UK Tuition Fees: How Much Does it Cost to Study in the UK?

.Tuition fees for higher education in the UK are frequently under the media spotlight, following recent price hikes for home students (from the UK or elsewhere in the EU) and reports of premium charges for international students. But the overall cost to study in the UK is dependent on many factors, such as institution, course, location and funding opportunities, and could in fact be a lot less than the headlines suggest.

According to a recent HSBC report, the average cost per year of study in the UK for international students is 18,759 (US$30,325), which breaks down to 11,933 (US$19,291) for fees and 6,825 (US$11,034) for cost of living.

However, tuition fees for international students can be as high as 38,532 (US$62,294) per year which is what you could expect to pay for a taught clinical postgraduate degree at a leading university in London.

While the figures may be daunting, remember that most UK courses take less time than in countries such as the US (three years for the average undergraduate degree instead of four in the US, and one year for a masters degree instead of two), so you may be able to subtract a year's worth of fees and living costs from your budget.

Students cost of living in the UK According to an estimate from the UKs National Union of Students (NUS), the average annual cost of living in England (excluding London) for students is 12,056 (US$19,490). This includes 4,834 ($ 7,815) for rent, 1,956 ($3,162) for food, 316 ($510) for household goods, 42 ($68) for insurance, 2,074 ($3,353) for personal items, 1,524 ($2,464) for travel and 1,310 ($2,118) for leisure.

In London, you should expect to pay 13,388 (US$21,644) for the same breakdown of goods and services. The major difference in the cost of living in London compared to the rest of England is in rent, which is estimated at an average of 6,143 ($9,931) per year, and insurance at 65 ($105).

As the NUS points out, the figures for the rest of England can only be used as a rough guide to the overall cost of living in the UK. But they are roughly consistent with the amounts specified by the UK Border Agency (UKBA), which asks international students to provide evidence that they can afford to live and study in the UK for a specified period before being granted a Tier 4 (General) student visa.

The UKBA figures ask international students to budget 1,000 (US$1,616) in living costs per month if based in Inner London, and 800 (US$1,293) per month for Outer London or anywhere else in the UK.

UK tuition fees and course costs UK/EU students There are two levels of UK tuition fees at publicly funded universities: home student fees (including EU students) and international student fees. For home students, institutions in England and Wales can charge up to a maximum of 9,000 (US$14,550) per year for undergraduate degrees; in Northern Ireland up to 3,575 (US$5,779) per year; and in Scotland an undergraduate degree is effectively free for students from Scotland or the EU. This is thanks to a subsidy from the Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS). The SAAS also offers a tuition fee loan up to 3,400 (US$5,496) for home postgraduate students.

It should be noted that the Scottish definition of home student differs slightly, in that it doesnt include students from the rest of the UK ie. England, Wales or Northern Ireland. Students from the rest of the UK who want to study an undergraduate degree in Scotland will need to pay between 6,630 (US$10,718) and 9,000 (US$14,550).

Theres also good news for students from Wales, who only need to pay 3,575 (US$5,779) per year in tuition fees to study anywhere in the UK, with the rest covered by the Welsh government.

The amounts given above indicate the maximum amount public universities are allowed to charge. More than half of universities in England and Wales do charge the maximum of 9,000 (US$14,550) per year but at some universities, the annual tuition fees are just 6,000 (US$9,700) for undergraduate home students.

Postgraduate tuition fees differ depending on the university and the subject. Home students may be able to receive some funding from one of the UKs research councils, the university itself, or via a career sponsorship scheme.

UK tuition fees and course costs international students For international students, undergraduate fees for 2013-14 start at 7,450 (US$12,044) for lecturebased courses, going up to 36,600 (US$58,201) for an undergraduate medical degree at the top of the price range. But a lot of international undergraduate fees are around 10,000 (US$16,167) not much more than those for home students.

At postgraduate level, the majority of international fees for 2013-14 are between 10,000 and 12,000 (US$16,167 and US$19,400). The extreme ends of the spectrum range from 7,900 (US$12,771) to 38,532 (US$62,294) again, medicine is the priciest option.

UK scholarships and student funding Home (UK/EU) students are eligible for tuition fee loans, grants and funding, of differing amounts depending on location. The NUS estimates that potential income from loans and funding for undergraduate home students in London could be as much as 20,879 (US$33,755) for 2012/13, and for the rest of England 18,497 (US$29,904).

Undergraduate home students at private universities (there are only three in the UK) can still apply for tuition fee loans for most courses, as well as maintenance loans and maintenance grants. However, the tuition fee loan might not cover the full amount.

A wealth of UK scholarships are also offered by the government, individual universities, independent organizations and various charities. The Education UK website is a good place to look use the search tool to access information on 3,000 scholarships for international and home students. It is also worth checking to see what scholarships and support schemes are available in your own country.

Prominent UK scholarships for international students include:

The Chevening Scholarships, which are awarded by the UK government to outstanding scholars with leadership potential from around the world to study postgraduate courses at universities in the UK;

Marshall Scholarships, which finance young Americans of high ability to study for a degree in the United Kingdom; Commonwealth Scholarships and fellowships, which are offered by member governments to citizens of other Commonwealth countries. UK scholarships are much more widely available at postgraduate level, with relatively few offered for undergraduate students. But do check with the individual university, as support is sometimes offered for exceptional undergraduate students. Value for money? The UK is the worlds second most popular destination for international students (after the US), with the strong reputation of UK universities continuing to promise a competitive advantage for those who gain a UK degree. According to the Tracking International Graduate Outcomes survey (from the Department for Business Innovation and Skills), international students in the UK are more likely to earn higher salaries after graduation than if theyd studied at home, meaning that a high value for money is another factor to consider when looking at the overall cost to study in the UK.