The financial case for a UK masters rests on one fact: most taught masters courses last twelve months rather than two years. Even where the annual figure looks high, the total is often lower than a two year programme elsewhere.
Tuition: international rates by subject
Indicative annual ranges for international students:
- Arts, humanities and social sciences: roughly 17,000 to 28,000 pounds.
- Business and management: roughly 20,000 to 38,000 pounds, with MBA programmes higher still.
- Science, engineering and computing: roughly 22,000 to 35,000 pounds.
- Laboratory heavy and clinical subjects: roughly 26,000 to 45,000 pounds.
The range is driven mostly by university and city rather than by teaching quality. The same subject can differ by 15,000 pounds between London and a northern city.
Living costs
Indicative monthly totals including rent, food, transport and personal spending:
- London: roughly 1,400 to 1,900 pounds a month.
- Edinburgh, Bristol, Oxford, Cambridge: roughly 1,100 to 1,500 pounds.
- Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds, Glasgow: roughly 950 to 1,300 pounds.
- Smaller cities and towns: roughly 850 to 1,150 pounds.
A masters year usually runs twelve months rather than nine, because of the summer dissertation, so budget accordingly.
The fees people forget
- Tuition deposit: typically 1,000 to 4,000 pounds, credited against tuition.
- Student visa application fee and the Immigration Health Surcharge, charged per year of your visa. Check the current amounts on the UK government website.
- English test: roughly 150 to 200 pounds if required.
- Flights, initial setup, deposits on private housing.
Realistic one year totals
- Lower cost city, humanities: roughly 30,000 to 38,000 pounds all in.
- Mid range city, science or engineering: roughly 38,000 to 50,000 pounds.
- London, business or clinical subject: roughly 55,000 to 75,000 pounds.
Funding worth checking
- University scholarships for international postgraduates, often 2,000 to 10,000 pounds off tuition, with deadlines earlier than the course deadline.
- Chevening and Commonwealth scholarships, which are fully funded and highly competitive, with deadlines around a year before entry.
- Country specific schemes and employer sponsorship.
- Part time work: Student visa holders are generally permitted limited term time hours and full time during vacations, subject to the conditions on your visa. Treat this as a supplement, not a funding plan.
All figures here are indicative and change each year. Confirm tuition on the individual course page and visa costs on the UK government website before you budget.
