Cost of Studying in the UK for Indian Students (2025-26 Edition)

Higher education in the UK is an ultimate aspiration for many Indian students. Top-class universities, excellent teaching, and good post-study work opportunities seem impressive.

However, if one side of studying in the UK is all glitz and stars, then the other side is a bit harsh, and that is the cost of studying and expenses in the UK.

In this 2025 edition, I am going to discuss tuition fees, living expenses, scholarships, and more. Moreover, it will help you to understand the major costs of studying in the UK and see if it is worth studying in the UK.

Why Understanding Costs Matters for Indian Students?

You might be wondering why knowing the costs is important for indian students, then let me tell you it is important for:

1. budgeting and planning:  until and unless a student does not know the cost estimates, he/she would face financial stress while studying.Therefore, knowing about the costs before enrolling for the course in the UK is beneficial as you can choose the right course, city, and savings plans.
2. Wise choices: Some cities, especially London, are much more costly than others, and the same goes for courses.
3. Return on investment: You will want to know whether all the costs you are spending on studying in the UK are worth it or not in terms of quality education, employment opportunities, and other future opportunities. So, “is it worth studying in UK” depends on cost vs benefit.

An overview of the cost of studying in UK for indian students

1. Tuition fees
2. Living expenses
3. Additional costs

Tuition Fees for Indian Students in the UK

The biggest cost of studying in UK for Indian students is usually tuition fees. Moreover, it depends on the level, course subject, and university.

• Undergraduate programs (UG) – average fees range.

£11,400 – £38,000 (per year)

• Postgraduate programs (Master’s, MBA, MSc) – average fees.

£9,000 – £30,000( per year)

• Popular professional courses: MBBS, Law, Architecture, Nursing.

Popular professional courses in the UK, such as healthcare, law, and MBA programs, have higher tuition fees, from £20,000 to over £50,000 per year.

Meanwhile, fields like arts, education, and social sciences can be less expensive, starting from £10,000 to £20,000 annually for master’s degrees.

MBBS: 56520£/year

Law architecture:3500£/year

Nursing: 20,000£/year

• Comparison of Tuition Fees: London vs. Other UK Cities.

London vs other UK cities:

London is much more expensive both in terms of tuition and living expenses, i.e, accommodation, food, and travel.

However, universities outside London (Manchester, Birmingham, Glasgow, and smaller towns) often have less accommodation, housing, transport, etc., so studying a course at a university outside London may cost less overall.

Living Expenses for Indian Students in the UK

• Accommodation (on-campus vs private): the living cost in UK for indian students comprises mainly the accommodation expense. It is around  £690 – £955, depending on the type of university hall, private flat share, and city.

University halls are often cheaper, but private rented flats offer more ease. Shared flats help to reduce costs.

• Food & groceries (including Indian food costs): £160 – £200. However, if you go out to eat or buy extra things, then this cost will go up.
• Transportation (Oyster card, student discounts): £103 (in London),£54 (in the rest of the UK). However, student discounts or passes help.
• Utilities, internet, phone: £75 – £120
• Total monthly living cost in the UK for Indian students:

If we put all the costs together, you can expect 1200£-1600£/month including accommodation, food, transport, utilities, etc.

However, in London the monthly cost can be around 1500£-2000£/month or more.

Also, note that for a visa application, you must show that you have funds for at least 9 months of living costs. However, it’s different outside London and within London.

Additional Costs to Consider

If we move ahead from the tuition or living costs, there are additional costs to consider that are ignored, but let me tell you, they are important.

Moreover, if you plan for these expenses, you ensure that you are financially prepared for your academic journey.

