A Complete Guide On Student Life & Cost of Living in UK Expenses(2025)
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The United Kingdom is one of the top student countries in the world. It is home to most of the top universities in the world, which are featured in QS World University Rankings. Every year, students enroll from all over the globe, with a recent number of 679,970 (Erudera). With such a vast statistical number, there’s no denying that the numbers speak for themselves. Universities in the UK are among the most attractive factors for students who want to study abroad. But the UK offers more than just education; there are many benefits of studying in the UK:
- Shorter courses
- Quality of life
- Healthcare benefits
- A multicultural environment
- Affordable cost of living
- Student accommodation options
- Entertainment
- Attractions
- Landscapes
- Part-time jobs
What are the most affordable cities in the UK for international students?
Some of the most affordable cities in the UK for international students are Durham, Belfast, Manchester, Leicester, Lancaster, Stirling, Coventry, Cardiff, etc. Out of all these cities, Leicester is one of the most affordable cities in the United Kingdom.
How is the culture in the UK?
The UK is a multicultural place with many people always looking for an opportunity to travel, study, and reside here. So, a wide range of people are coming and learning in the UK, making it multicultural. A huge student population is coming from India, China, Europe, and many other parts of the world. Whether on-campus or off-campus, there’s an inclusive culture among everyone. With such a long history, you will never miss out on walking by a historical gallery, castles, or museums in the UK. The Brits are loving, friendly, and welcoming people who love to have fun, so there’s a great entertainment scene, too. Student life and culture in the UK are thus one of the student life experiences while studying in the UK.
What is the main food in UK ?
Food is an integral part of British culture; British people love tea and baking items. But on the main course, they love their roast, fries, fish, pie, pudding, and scones, and they have a sweet tooth. Surprisingly, over the years, the leading food for the British is curry and chicken tikka. It’s become their national food.
You can read through our blog on the 25 Top Fast Food Restaurants in the UK
and Cheap Places To Eat in Liverpool For Students Under £10.
How is Entertainment in the UK?
The United Kingdom is significant in its entertainment scenes, not just in big cities. If you study abroad in any part of the country, you will always have things to do in the UK. Some entertainment places are free, while some are paid. The UK is home to museums, galleries, and theaters, so these are places you will always have to visit in the UK. People in the UK are big on cinemas, so there’s cinema to enjoy with friends. Other forms of entertainment are bars, clubs, and many other places. The top entertainment cities in the UK are London, Manchester, Birmingham, and Leceister, all student cities.
What is the cost of Living in the UK?
London is one of the most expensive cities in the UK and the student accommodation in London is slightly more expensive than most cities.
The UK is quite an expensive country, but there are affordable cities to live and study in. You can find cheap student accommodation in Swansea and other places too in the UK.
The average cost of living in the UK is £820 per month. The monthly price will include the cost of rent, food, travel, and other expenses. Your tuition fees will not be included in the monthly cost of living. Please bear in mind the cost of your payments will depend on your lifestyle.
For more personalized information, use our cost of living calculator to estimate your desired area’s average cost of living.
The cost of student accommodation in UK will start from £1100 onwards. It will depend upon the type of student accommodation you choose- there’s an on-campus and off-campus student accommodation.
Student housing options in UK
There are two types of off-campus student housing in the UK :
PBSA: This is commonly known as student housing, which comes in the form of student rooms in the UK. The rooms comprise studios, suites, and en-suite rooms. They are fully furnished, come with modern amenities, and are inclusive of utility bills.
Private Apartment: The apartment can be single, double, or shared. It is located close to the university campus. The apartment also comes fully furnished with modern facilities and includes utility bills.
Check out detailed information on the Type of Student Accommodations Available in the UK
Can Students Get Part Time Work in the UK?
