How much does it cost to study in the UK? | IDP Vietnam

The cost of studying in the UK ranges from GBP 19,000 to GBP 58,000 per year (equivalent to about VND 600 million to VND 1.8 billion per year). This can increase or decrease depending on the program, school and area of residence (London or outside London) you choose, as well as the value of the scholarship you achieve. Below is a summary of the main expenses that international students need to prepare for a year of studying in the UK:

Example:

If you are a student studying a 3-year Bachelor's program in the UK, with a tuition fee of about 45,000 GBP/year and living expenses of about 12,000 GBP/year, the total cost for the entire course is about (45,000 + 12,000) x 3 = 171,000 GBP (5.4 billion VND).

Note: The cost of studying in the UK may vary depending on the program of study, the area where you live, and the needs of your living needs.

The cost of studying in the UK will include tuition fees, living expenses, and other incurred fees. In particular, tuition fees are the top concern of many students and parents. The tuition fee will vary depending on the level of study, the program of study, and the location of the school you choose. To prepare financially for your study abroad journey in the UK, you need to budget about 11,250-45,000 GBP/year (equivalent to about 350 million to 1.3 billion VND), depending on the major and duration of study.

Below is a table of tuition fees to study in the UK in 2025, divided by level of study and study duration:

Vietcombank's exchange rate is 32,799.01 VND/GBP, updated on April 4, 2025.

Note: Exchange rates may change from time to time.

Let's find out more details about the tuition fees of each level of study when studying in the UK with IDP in the section below!

2.1. High School Tuition Fees in the UK

Tuition fees for UK secondary schools for international students range from GBP 26,000 – GBP 35,000 per year, depending on the type of school you choose.

In addition to tuition fees, schools in the UK can also charge additional fees for extracurricular activities such as clubs, sports, and field trips, giving students the opportunity to experience useful activities outside the classroom.

2.2. Pre-university tuition fees in the UK

Tuition fees for pre-university courses range from GBP 11,250 – GBP 30,000 per year. Foundation programs usually last from 6 months to 1 year and are an important stepping stone for you to prepare for full-fledged university programs.

2.3. Undergraduate Tuition Fees in the UK

Undergraduate tuition fees in the UK for international students range from GBP 26,000 to GBP 45,000 per year, depending on the field of study and the school. Majors such as medicine, law, or MBA usually have higher tuition fees than other majors, such as science, social sciences, and humanities. The duration of study at universities in the UK lasts from 3 to 4 years, depending on the program of study.

2.4. Tuition fees for Master's and PhD levels in the UK

Tuition fees for master's programs in the UK range from GBP 13,000 to GBP 36,000 per year. The study period usually lasts from 1 to 2 years. Majors with high technical requirements or specialization, such as business administration, medicine, and engineering, often have higher tuition fees.

In short, to prepare to study in the UK, you need to prepare an average budget of about 28,000 GBP/year (about 850 million VND) depending on the level of study, field of study, and type of school you choose. In addition to tuition fees, students also need to take into account living expenses, insurance, visas, and other expenses.

Besides tuition fees, the cost of living in the UK also accounts for an important part of the total cost of studying in the UK. Living expenses can include housing costs, food expenses, travel expenses, insurance costs, and other incurred expenses. Let's find out in detail each type of fee with IDP in this section!

3.1. Housing costs in the UK

Housing is a factor that directly affects your experience of studying and living in the UK. The average cost of housing in the UK ranges from GBP 350 to GBP 900 per month, including utility bills, depending on the city, region and type of accommodation. Below are the reference prices of accommodation types when studying in the UK, helping you to have an overview of the cost of living during your studies.

(Based on Vietcombank's exchange rate of 32,799.01 VND/GBP, updated on 4/4/2025)

For those of you who are going to school away from home for the first time, you will definitely feel overwhelmed when you have to keep up with the new environment and new culture. Understanding the advantages and disadvantages of the types of housing when studying in the UK below will help you make a clear financial plan for your choice. Once you've identified your type of housing, a detailed financial plan will help you better manage your living expenses during your time in the UK.

With years of experience in assisting students in finding housing while studying abroad, IDP is committed to providing you with the most comfortable and safe housing options. Please contact the IDP 19006955 hotline for assistance.

3.2. Living expenses

In addition to tuition and housing costs, you also need to prepare for daily expenses such as food, transportation, books or personal expenses. Understanding these fees will help you build a reasonable financial plan and avoid falling into an "empty wallet" situation when studying abroad in the UK.