Furthermore, we can divide the additional costs into two: pre-arrival costs and post-arrival costs:

Prearrival costs refer to costs that you have to pay before travelling to study abroad. They include:

• Visa application fees & NHS healthcare surcharge:

When you are applying for a UK student visa for over 6 months, you have to pay the immigration health surcharge so you can use the UK’s national health service when you arrive there. The UK student visa application fee is 524 GBP if applying from outside the UK, and the IHS costs 470 GBP every year you’ll be in the UK as a student. If you’re staying for some time, you pay 235 GBP for 1-6 months.

• IELTS/English tests (if required)

For applications to some UK universities, IELTS is needed. You need to score well in this exam to show you’re proficient in the English language. In India, IELTS may cost INR 15000-20000.

• Flights from India to the UK: You need to book your ticket right after you get your visa. Also, the cost of tickets depends on where you are flying from in India, your destination city in the UK, and the airline you prefer. Moreover, the flight ticket can cost around 600GBP.

Post arrival costs include airport transfers, initial accommodation, and essential items purchases. Usually, these are just one-time costs that are needed for settling in the UK initially. i.e:

• Books, laptops, and study materials:

For studying in the UK, you would need books, laptops, and other materials, and it could cost around 200GBP to 1000GBP per year, depending on the subject.

Scholarships to Reduce the Cost of Studying in the UK

We have some good news. To reduce the costs of studying in the UK, there are study scholarships in UK. Here is a list of scholarships relevant to Indian students.

• Chevening Scholarships.

This scholarship is offered by the prestigious UK government and covers tuition fees, accommodation, and airfare for up to a year.

• GREAT Scholarships (India-focused).

This is offered by the UK’s government department of education, which provides 10,000 EUR for one year.

• Commonwealth Scholarships.

It is offered by the Department for International Development (DFID), covering tuition fees in UK for Indian students  + airfare, + living costs.

• University-specific scholarships for Indian students.

Many UK universities offer international student scholarships, some specifically for Indian students. Moreover, they are need-based, merit-based, or for particular subjects.

• How to apply & eligibility.

1. Start early: scholarship deadlines are months ahead of admission deadlines.
2. Try to maintain a strong academic record, and good GRE/GMAT/test scores help(if applicable)
3. Show leadership, extracurriculars, or research, depending on the scholarship.
4. Invest a lot of time and work hard for recommendation letters.
5. Apply for various scholarships.

Tips for Managing Costs as an Indian Student

Indian students feel overwhelmed by the high tuition costs and living costs. However, if you want to reduce your financial stress, you can plan and focus on day-to-day financial discipline. Here are some ways to manage the cost of studying in the UK.

Can I work and study in the UK? (20 hours/week rule).

UK student visas allow you to work 20 hours per week during term time to earn, and by doing so, you can offset living expenses while adhering to tax and visa regulations. Moreover, during breaks, you can also work full-time.

The typical part-time jobs include:

1. On campus work in libraries, cafes, etc.
2. Retail jobs in supermarkets.
3. Jobs in hotels, restaurants, and delivery services.

The usual earnings per hour can be around 9 GBP to 12 GBP, which can cover some of your expenses.

Also, make sure that you have a healthy work-study balance; otherwise, your academics will be affected.

Student discounts:

1. Railcards and transport discounts: the 18-25 railcard gives a 33% discount on train fares. Also, local transport systems often offer student travelcards.
2. NUS totem card: This card provided discounts on food, clothing, tech, cinema, tickets, and more.
3. Software discounts: MS Office and Adobe Creative Cloud are free or at huge discounts.

Budgeting apps

1. Apps like Revolut, Monzo, and Starling Bank help you to keep track of your expenses by providing instant notifications.
2. You should try to create a monthly budget with specific categories and stick to them.
3. You can also keep a weekly cash allowance to avoid overspending.

Banking in the UK (Monzo, Revolut, HSBC Student accounts).

1. You can open a UK student bank account to avoid international transfer fees. So, banks, i.e, HSBC, Barclays, and Lloyds provide accounts for students.
2. You can also use fintech apps like Wise or Revolut for cheaper INR or GBP currency transfers.

