Cost of Studying in UK for Indian Students

May 13, 2022 | 6 min read

Studying in the UK is expensive, considering the tuition fees and living expenses. With sufficient knowledge and ample planning, students can plan budgets for the various expenses involved in studying in the UK.

The cost of studying in UK for Indian students can prove to be an expensive affair. However, with proper planning and budgeting, students can systematically manage their expenses and fulfil their dream of studying in the UK. The cost to study in UK comes with expenses like accommodation, food, health coverage, travel expenses, and the tuition fee when looking for universities in the UK.

To study in the UK, one must apply for a student visa. UK Visas and Immigration handle the visa requirements and immigration criteria. Students can visit the official website of UK Visas and Immigration, which is easy to navigate and will help them determine whether they require a UK student visa. While students from Switzerland and those from the EU/EEA states do not require a visa to study in the UK, all other nationalities will need student visas to study in the UK.

This article will cover the cost of studying in the UK for Indian students; the UK student visa cost, the average tuition fees for UK universities, and living expenses.

Table of Contents

Cost of Studying in the UK for Indian Students: Breakdown with Explanation
Types of UK Student Visas
- Application Process for a UK Student Visa
  - Documents Required for UK Student Visa Application

Cost of Studying in the UK for Indian Students: Breakdown with Explanation

As mentioned above, pursuing higher studies in the UK can prove to be a costly affair. However, with the right planning and budgeting, students can attain their desired qualifications without compromising their quality of living. For this reason, students must have a fair idea of the various costs involved in studying in the UK. The following are the different costs involved in studying in the UK:

UK University Tuition Fees
UK Living Expenses
Travel Expenses
Health Insurance
Taxes and Insurance
UK Student Visa Cost

UK University Tuition Fees

The fees for various universities will differ depending on the quality of the university, and the course opted for by the student. The fees for courses in medicine can amount to around GBP 35,000 per annum, whereas the fees for humanities courses can amount to around GBP 10,000 per annum.

The table below contains the list of the top universities in UK, their world ranking, and the average cost of tuition at these universities:

University	Global Rank	Average Tuition Fees (in GBP)
University of Oxford	5	26,770 - 37,510
University of Cambridge	7	24,750 - 34,678
Imperial College London	8	28,000 - 35,000
University College London (UCL)	10	18,120 - 46,120
University of Edinburg	20	23,200
University of Manchester	27	33,178
King's College London (KCL)	31	27170 - 30530
London School of Economics and Political Science	49	22,430 - 30,960

Cost for Undergraduate Programs

The table given below the average tuition fees for several UG programs in the UK:

Program	Average Annual Fees (in INR)
Engineering	16 lakhs-22 lakhs
Arts	10 lakhs-15 lakhs
Medicine	30 lakhs-40 lakhs
Nursing	15 lakhs-18 lakhs
Dentistry	30 lakhs-35 lakhs
Law	15 lakhs-18 lakhs
Diploma Courses	10 lakhs-15 lakhs

Cost for Postgraduate Programs

Below you can find the average fees for various postgraduate courses in the UK:

Program	Average Annual Fees (in INR)
Engineering	14-20 Lakhs
Arts	10-15 Lakhs
Doctoral Degree	14-18 Lakhs
MBA	15 lakhs-18 lakhs
Management Courses	9-35 Lakhs
Medicine Courses	25-35 Lakhs
Dentistry	20-30 Lakhs
Law	13-35 Lakhs

UK Living Expenses

The cost of living in the UK also varies depending on where the student is located. Students can either opt for campus accommodation or private residences. Student halls of residence are the more cost effective option and usually cost between GBP 400 and GBP 600 per month, including water, electricity, maintenance and dining charges. Students can opt for private accommodation and will usually have to spend between GBP 320 and GBP 530 a month. However, students will have to separately budget for expenses like water, electricity, gas, housekeeping - which might prove to be slightly costlier than campus accommodation. The average cost of living in London can amount to approximately GBP 15,000 per annum, whereas living expenses outside London can amount to approximately GBP 12,000.

