Finances

Tuition Fees

Tuition fees are the university course costs and do not include university accommodation or any other living costs. Some UK universities will ask you to pay in a lump sum but others may have termly or monthly payment plans. Most UK universities ask international students to pay a deposit towards tuition fees in advance, before issuing a CAS visa sponsorship.

On average, mid-range UK tuition fees are £15,000 to £20,000 per year, but they can vary a lot depending on the course and university.

Scholarships

UK universities offer a range of scholarships, most often in the form of a partial discount in tuition fees. You usually need to apply for the actual course first and receive an offer, before then applying for a scholarship, or sometimes being considered or even automatically awarded. Scholarships will usually be within criteria such as your course, faculty or your nationality.

There are also a range of funding and scholarship opportunities from other organisations, such as the Chevening Scholarship, Commonwealth Scholarships or Mastercard Foundation Scholarship.

Bentley GSC can guide you on the scholarship opportunities available to you.

Living Costs

At the time of writing the UK government say that you need £1,023 per month in living costs for universities outside London. The rate for inside London is £1,334 per month.
These figures relate to the financial requirement as part of a Student Visa application. Make sure to check the UK government website at https://www.gov.uk/student-visa/money as these amounts are subject to change.

Of course your costs may depend on many factors, such as your needs, lifestyle, accommodation and location. “Which?” is a trusted brand in the UK, giving consumer choice information. It has a useful online resource giving a breakdown of costs for students at any given UK university: https://www.which.co.uk/money/university-and-student-finance/student-budget-calculator

Most international students are under a UK Student Visa sponsored by the university. This means they are usually permitted to work for up to 20 hours per week during term time and can work full time in vacations or after the period of study has ended.

Be sure to get in touch with us for further information on living costs.