Do you have dreams of graduating from a top college in the UK? If you work hard, you can definitely achieve this dream. But if you want to have a clear idea about the cost of studying in UK for Indian students, you have come to the right place. Read on.

Apart from the daunting application process, students need to prepare an estimated budget accounting all probable spending. International students need to be made aware of their potential spendings as living in the UK is quite expensive. In comparison to India, the UK is said to 174% more expensive in terms of cost of living (source).

So how do you calculate the cost of studying in the UK?

Scholarships for Indian students

The first step is to find the appropriate course in the right university. Each university has its own specialities and provides student scholarships. An applicant can apply for a student scholarship if they meet the requirements presented by the university. Apart from the scholarships provided by the university, a student can avail to different scholarships funded by several associations. Commonwealth Fellowship Scholarship, Commonwealth Masters Scholarship and Chevening Scholarships provide financial aid to students who fit into the criteria specified by them.

Indian students have been provided with incentives by the British Council who have tied up with 12 UK universities. This program for Indian students is called GREAT Scholarship 2020. It provides 13 postgraduate scholarships worth £120,000 in total. The minimum amount a student can receive from this scholarship is £10,000.

Following is the list of universities that provide the GREAT Scholarship 2020 –

1. Imperial College London
2. University of Bath
3. University of Cambridge
4. Newcastle University
5. University of Warwick
6. Robert Gordon University
7. Sheffield Hallam University
8. University of East Anglia
9. University of Kent
10. Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance
11. University of Nottingham
12. University of Reading

Cost of studying in UK

Studying in the UK opens several new opportunities for students. With several great universities spread across the country, there are many specialization courses that can enrich your resume. While calculating the cost of living in the UK, one must establish which university they wish to attend. The average cost you can expect can be anywhere between INR 19 lakhs to INR 39 lakhs depending on the university and its location.

Despite having more than a thousand scholarships available for Indian students, with the number of applications for universities, the funding falls short to help everyone. If you aspire to study in the city of London, the living cost is higher compared to the rest of the country and Wales. The tuition fees are also higher in London also because it has some of the most reputed universities like Imperial College London and Oxford. One can also avail student loans in India to help them financially. Indian banks providing loans for students to study in the UK can sanction an amount up to 2 crores. With the high frequency of students applying for the loans over the years, the loan amount available has now become as high as INR 2 crores. Depending on the banks the students approach, the loan interest can vary between 8-18%. (source)

Loans for Indian students studying in UK

While applying for a loan, the student or the sponsor must fit into certain criteria including being an Indian citizen and having secured admission into a college or university recognised by a competent authority in India. Several types of courses are covered by student loans, making them available to students applying for full-time, part-time, vocational courses. It is also available for students who wish to study undergraduate and postgraduate degrees as well. With every passing year, the cost of educational institutes keeps increasing. Studies record a 15% increase in tuition fees. Student loan once acquired covers the basic tuition fees, accommodation and miscellaneous expenses. Each bank has its own maximum amount that they are prepared to loan to the students.

Student Discount Cards

International students excluding EU students pay a higher tuition fee compared to students living in the UK. Though these tuition fees might be higher, international students can avail student discounts once they are living in the UK. This discount is accessible to all students studying at a college or university in the UK. The discount cards provide respite to the students as they can get up to 20% discount in several grocery shops, shopping malls, flights and even sightseeing attractions. (source)

The National Union of Students supports TOTUM, UK’s number 1 discount card that gives you access to discounts and offers on eating out and fashion, tech and travel. Students can buy a student’s railcard with which they can to travel anywhere within the country at a discounted rate. (source)

Part-time work for students

Students on Tier 4 visas are permitted a certain number of hours a week to work in the country. Several international students including EU students opt for the chance to work during term time. On a tier 4 visa, students of undergraduate and postgraduate courses can work for a maximum of twenty hours a week. Depending on the university, this stipulated working hours might vary. Some universities have more workload and students may prefer to allocate a shorter span for working hours. The priority is supposed to be given to study, that’s why each university’s regulations vary depending on the types of course. (source)

Part-time work helps students to take care of some of their expenses. With the minimum wages and the weekly hours stipulated many students find part-time jobs helpful to keep up with the living expenses. The universities themselves help students to acquire these jobs during the fresher’s week, introducing them to local shops and restaurants that are willing to work with their time constraints.