Part-time jobs are easy to find in the UK, anywhere in the country. The rule for international students is to work 20 hours a week. You can choose to work on-campus or off-campus. There are many jobs available for students in many industries. If you want more information on work in the UK, you can go through these:
Top 5 Tips for Finding Jobs in the UK as an International Student
How To Start Freelancing As A Student
- Minimum Wages in UK 2023
As per the National Living Wage, the minimum wage has risen to £11.44 an hour for those over 23 years old. If you are a student in the UK, you can work for twenty hours during the semester and earn this amount working anywhere.
How is the International Student Support Services?
There’s a great support system for international students in the UK. The university is there to assist students with all their needs and requirements. If you need support for visa, immigration, university, etc, they can guide you. Even in terms of accommodation, they can assist you in finding on-campus housing. For academic help, there’s a particular department, too. There’s the student union run by students for any form of support.
Student Communities
Starting afresh in a new country and university can be scary and confusing. But with the support of the university student community, you can be at ease. The Universities help students make an easy transition to college life. It does not mean only academics; they provide support through your needs. It’s advisable to contact your university’s student community once you enroll in one.
Popular universities and Popular Courses
The UK is home to the top universities in the world, and they are recognized globally. Most of them are public universities and offer financial aid for international students. Some of the top 5 universities in the UK are listed below. For more detailed information on each university, you can read through our blog Best Universities in UK with Acceptance Rate
Cambridge University
QS World University Ranking: 2
The University of Cambridge is a public research university founded in 1209 and remains to be the third oldest institution in the world. The university has over six schools and 31 colleges with more than 150 departments. The university has gained its reputation not only as the number one university in the UK but also achieved its stature for maintaining high scores and indicators above the rest of the universities in the UK. There are many off-campus student accommodations near this university, too. The popular courses in Cambridge University are:
- Computer Science
- Law
- Economics
- Education
- Psychology
- Architecture
- Biological Sciences
- Chemical Engineering
- Engineering
Imperial College London
QS World University Ranking: 3
The Imperial College of London is a public research university founded in 1907. It has over six campuses spread across England, making it easier to find student accommodation in London as per campus. The college holds second place in the British ranking and remains one of the most prestigious universities in the world, too. It has high grounds when it comes to quality of education and research innovation. ICL is strong in its efforts to provide women with a better education and career in the fields of technology, science, math, design, and engineering. The popular courses in ICL are:
- Medicine
- Natural Sc
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Mathematics
- Civil Engineering
University College London
QS World University Ranking: 4
This year, UCL dropped one place down in global rankings, but it is still on the list of world rankings. UCL is a public research and second-largest university in the UK, founded in 1826. When it comes to research, the college holds second place in the ranking in the UK and the world. The college has campuses in three locations in the UK.It is an award-winning sustainable university that focuses on subjects that impact the world; it is home to many international students from over 150 countries, offering over 400 programs. The most popular courses in UCL are:
- Computer SC
- Medicine
- Civil engineering
- Architecture
- Education
- Anthropology
The University of Edinburgh
QS World University Ranking: 5
The University of Edinburgh is a public research university founded in 1853, and it’s the only high-ranking university in Scotland. In terms of sustainability, the university takes the 6th place and takes the title of being a sustainable university in the UK. It has three Colleges containing a total of 21 Schools. The popular courses in the University of Edinburgh are:
- English
- Economics
- Archaeology
- Computer Sc
- Chemistry
- Business
- Chemical Engineering
The University of Manchester
QS World University Ranking: 6
The University of Manchester is a public university founded in 2004 with a main campus in the south of Manchester city. There are two others located on Oxford Rd and Sackville Street. The university holds a ranking not only in the UK but globally, too, for its reputation and the prestigious awards it’s received over the years. The University of Manchester is known as one of the best business schools in the world. The most popular courses in the University of Manchester are:
- Maths
- Arts & Humanities
- Engineering
- Physics
- Sciences
If you want more detailed information on the courses, this blog, Types of Courses valid under UK Student Visa, is recommended.
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