What studying in the UK really costs in 2026

Most cost estimates for the UK are either a single scary number or a cheerful one that leaves the visa out. This is the whole picture, split into money you must prove, money you must pay before you fly, and money you will spend each month.

Tuition

International undergraduate fees across the 9,836 courses we have verified cluster like this:

Subject area	Typical annual fee (international)
Arts, humanities, business, law	£16,000 to £24,000
Science, engineering, computing	£20,000 to £32,000
Medicine, dentistry, veterinary	£35,000 to £50,000+
Taught master's (one year)	£18,000 to £45,000

The exact figure is on every course page marked "verified": we check it against the university's own international fee page rather than a third-party estimate.

Money you must prove for the visa

The Home Office requires evidence of living costs for up to nine months, plus any first-year tuition not yet paid:

• London: £1,529 a month, so £13,761 for nine months
• Outside London: £1,171 a month, so £10,539 for nine months

Add the first year's tuition still owed. If you have paid a deposit, the CAS shows it and the required balance drops by that amount. The money must sit in the account for 28 consecutive days.

Money you pay before you fly

• Student visa application: £558
• Immigration Health Surcharge: £776 per year of the visa, so about £2,716 for a three-year degree (the visa runs four months beyond the course, which rounds up to three and a half years)
• TB test, where required: around £80 to £150 depending on the country
• Flights: from around £500 return, more in September

Living costs each month

The Home Office maintenance rate is a floor for the visa, not a budget. What students actually spend depends mostly on rent:

	London	Outside London
Rent (room, bills often extra)	£900 to £1,300	£500 to £800
Food	£200 to £260	£180 to £240
Transport	£100 to £160	£40 to £80
Phone	£8 to £15	£8 to £15
Other	£120 to £200	£100 to £180

A realistic first year outside London on a £18,000 course therefore lands around £30,000 to £33,000 all in; in London, closer to £38,000 to £42,000. The cost calculator lets you change every line.

Ways the number comes down

• Pay tuition early. Every pound paid before the application reduces the balance you must show.
• University accommodation for year one. It is rarely the cheapest option, but bills are included and no UK guarantor is needed, which removes a common blocker for international students.
• Scholarships. Most universities publish international scholarships worth £2,000 to £5,000 a year; they are usually automatic on application.
• Working. Student visas allow up to 20 hours a week in term time at degree level. At the 2026 minimum wage for over-21s (£12.71 an hour) that is roughly £1,000 a month before tax, which covers food and transport but not rent.

What we will not tell you

We do not publish an "average cost" because it hides the two things that actually decide your budget: your course's fee and whether it is in London. Find the course, read its verified fee, then run the calculator with your own rent figure.