During the vacation period, on a tier 4 visa, the students can take up full-time jobs as well. Vacation periods are different for different universities. It’s advisable to confirm the dates before committing to a full-time job. So inquire about available opportunities, as they can significantly reduce the cost of studying in UK for Indian students.

Jobs a student cannot do

The UK government doesn’t allow a certain kind of job to be undertaken by the students which are as follows –

1. Be a self-employed or working freelance
2. Initiate a business activity
3. Full-time permanent job
4. Professional sportsperson including sport coach
5. Work as an entertainer
6. Work as a dentist or a doctor in training, except when you’re enrolled in a foundation program.

To know more about the guidelines of working while studying on the UKCISA website. (source)

Cost of student accommodation in the UK – cost of studying in UK for indian students

One of the major expenses for students in the UK is the accommodation. After the student has finalised the university they wish to study in, they need to figure out where they can stay. Majority of the universities provide accommodation on campus itself. Staying on campus is most preferable as it reduces the cost of travel.

Accommodation options for UK students

There are four kinds of housing accommodations available for university students –

• Halls of Residence – The student accomodation that are available on campus
• House – Flat Share accommodation available to rent in the vicinity of the university
• Private House – Flats are available for students to rent in the same town as the university. This option is viable only if the student wishes to live by themselves. This is the most expensive accomodation for a student.
• Host Families – HomeStay with a host family who is willing to open their homes to the student.

With the number of students enrolling sometimes the accommodation cannot house all the students. With the preference given to first year international students, university accommodation is usually the first choice for many.

The accommodation application process is first-come service. The sooner you apply, the better your chances to acquire a room on campus. University accommodation is always cheaper than private accommodation as the rent includes all the basic utility charges like gas, electricity and water. While living on campus, students also get insurance for their possessions.

If one fails to find a room on campus, the students must find accommodation to rent elsewhere. The cost of private housing is expensive. The average cost of living in the city is £ 748 a month, whereas campus accommodation is £ 450 a month. (source)

UK student visa expense

Once the university confirms the admission and her accommodation is in place, the student can begin with the visa application. While applying for the visa, the students need to submit a set of documentation proving they are eligible to study in the UK. One of the documents needed is an English proficiency test results that show your ability to communicate effectively in the country. Students must take the English proficiency test before one applying to any university. Each university needs a specific score for admission.

The university will require students to clear an English proficiency test before they accept the student’s application. Among such proficiency tests, many universities prefer IELTS. The cost of IELTS test stands at UK £180. The visa application also entails its charges. The visa application fee under tier 4 is INR 32,000 or £ 350. (source)

Cost of studying in UK in Indian Rupees

While calculating the cost of studying in UK for Indian students, one must consider travel expenses as well as groceries. Though these may seem like petty expenses, they do add up to quite a large sum. For an undergraduate student who is likely to be living in the UK for about 40 weeks, the estimated cost of the meals is £ 1,450 which is INR 1,44,000.

For postgraduate students the cost of meals for 52 weeks is £ 1,965, that converts to INR 1,95,000. Depending on the city you decide to live in, the cost of transport varies to some extent. A student can also avail to a student discount railcard. With a one time cost, the students can use the card to get discounted rates while travelling anywhere within the country. (source)

You can peg the local commute at INR 66,000 for 50 weeks. In general, living costs in the UK can be quite high but with the aid of student discounts and the availability of part-time jobs, you can reduce the expenses considerably.

Northern Ireland University options

With the tier 4 visa, students can also travel to Wales and Northern Ireland without any travel restrictions. Being a part of the UK, students can also apply for universities in Wales and Northern Ireland. Northern Ireland has three universities, two university colleges, six more colleges and an agri-food and land-based college. They are open for both home students and international students.

The Open University in Northern Ireland has the UK’s largest academic institute with 3,600 students. Headquartered at Belfast, 169 tutors and 46 additional staff  support the university. The university offers a route to higher education to everyone and doesn’t have any entry requirements. It does require prospective students to have a certain qualification. They provide distance learning courses for home students as well as international students. (source)

Conclusion

Depending on the type of course, the total cost of studying in UK for Indian students can vary. The estimated cost of studying an undergraduate course in the UK is INR 8,82,000 whereas the cost of a postgraduate course is INR 10,55,000.

The process of applying to a university is daunting. It requires tremendous effort and the right kind of documentation to go through with the visa process successfully. At Mindmine Global, we are familiar with the student visa process and provide training for the much-needed English proficiency test. For further assistance on visa consultation and cost, analysis get in touch with us today so we can guide you in making your dream of studying in the UK come true.

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