Accommodation in the UK:

1.  Shared flats or houses: if you live in a shared flat, it will cost you less than solo living; moreover, you can split the living expenses.
2. University halls: they often include bills, internet, and other facilities.
3. Outside the city centres: by this, rents drop significantly if you move just 20-30  minutes away by bus or train.

You can stay in halls in your first year, so you can settle easily later and can move to shared space.

Cook at home:

1. Eating out in a restaurant in the UK can cause a hole in your pocket; a restaurant meal can cost around 12GBP to 20 GBP per person.
2. If you cook at home, the costs are lowered to 3 GBP per person.
3. Within Indian communities, Indian groceries are available, so you can also get lentils and spices at low prices.

Second-hand and sustainable purchases:

1. To save money, you can buy second-hand textbooks from university forums.
2. Many universities have students who sell their used books at lower prices.

Travel smart:

1. You should coaches instead of train as they are cheaper.
2. Try to use budget airlines.

By combining these tips. Indian students can cut yearly costs and make their education much more affordable.

FAQs – Quick Answers

1. How much it cost to study in UK for Indian students?

On average:

Undergraduate program: 20000 GBP to 25000 GBP per year, which includes tuition and living expenses.

Postgraduate program:25000gbp to 40000gbp per year, which covers living and tuition expenses.

London vs other cities: if you are in London, expect to pay about 3000GBP to 5000GBP  more per year.

2. Is the UK more expensive than Canada/USA?

Canada is less costly for tuition, but the course duration is longer. Also, in the USA tuition fees can be higher, but you can compare some public universities.

However, the advantage of the UK is that the course duration is shorter, so your total living costs are reduced compared to the US and Canada.

3. Can scholarships cover full tuition?

Yes, but there is an exception that only competitive ones like Chevening, Commonwealth, and Rhodes cover full tuition and living expenses.

Moreover, many scholarships cover tuition or waive international fees.

3. Is it possible to study in the UK for free?

Studying in the UK for free is not usual; however, some scholarships cover every expense, including tuition and stipend.

Moreover, few universities offer 100% tuition waivers for exceptional students. Some exchange programs also cover costs.

4. Can I work and cover all my living costs?

Part-time jobs can cover your expenses, which may be enough for food, transport, and some bills. But relying only on part-time work for tuition fees is not feasible.

5. What hidden costs should I prepare for?

1. Visa extension fee if your course gets extended.
2. Medical or dental treatments are not covered under the NHS.
3. Clothing.
4. Field trip or lab fees.

6. Is it worth studying in the UK?

Yes, because of good employability and alumni networks. Moreover, you also get a post-study work visa, so you can find jobs for 2 years. Also, the master’s duration is shorter, saving both time and money as compared to other countries.

Conclusion

Studying in the UK is a big financial investment, but you should not stress if you have the right budget or plan. Here’s a recap:

Tuition fees: they range widely; humanities courses are cheaper, and other professional degrees like mba and mbbs are costly.

Living costs: London is the most expensive, so you’d better move to other regional cities if your budget is less, as they are less costly.

Additional costs: visa, health surcharge, flights, and materials add more to your expenses.

Scholarship: it can reduce financial burden significantly if you apply early.

Cost management: working part-time, budgeting plan, cooking at home, using discounts, and travelling smartly are tricky ways to keep your expenses in control.

So, is it worth studying in the UK for Indian students? The answer is a big yes.Moreover, look at it as a long-term investment in your career and personal growth.

A UK graduate usually has a high-paying job, global exposure and benefits from the UK’s strong reputation.

While the cost of studying in the UK for Indian students may feel overwhelming, scholarships, smart money management, and shorter course duration make everything smooth.

So, with dedication, passion, and planning, your UK academic journey can be affordable yet life-changing.

Looking for more? Check our Complete Guide to Study in the UK for Indian Students (2025) for visa, courses, and lifestyle details.