Studying abroad in the UK is truly exciting! Living your fantasy life in London, Oxford, or any other UK city would give you an adrenaline rush!
But there are costs associated with fulfilling this desire. Most international students study for master's degrees in the UK, which can cost anywhere between INR 15 and INR 30 lakhs in Indian Rupees. Yes, master's degrees in the UK are costly for students from India.
Don't give up if you intend to pursue a master's degree in the UK. A sound financial strategy can lighten your load. But how do you start putting this strategy together? Becoming aware of all the expenses related to master's studies in the UK.
The expense of master's degrees in the UK for Indian students has been thoroughly covered in this article.
For a better understanding, the article has also broken down the overall cost of a master's degree in the UK into separate components.
Additionally, this article has added a few clever student hacks that can help you save money.
How much does an MS program in the UK cost? You must first list your expenses to fully comprehend "Where and How much?" which is the question of how much a master's degree in the UK will cost an Indian student.
To do this, let's list the price of a master's degree in the UK during your study abroad journey and then go into more detail about each one.
A quick estimate places the average cost of a master's degree in the UK for Indian students between 15,000 and 35,000 GBP.
However, it may differ based on the total amount of other associated costs. Let's look at how. For international students, the expense of master's degrees in the UK can be roughly divided into four stages:
- Pre-application expenditure
- Application expenses
- Post-admission expenditure
- Cost of living in the UK
Pre-application expenditure
You must first pass the prerequisite exams to pursue an international master's degree. The GMAT or GRE is required for STEM courses. While your English language competence score is also required for all courses overseas. Suggesting that you'll spend money on
- GMAT, GRE: £ 215 and £ 116.95
- IELTS, TOEFL: £ 161.77 - £ 148.17
Application expenses
Once you have all the required paperwork, your GMAT or GRE scores, and your English test results (TOEFL or IELTS), you are ready to apply to universities in the UK.
You must pay a little cost throughout the application process as the application fee. This is the second MS expense you must bear in the UK. From university to university, this price varies. However, depending on the course you're enrolling for, the UK application fee ranges from £75 to £150.
As a result, the price of MS in the UK for various applications ranges from 7,082 INR to 14,166 INR.
Post-admission expenditure
It typically takes universities in the UK 2 to 6 weeks to respond to your application. You will need to make further payments as part of your UK master's degree fees after being accepted by your chosen university to finish the admissions process. These costs consist of
Tuition Fees
You must pay the Master in UK fees to secure your acceptance. Comparatively speaking, overseas students pay more for a UK master's degree than citizens of the country.
International students' Master's tuition costs in the UK vary based on the institution and program they choose. For instance, your tuition will undoubtedly be higher than it would be for a course with a lower ROI if you chose an engineering or MBA program in the UK.
You should expect to pay between £7,700 and £57,000 per year for UK tuition for master's degrees.
Check out some of the top universities in the UK's average tuition costs:
University in the UK |
Tuition Fees per year |
Oxford University |
£24,450 - £29,160 |
University of Cambridge |
£20,157 - £37,815 |
Imperial College London |
£16,897 - £57,402 |
University College London |
£21,000 - £25,000 |
University of Edinburgh |
£28,500 |
University of Manchester |
£20,000 - £47,000 |
King’s College London |
£19,520 - £44,540 |
London School of Economics and Political Science |
£17,609 - £23,088 |
University of Warwick |
£7,700 - £46,610 |
The University of Bristol |
£21,000 - £28,000 |
Travel expenses
The price of your airline ticket is the last outlay before your departure. International travel is expensive, and several factors frequently influence the cost. However, you may expect to pay between £250 and £700 for your trip to the UK.
Additional costs/lab fees
Additional costs/lab fees This sum may be paid in addition to the UK master's tuition expenses. But only a few universities must pay this charge.
Bank Balance
To study in the UK as an international student, you must demonstrate to the British government that you have the financial resources to cover your living expenses there. For each month you are enrolled in your study in the UK, you must have £1334 in your account. If your study period lasts around a year, you must have £16,008 in your bank account to obtain a Tier 4 student visa.
Student visa fees
After paying your tuition and other payments, you are ready to start packing for your trip. You must first apply for a £363 UK student visa to do this.
Cost of health insurance
When planning to study abroad, you cannot forgo the cost of health insurance. For a Tier 4 student visa, you must pay the NHS a surcharge of £470 for health insurance.
Cost of Living in the UK
Your cost of living in the UK is your last but not least expense. It is a great choice to set aside a rough sum for your regular costs in the UK. Rent, transportation costs, entertainment costs, food costs, and other expenses are included in this cost.
Here is a list of different costs for living with their average expenditure per month:
- Accommodation: £500 - £1,000
- Food & Groceries: £180 - £100
- Transportation: £150- £1,200
- Household Bills: £40 - £50
- Entertainment: £40- £50
The various costs you will have in the UK include those listed above. However, costs can vary according to your way of life, the city in which you reside, the type you naturally choose, and other factors.
For example, you'll require between £1200 and £1600 monthly if you live in London. While tuition at Warwick will run you about £900 per month
Despite these significant variations, the estimated cost of a master's degree in the UK is
- Entrance Tests: £300 to £400
- Application charges: £75 to £150
- Post Application expenditure: £20,000 to £1,00,000
- Cost of living in the UK: £910 to £2,400
As a result, the total cost of a master's degree in the UK for an Indian student might be anticipated to be between 20 and 50 lakhs.
You may significantly minimise this enormous sum of money by effectively managing your finances.
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How to minimise the cost for Masters in the UK
The master's program in the UK ranges from a remarkable £35,000 to £50,000 for the majority of courses. For students in India, this is a colossal sum of money.
Although student loans for the UK are an option, relying on them for all your expenses is not advisable. As a result, you must raise money in the UK using the:
- Apply for scholarships granted by different universities or the government. This will enable you to save on several UK expenses, including tuition fees.
- In the UK, foreign students work part-time jobs. By doing this, you'll be able to get by in the UK without going overboard with your finances.
- International students can choose from a variety of on-campus occupations at universities. They will be allowed to advance their expertise while also getting a job.
- In the UK, you can take advantage of various student discounts using your university ID and other student IDs from other countries. You can get special discounts on travel and other lifestyle hacks and save a ton of money by presenting your student ID.
You are now aware of the cost of a master's degree in the UK. Try the tips mentioned above to drastically lower the cost of your master's in the UK.
For overseas students, the cost of a master's degree in the UK is less expensive than attending one of the best universities in the US. This is one of the key reasons why so many foreign students prefer the UK to the US for their studies.
The UK is one of the top study destinations in the world for master's programs due to the simple admissions procedure, student visas, and reasonable cost of living.