International Student Finance in the UK

Financial Support for International Students

If you are an international student and wish to study in the UK, you can apply for and receive funding.

Learn more below about the different financial factors to consider when studying and living in the UK. Don't forget that if you are looking for a scholarship, grant, or bursary to help fund your studies in the UK, our UK university scholarship search has hundreds of potential opportunities waiting for you.

International Student Expenses

International student tuition fees

Fees for international students vary depending on the university and type of course. Social science and humanities courses can cost as little as £11,000 per year, but if a student wishes to pursue a medicine programme – where there is a huge demand for limited places – this can rise to £35,000 per year.

Tuition fees are generally fixed throughout your degree, but some universities can raise the cost of tuition depending on personal policy. Ensure you check this when deciding where to study.

UK cost of living for international students

The average cost of living in London is around £15,000 per year and £12,000 in the rest of the country. This means the average international student can expect to spend between £24,000-26,000 per year living and studying in the UK.

Living expenses must include books, stationery, food, bills, travel and social costs.

Visa and immigration costs

International students will require a student visa to study in the UK, which will cost £348 when applying from outside the UK, and £475 to switch to a student visa inside the UK. There is also an additional healthcare surcharge of £470 per year.

As part of the visa application process, international students may need to prove they can afford to live and study in the UK before they are granted a student visa. Students in London must be able to budget £1,265 for each month of their stay, while students in the rest of the UK must be able to show they can cover £1,015 worth of costs.

Financial Support for International Students

If you are unsure about what step to take next or if you can afford to study in the UK, arrange a free consultation with SI-UK London. We can answer your questions about budgeting for your UK study and suggest suitable universities and courses to apply for.