The table below showcases the various associated costs of living in the UK for Indian students:

Particulars	Monthly Cost (in GBP)
Water/ Electricity/ Gas	40 - 50
Food/ Housekeeping	160 - 200
Mobile Phone Charges	15 - 50
Books/ Stationary	21
Leisure/ Socializing	120

Travel Expenses

Students also have to account for travel expenses while studying in the UK. The UK has a comprehensive public transport system for both, short and long travel. Short travel consists of the following fares; bus, taxi and the UK metro. Long distance travel includes railway, bus (long-distance) and airfare. Students will most have to budget for short-distance transportation costs, though they may make a separate budget for long-distance travel should they choose to make trips across the country. All in all, students will have to spend an average of between GBP 1500 and GBP 3000 on travel every month.

Health Insurance

It is mandatory for international students to have health coverage while studying in the UK. Students can opt for health insurance in their immigration process. Usually, health insurance for international students will amount to GBP 470 a year.

Taxes and Insurance

Students having a Tier-4 (General) student visa from publicly funded universities can work up to 20 hours a week during their term and full-time during Christmas and Easter. Students aged 16 and 17 are allowed up to 10 hours of work per week.

Students working while studying in the UK are liable to pay Income Tax and National Insurance. Those earning GBP 1,042 a week are liable to pay Income Tax, while those earning more than GBP 166 a week are liable to pay towards the National Insurance.

UK Student Visa Cost

The first of the expenses that students will have to cover is the UK student visa fees. The fees will differ depending on the type of student visa opted for by the student. For the Tier-4 (General) student visa, the fee is GBP 348 or USD 440. Students will also have to pay a health surcharge of GBP 300 or USD 380.

For the short-term visa option, the 6-month fee is GBP 97, while the 11-month fee is GBP 186. A tabular representation of the different UK student visa options is given below:

Type of Visa	Application Fees	Additional Fees
Tier-4 (General) Student Visa	GBP 348	GBP 300 (Health Surcharge)
Short-term Visa (6 months)	GBP 97	-
Short-term Visa (11 months)	GBP 186	-

Personal Finance Budgeting (on Visa Application)

Before being granted a Tier-4 (General) student visa, students must prove that they will be able to afford the living and educational expenses associated with studying in the UK. Students in London must be able to budget GBP 1,265 per month as part of their stay, whereas students outside London must budget GBP 1,015 for each month during their stay in the UK.

Types of UK Student Visas

A student above the age of 18 can apply for a short-term student visa for six months for short-term courses. The short-term student visa can be extended to 11 months in the case of English language courses.

For a longer course, a student needs to have chosen an institution with a Tier-4 Sponsor License. There are two types of Tier-4 Sponsor Licenses; Tier-4 (Child) student visa for students aged 4 to 17 and Tier-4 (General) student visa for students aged 16 and above.

The types of student visas, and their specifics are detailed in the table below:

Type of Visa	Age Limit	Time Period
Short-Term Student Visa	18 and above	6 to 11 months
Tier-4 (Child) Student Visa	4 to 17 years	6 years (+ 4 months extension)
Tier-4 (General) Student Visa	16 and above	3 years (+ 4 months extension)

Application Process for a UK Student Visa

Students must apply for a UK student visa online, on the website of UK Visas and Immigration. When a student applies for a course and is accepted, the course provider may be willing to help the student apply for a UK student visa. Students must make it a point to check with their course provider on the same. One can apply for a student visa as late as three months before the start of their course. However, students should check the average visa processing time in their country and go ahead with their applications accordingly.

Documents Required for UK Student Visa Application

UK student visas are awarded based on a points system. Students will require the following documents to meet the student visa requirements:

Passport details
Recent passport size photograph
An offer letter from an institution with a Tier-4 License, serving as evidence in the form of a ‘Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) form (worth 30 points), from the course provider
Proof of proficiency in the English language, with a satisfactory score in the Secure English Language Test (SELT).
Proof of financial stability for the duration of the stay (worth 10 points)
Non-EU/EEA/Swiss students studying a sensitive subject may need an ATAS certificate

UK Scholarships for Indian Students

There is a wide range of UK scholarships available for Indian students who desire to study in the United Kingdom. Prior to applying for any scholarship, applicants must check the eligibility criteria and the deadlines. There are government-funded scholarships as well as scholarships offered by public and private institutions. Listed below are a few of the best UK scholarships for Indian students: