How Much Does It Cost to Study in the UK? (2026)
The UK hosts over 600,000 international students, second only to the USA globally. Costs have risen in recent years — here is what to budget for 2026.
Tuition fees for international students
| Level | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate (arts, social sciences) | £15,000–£22,000/year |
| Undergraduate (science, engineering) | £20,000–£26,000/year |
| Postgraduate taught (MSc, MA, LLM) | £17,000–£35,000/year |
| MBA (full-time) | £30,000–£55,000/year |
| Medicine / dentistry | £35,000–£52,000/year |
Oxford and Cambridge set fees by subject: £26,445/year for arts subjects, £32,590 for clinical medicine (2025–26). Imperial College charges around £35,000/year for engineering.
Living costs and Home Office requirements
The Home Office financial requirement for a student visa (2025):
- London: £1,334/month (£16,008/year)
- Outside London: £1,023/month (£12,276/year)
These are minimums; real student budgets are higher. Actual average costs:
| City | Monthly budget |
|---|---|
| London | £1,400–£1,700 |
| Edinburgh | £1,100–£1,300 |
| Manchester/Leeds | £950–£1,150 |
| Sheffield/Nottingham | £900–£1,100 |
NHS surcharge (Immigration Health Surcharge)
The IHS is paid upfront for the entire visa period at £776/year (from January 2024). Costs for common durations:
- 1-year master’s: £776
- 3-year bachelor’s: £2,328
- 4-year MEng/MPharm: £3,104
The IHS covers NHS treatment during your stay — there are no additional charges for GP visits, hospital treatment or prescriptions (beyond the standard prescription charge of £9.90/item).
Chevening and other scholarships
Chevening: UK Government flagship scholarship covering full tuition + living allowance + return flights for a one-year master’s. Open to 160+ countries; requires 2+ years of work experience.
Commonwealth Scholarships: Full funding for postgraduate study for applicants from Commonwealth developing countries.
University scholarships: Most UK universities offer partial scholarships (£2,000–£10,000) for high-achieving international applicants; these are more common at postgraduate level.
Working while studying
Student visa holders may work:
- 20 hours/week during term time
- Full-time during official vacation periods
National Living Wage: £12.21/hour from April 2025. At 15 hours/week for 30 weeks that is approximately £5,500 — helpful but unlikely to cover tuition.
Sources: UKCISA 2025, UKVI Home Office financial requirements, Chevening official scholarship guide.