How much does it cost to go to university
How much does it cost to go to university
Most students find themselves on a tight budget, so having the skills to set a realistic budget and stick to it is vital.
In this blog we cover the main things you should include in your budget whether you are a home or international student.
University costs
The most obvious (and substantial) costs to get your head around first are the fees and expenses attached to your course. Your tuition fees, paid to your university, will likely be your biggest expense and if you are international student, you will be paying double what a home student pays for the same degree, so do your research to find out how much your degree is going to costs you.
For a home student the cost of going to university is subsidised and the cost per year of your course is £9,250 in England and Scotland, £9,000 in Wales. And £4,710 for Northern Irish students, or £9,250 for other UK students that study in Northern Ireland.
For international students on average a non-medical undergraduate degree in the UK can cost between £10,000 and £20,000 per year.
Living expenses
Without a doubt this can be your second biggest cost, and depending on which city you study the expense and availability might stress you out. For example, in London you can easily be paying upwards of £300 per week and there is a shortage of student accommodation.
If you are on a very tight budget, it is worth thoroughly researching which cities you can afford to live in and find a degree course at university in that area. Overall, the North of England is much cheaper than the South of England.
Furthermore, look at all your options which include living in student halls, which are typically on or near the university and sometimes include catering. This means you can save money on travel and eating at the canteen might be cheaper than buying your own food.
Then there is purpose-built student accommodation, which often has loads of cool amenities but can be a little pricey, but the advantage is that they are often located near universities, helping you save on travel, and your rent includes all your bills, including Wi-Fi.
And finally, you can choose to rent a room within a house or flat which can often be the most budget friendly option, but the downside is that you’ll need to pay bills on top and usage of gas and electricity isn’t just what you use but what the overall bill is for the property.
Bills
If you’re living in halls, most of your bills – water and electricity, for instance – will be included in your rent, so you don’t have to worry about them. But even so, you’ll still have regular outgoings for things like your mobile phone and bank account fees.
If you’re in private accommodation, it might be up to you to set up and pay for your household bills like Wi-Fi, water, gas, and electricity,
Travel
If you’re in a large city, you’re likely to need to budget more for trains, busses, and trams than if you were in a smaller town that’s walkable. And if you choose to live further out to save on rent, remember that travelling to and from university may cost more than if you were central, plus the extra time and hassle involved in commuting in might not be worth what you save money wise.
However, as a student your travel is discounted if you apply for a student travel card, but bear in mind you may have to pay upfront for a monthly or yearly pass. And there is a cost for getting a discount card for trains.
Food
That brain of yours will sure need fuelling up properly during your studies – so don’t underestimate the cost of regular food shopping! Expect to spend between £75 and £100 each week on groceries and household items.
Again, you can shop around to find the best deals as supermarkets regularly have offers and promotions on certain groceries, and remember that sometimes smaller, local shops, like greengrocers and Asian supermarkets are more affordable than the big, branded stores.
There are also budget supermarkets such as Aldi, Lidl, Morrisons and Asda that will make your money go further.
Learning materials
Books and other equipment that you will need for your course aren’t included in the university fees – you’ll need to buy those separately. Sometimes you might be able to find what you need at the library but remember that your course mates may be trying to do the same, meaning certain materials will be in high demand.
Socialising
It might sound like a bit of a luxury to have a budget for fun, but part of going to university is about meeting new people, having fun, trying new things, and travelling. And being a good student is as much as about studying card but also knowing when to rest and recharge so definitely set aside about £100 a week to go out and be able to experience things.
Additional costs for international students
Student visa
Student visas don’t come for free. You’ll need to pay £348 if you’re applying for one from outside the UK, or £475 if you’re already here and are switching to a Student visa. This is a one-off payment though.
Healthcare surcharge
Getting your Student visa is dependent on paying the healthcare surcharge, which is £470 per year for students. So, if you’re doing an undergraduate degree that takes three years to complete, that’ll be a total cost of £1,410. It’s not an insignificant amount of money, but it will mean you have access to all NHS services so won’t get landed with any healthcare bills if you become ill or injured and need care.