From January 2, 2025, the minimum cost of living required to study in the UK is GBP 10,224/year (about VND 335 million/year) for areas outside London and GBP 13,347/year (about VND 437 million/year) if you study in London.

Here are the living expenses that international students in the UK can afford:

(Based on Vietcombank's exchange rate of 32,799.01 VND/GBP, updated on 4/4/2025)

In fact, you will be able to incur many expenses for other activities such as entertainment, sports, travel, shopping or other unexpected situations. To manage your personal finances effectively, you should take advantage of incentives for international students, such as discounts on public transportation tickets, dining or shopping offers. Besides, you can hunt for valuable scholarships, helping you reduce your financial burden more effectively.

3.3. Compulsory Health Insurance (IHS – Immigration Health Surcharge)

To study in the UK with peace of mind, health insurance is an integral part of your study abroad package. As a rule, international students studying a long-term program of more than 06 months will need compulsory health insurance, at a cost of about GBP 776 per year, for the entire duration of their study in the UK. For those who have a shorter study program of 06 months, you will not have to buy health insurance.

With this compulsory health insurance, you will have access to the high-quality public health service of the National Health Service (NHS), similar to the local population. However, for some diseases related to the eyes, teeth, or treatment of serious diseases, you still have to pay part of the hospital fee.

Before arriving in the UK, you will need to prepare an important expense such as the medical examination fee and the fee for applying for a UK student visa. This is also an indispensable first step in the journey to conquer the dream of studying in the UK. Here are the costs before studying in the UK that you can refer to:

Medical examination fee

To study in the UK for a period of 06 months, you will need to have a Tuberculosis test (TB Test) at clinics designated by the Consular Department. The cost for a visit is 105 USD/time, this health certificate will be valid for 06 months from the date of the examination.

Student Visa - Tier 4

To apply for a UK student visa, you can expect to pay around $490 and an additional $500 if you need an urgent visa. This fee may vary depending on the exchange rate or new updates from the Consulate.

The processing time for a UK student visa is usually 3-8 working weeks or can be faster or slower depending on the number of applications. To ensure you can enroll on time, you should apply for a visa at least 3 months before the official semester.

The cost of studying in the UK will no longer be a concern for you, if you know how to take advantage of financial support sources and manage your spending plan effectively. Here are some tips to help you save money and enjoy your study abroad journey in the UK in a lighter way:

Hunting for scholarships to study in the UK

One of the most effective ways to save money when studying in the UK is to hunt for scholarships to study in the UK. The UK Government, Universities and many international organisations regularly offer a wide range of scholarships for international students. To improve your chances of receiving a valuable scholarship, invest time in preparing your application thoroughly with an impressive personal essay and a quality letter of recommendation.

Some of the types of UK scholarships available to international students:

• Chevening Scholarship

• Commonwealth Scholarship

• Great Scholarship

• Individual scholarships for each school

Part-time work while studying abroad

The UK study abroad policy allows international students in the UK to work up to 20 hours per week during their studies and full-time on holidays. Part-time jobs not only help you earn extra income, but also gain practical work experience and build a network.

Choosing the right place to study and accommodation

If you want to optimize costs, you can consider choosing schools in cities with a moderate standard of living instead of expensive centers. At the same time, choosing a form of housing such as a dormitory or renting with other international students also helps you save significantly compared to living alone.

Build an effective pathway to study in the UK with IDP

"How much money does it cost to study in the UK" or "how to make the right financial plan", are always the concerns of students and parents when preparing for the study abroad journey.

IDP understands the difficulties of students and parents, so IDP is always ready to advise in detail on the conditions for studying in the UK, the cost of studying in the UK, and free support services from IDP.

An IDP will help you find the most suitable school and course, providing detailed guidance from application preparation, application to receiving an offer letter. With a visa success rate of over 95%, IDP also assists in completing visa applications, practicing for scholarship interviews, and updating the latest valuable scholarship opportunities from schools and educational institutions in the UK.

In addition, IDP also accompanies you in preparation steps such as finding accommodation, registering for the IELTS test, pre-departure sessions, and other essential services, helping you enter the study abroad journey with the most secure mindset.

With more than 55 years of experience in study abroad counseling, IDP has accompanied thousands of students to successfully conquer their dreams of studying abroad in leading countries, such as Australia, the UK, the US, Canada, New Zealand and Ireland. Please contact the IDP 19006955 hotline for detailed advice and start your study abroad journey.