How much does it cost to study in the UK?
The cost of studying in the UK has two separate parts: what your university charges (tuition) and what it costs to live (accommodation, food, transport). These are not the same as the amount the Home Office asks you to show for your Student visa. This guide keeps the three clearly apart.
What makes up the total cost?
Your first-year budget is normally built from: (1) tuition for one year, (2) living costs for the time you are in the UK, and (3) one-off costs such as the visa fee and the Immigration Health Surcharge. Tuition varies widely by university, subject and level, so there is no single figure — confirm the current fee on the university’s own course page.
Master’s vs Bachelor’s — how does cost differ?
A UK master’s is usually one year of tuition, while a bachelor’s is typically three years, so the tuition total over the whole course is generally higher for a bachelor’s even though the per-year fee can be similar. Living costs scale with how long you study. Always price the full course, not just year one.
London vs outside London — how big is the difference?
Living in London costs materially more than most other UK cities, mainly through rent and transport. Many Nepali students choose universities outside London specifically to lower living costs. The Home Office also sets a higher monthly living-cost figure for courses in London than outside it — that official figure is covered in the Financial requirements guide.
Accommodation, food and transport
Accommodation is usually the largest living cost — university halls, private student housing or shared flats. Food is cheaper if you cook rather than eat out. Transport is lower in compact cities where you can walk or cycle; in London a travel card is a recurring cost. Look for student discounts on transport, software and retail.
How should I plan my first-year budget?
Work out the full first-year tuition from the university’s course page, add a realistic monthly living cost for your city multiplied by your months in the UK, then add the one-off visa and health surcharge costs. Keep a contingency. Intandem builds this budget with you against your actual course and city rather than a generic figure.
Official & verified sources
UK immigration rules can change. Confirm immigration facts on GOV.UK and university facts on the university’s own website before you apply.
Universities to examine
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