee structures for international students by program type (UG, PGT, PGR, and premium programs). Use these values for budget modelling, then validate final fees on each university’s official course page for the target intake year.
| Program type | What it means | Course duration | How fees are usually charged | Indicative tuition / fee pattern (international) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate (UG) | Bachelor’s degree (BA/BSc/BEng etc.) | Usually 3 years (England/Wales/Northern Ireland) or 4 years (Scotland) | Annual tuition fee | £11,400–£38,000 per year. |
| Undergraduate (UG) with Placement | UG course with an additional work/study-abroad year (“sandwich year”) | Usually standard UG length + 1 year placement | Standard years at normal fee; placement year fee (varies by university) | Common placement-year fee will be a fixed percentage of annual tuition fee or fixed usually ranging from £950-£4500 |
| Postgraduate taught (PGT / Master’s) | Taught master’s (MSc/MA etc.) | 1 year full-time | Annual tuition fee | £9,000–£32,000 per year |
| Postgraduate taught (PGT / Master’s) with placement | Master’s with work experience/professional placement route | Often 2 years (taught + placement/work-experience period) | Standard years at normal fee; placement year fee (varies by university) | Common placement-year fee will be a fixed percentage of annual tuition fee or fixed usually ranging from £950-£4500 |
| Postgraduate Research (PGR) | PhD/DPhil/MPhil research degrees | Often 3–4 years full-time | Annual fee, often banded by research-cost intensity | £27,000-£41,500 per year. |
| Professional / Premium programs (MBA, specialist degrees) | Market-priced premium programs (MBA/EMBA etc.) | Typically 1 year to ~2 years (program-specific) | Often full-program fee | £60,000-£123,950 |
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Course cost by subject level
Tuition fees typically rise with teaching-resource intensity: classroom-based programs are usually lower-cost, lab/studio programs are mid-to-high, and clinical/professional health programs are highest due to specialized facilities and supervision.
| Band | Cost Type | Typical Courses | Tuition Fee Range (£/year) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Band A | Classroom-based (usually lowest) | History, Politics, Law, English, many Social Sciences | £16,460–£29,052 |
| Band B | Quantitative / mixed-resource (low–mid to mid) | Mathematics, some Computing/Economics tracks | £22,000-£32,406 |
| Band C | Laboratory / studio / fieldwork (mid–high) | Engineering, Computer Science, Natural Sciences, Psychology, Geography, studio-heavy Design/Creative | £17,670–£44,214 |
| Band D | Clinical / professional health (highest) | Medicine, Dentistry, Veterinary Science | £55,050–£70,554 |
Living Expenses in UK for International Students
An international student in the UK usually spends money in the following categories, in addition to tuition fees
Living Expenses Outside London
The table estimates core monthly costs for international students outside London, categorized by accommodation type (bills-included halls vs private rent with separate utilities).
| Expense Category | Typical Monthly Cost (£) | Typical Monthly Cost (₹, approx.) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation (Student halls, bills included) | 664 | ₹82,143 | Utilities are typically included in this option. |
| Accommodation (Private room, bills extra) | 554 | ₹68,535 | Utilities are usually paid separately. |
| Household Bills & Utilities | 80 | ₹9,897 | Applicable mainly when bills are not included in rent. |
| Food & Groceries | 116 | ₹14,350 | Includes supermarket shopping and occasional eating out. |
| Local Transport | 54 | ₹6,680 | Daily commuting by bus/train/metro. |
| Phone & Mobile Connectivity | 18 | ₹2,227 | Typical SIM/mobile plan cost. |
| Study & Personal Expenses | Varies | Varies | Books, stationery, clothes, personal care, social activities. |
Living Expenses Inside London
This table uses the same spending categories as the outside-London model so students can directly compare location-driven cost differences.
| Expense Category | Typical Monthly Cost (£) | Typical Monthly Cost (₹, approx.) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation (Student halls, bills included) | 848 | ₹1,04,906 | Utilities are typically included in this option. |
| Accommodation (Private room, bills extra) | 750 | ₹92,782 | Utilities are usually paid separately. |
| Household Bills & Utilities | 140 | ₹17,319 | Applicable mainly when bills are not included in rent. |
| Food & Groceries | 155 | ₹19,175 | Includes supermarket shopping and occasional eating out. |
| Local Transport | 103 | ₹12,742 | Daily commuting by bus/train/metro. |
| Phone & Mobile Connectivity | 18 | ₹2,227 | Typical SIM/mobile plan cost. |
| Study & Personal Expenses | Varies | Varies | Books, stationery, clothes, personal care, social activities. |
UK Student visa costs
UK visa costs for international students are as follows:
- For visas up to 12 months: £524 + £776 = £1,300
- Up to 18 months: £524 + £1,164 = £1,688
- More than 18 months to 2 years: £524 + £1,552 = £2,076
Apply the visa/IHS tier based on total visa validity granted for your route (not only the teaching period). This prevents underestimating IHS when course timelines extend beyond one year.
