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
The UK Student visa has a minimum financial requirement for living costs. This is money you must show you have available for up to 9 months; it is not necessarily a realistic estimate of your actual living costs.
For applications made before 30 November 2026, the requirement is £1,171 per month for universities outside London, or £1,529 per month in London. For applications made from 30 November 2026, this increases to £1,203 per month outside London and £1,570 per month in London. Check the GOV.UK Student visa money guidance: https://www.gov.uk/student-visa/money
Actual living costs depend on your needs, lifestyle, accommodation and location. Which? has a useful online student budget calculator: https://www.which.co.uk/money/university-and-student-finance/student-budget-calculator
The current Student visa application fee is £558. Students also normally pay the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS), currently £776 per year. The amount you pay depends on the length of your visa, which can be longer than the course itself. See GOV.UK Student visa fees and healthcare information: https://www.gov.uk/student-visa
Working rights depend on your course and sponsor. Full-time students studying at degree level or above with an eligible higher education provider can normally work up to 20 hours per week during term time and full time during vacations. Students on eligible below-degree courses may be limited to 10 hours per week, while some students have no permission to work. Check your visa conditions and GOV.UK guidance before working.
After successfully completing an eligible UK course, a Graduate visa may allow you to stay and work in the UK. Applications made on or before 31 December 2026 normally provide 2 years for non-doctoral graduates. Applications made from 1 January 2027 normally provide 18 months. PhD or other doctoral graduates normally receive 3 years. See GOV.UK Graduate visa guidance: https://www.gov.uk/graduate-visa
Information last checked: 24 September 2026. Immigration rules and fees can change, so always check GOV.UK before making financial or visa decisions.
Be sure to get in touch with us for further information on living costs.