The two major costs involved in studying in the UK are the course fees and your living expenses.
The cost of living in the UK is not the same throughout the country. Generally it is more expensive to live in London and the south-east of England, and cheaper to live in the north, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Living costs will be higher for couples and families. Below is a rough guide to basic living costs (accommodation, lighting, heating, food, daily travel, clothes, leisure, books and incidental expenses) for a single student for a nine-month period.
See here for a detailed breakdown of UK living costs.
You should bear in mind that course fees vary according to the course and where you will be studying. Also, the course fees will almost certainly increase every year. Do not underestimate the amount of money that you will need. It is British government policy that international students should pay the full cost of their studies. It is up to each institution to set a fee, so this varies. You should always obtain details of the full cost of study, payments of deposits and fees, and accommodation from your institution.
In addition to paying tuition fees, you will be expected to buy your own books and equipment, and some colleges will expect you to pay exam fees. For some courses, students may have to pay bench fees to cover the costs of laboratory experiments. Finally some collegiate universities (such as Oxford or Cambridge) may also charge students a fee as well as tuition fees.
Find out more about UK education fees.
If you are studying in the UK full-time you are legally entitled to work up to twenty hours per week in your spare time during term-time, and full-time during vacations. However you are strongly recommended not to take up any employment until you are sure that you are completely on top of your studies.
Please note that to obtain a student visa you will need to show that you have sufficient funds to cover all your expenses in the UK without needing to take up employment.
Earnings from working part-time as a student will only count towards extra pocket-money.
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