Mandatory Visa fees (paid during application)
The following charges are paid directly to UKVI during application processing.
| Cost item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Student visa application fee (outside UK) | £524 |
| Student visa extension/switch fee (inside UK) | £524 |
| Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) for students | £776 per year |
The £524 fee applies per person (main applicant and each dependant).
IHS for students/dependants is £776/year, and part-year rules apply (for example, +half-year for up to 18 months).
Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS)
The UK charges IHS based on visa length, not just course length. IHS for students are charged £776 per year.
- Up to 1 year: 1 full year IHS
- >1 year to 18 months: 1.5 years IHS
- >18 months to <2 years: 2 full years IHS
Optional premium/fast-track services
If available in the applicant’s location, these are additional:
- Priority service (non-settlement): £500
- Super priority service: £1,000
- User Pays Visa Application service: £76.50
Other possible costs (case-dependent)
These are not always applicable:
- TB test: required for some applicants depending on country of residence and stay length.
- Example (India): approved clinics currently list fees around INR 2,000–3,000 depending on clinic/city.
- Document translation/certification: if documents are not in English/Welsh, certified translations are required.
Financial requirement (not a fee, but funds must be shown)
UKVI also requires proof of money for tuition/living (this is not paid to UKVI as a visa charge):
- Living funds for students: £1,171/month outside London or £1,529/month in London (up to 9 months). These maintenance figures are UKVI minimum proof-of-funds thresholds for visa compliance; they are not guaranteed real-world monthly budgets. Students should separately model actual spending based on rent contracts and local prices.
- Plus, remaining course fees (as shown on CAS)
- Additional dependant maintenance amounts apply
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Strategies to minimize living expenses in UK
Optimise housing first
Accommodation is usually the largest monthly expense, so housing decisions have the biggest impact on total cost of study.
- Choose city/area based on total monthly cost, not just rent. A slightly higher rent with included utilities can be cheaper than low rent plus separate bills and transport.
- Prefer contracts that clearly state what is included (gas/electric/water/broadband).
If utilities are included, they must be written into the tenancy terms, and charges should reflect actual costs (no profit on utility resale). - Protect the deposit and recover it fully at move-out, deposits are commonly around one month’s rent (often more in London).
Cut transport costs
- Use Railcards correctly.
- 16–25 Railcard: also available to full-time mature students over 25 (with eligibility proof).
- 26–30 Railcard: available up to age 30.
Railcards commonly provide substantial discounts (often around one-third on eligible fares), but savings depend on fare type, route, and time restrictions.
- If in London, get the 18+ Student Oyster photocard.
It gives 30% off Travelcards and Bus & Tram Passes, adding an eligible Railcard can also reduce off-peak pay-as-you-go/caps. - Use split-ticketing and advance-booking approaches for intercity journeys.
Lower grocery and daily living costs through three tactics:
Meal planning and disciplined grocery shopping: Plan weekly meals, shop with a list, prioritize own-brand products, and use markdown sections near store closing times.
Controlled bulk buying: Buy in bulk only for items with predictable consumption to avoid waste.
Second-hand purchasing for non-food essentials: Source kitchenware, small appliances, and household items through verified resale channels.”
FAQS
What is the total cost of studying in UK from India?
For an Indian student, a practical first-year estimate is roughly £21,100 to £56,100, depending on course level, university, and whether the student lives in or outside London. This combines typical tuition ranges, monthly living costs, and mandatory visa charges (£524 Student visa fee + £776/year IHS).
How much is tuition fees for international students in the UK?
Typical tuition is about £11,400–£38,000/year (undergraduate) and £9,000–£30,000/year (postgraduate).
How much does student accommodation cost in the UK?
Typical monthly accommodation costs are:
- Student halls (bills included): £848 (London), £664 (rest of UK)
- Private room (without bills): £750 (London), £554 (rest of UK)
Are international students allowed to work part-time in the UK?
Yes, if your student visa allows work. During term time, the limit is usually 20 hours/week (depending on visa conditions), and full-time work is generally allowed outside term time.
Do tuition fees vary depending on the course or university in the UK?
Yes. Fees vary by study level, subject, and institution/location; for example, humanities/social sciences are often lower, while laboratory/clinical courses are usually higher.
