International students look forward to achieving a master’s degree in the UK, owing to its top-ranked universities and a high standard of education. In terms of nationality, there were 55,465 Indians on study visas in the UK as per reports for 2022, highlighting the country’s popularity among Indian students.
With 706,995 postgraduate taught course enrollments in the country (per Higher Education Student Statistic 2021-22 report), the UK is a great choice if you want to study a master’s program abroad.
The cost of studying a master's in the UK for international students can differ greatly depending on the university, the course specifically and even the city of study. Before applying for a master’s in the UK, it is important to understand the overall studying cost in the UK.
Read on to know how much pursuing a master’s degree will cost you in the UK.
World-class Education: UK education system is recognized worldwide and valued for their academic excellence & research output. In 2021-22, there were 2,182,560 students pursuing higher education in the country, with 444,760 postgraduate students and 285 providers of higher education.
Multiple Programs: With hundreds of universities in the UK offering master's programs in different disciplines, students have abundant options to fit their academic and future career plans.
Focus on Research: There is a strong focus on research at UK universities, with 54% of research conducted by universities in Britain being classified as internationally excellent or world-leading per the Research Assessment Exercise.
International Recognition: A master's degree from a UK university is globally recognized and respected by employers worldwide, enhancing career prospects.
Choice of Universities: There are over 90 globally ranked institutions in the UK, including some of the oldest and most prestigious universities like Oxford, Cambridge, and Imperial College London.
Now that we have discussed the benefits of pursuing higher education in the UK, let us look at an important aspect affecting this decision, i.e., the cost of pursuing master’s in the UK for international students.
What are Pre-Application Expenditures
There are certain costs involved before you start studying. These are known as pre-arrival expenditures. Prospective students should also consider these expenses when calculating total cost of studying in the UK.
I have listed below a few important pre-application expenses associated with studying in the UK in 2024.
Application Fees: Most universities charge an application fee, typically ranging from £25 to £160 per application.
Standardized Tests: Depending on your chosen course, you may need to take standardized tests, such as the IELTS or TOEFL for English proficiency or GRE/GMAT for specific graduate programs. These tests also incur a fee. For example,
IELTS registration fee in India is INR 17,000, while TOEFL will cost you INR 16,900.
GRE is INR 22,500 and the GMAT registration amounts to $275, which is approximately INR 22,967.
Visa Application Fees: There are costs associated with applying for a student visa (Tier 4 visa) to study in the UK. A student visa application fee is £490 for international aspirants.
What Are Post-Admission Expenditures in UK
Post-admission expenses include costs incurred after your admission to a particular university. This includes tuition fees and additional costs like books supplies, lab charges, field trips, etc.
Tuition Fees:
The tuition fees for various top universities in the UK for a master’s degree are given below:
Apart from tuition fees, some universities may also charge additional fees to cover your lab costs, etc. These may go up to £1,000 per term and the costs of any extra consumables. Field trip costs may vary, going up to around £90 per trip.
Application Expenses in UK
Once you are prepared with all the necessary documents, GMAT or GRE scores, and your English test scores (TOEFL or IELTS), you can proceed to apply to universities in the UK.
Submitting your application requires you to pay an amount to pay an application fee without which your application submission will not be successful. This is the second MS in the UK cost that you’ll have to budget for.
Application cost varies from university to university. However, the cost ranges £25 to £160, depending on the course you are applying for. Once the university accepts your fees, students must make additional payments such as tuition fees, lab charges, student visa charges, health insurance costs, and others as a part of their degree fees to complete their admission formalities.
According to a Times Higher Education report, international students can expect to pay anywhere between £10,000-£26,000 on an average annually for their studies.
Here are the MS fees for different courses across some of the UK’s top universities.
Course Name
University
Course Fee
QS University Ranking 2025
QS Subject Ranking 2024
MSc in Social Data Science
University of Oxford
£33,970
#3
#4
MSc by Research in Physiology, Anatomy, and Genetics
MPhil in Biological Science (Psychology) by thesis
University of Cambridge
£56,083
#5
#3
MPhil in Advanced Computer Science
University of Cambridge
£55,663
#5
#8
Source: university website
Fees in Different Locations in UK
Location
Average Tuition Fees
England
£9,250
Wales
£9,250
Scotland
£9,250
Northern Ireland
£9,250
Source: BBC July 2024 article
MS in UK Scholarships for International Students
Scholarship
Offered By
Awarded Amount
Who Is It For?
Chevening Scholarship
Government
Full tuition + living expenses
Those from eligible countries with an undergraduate degree, two years of work experience, and an unconditional offer from one out of three eligible courses.
Commonwealth Scholarship
Various
Full tuition + travel + living expenses
Citizens or permanent residents of Commonwealth countries with demonstrated financial need and an undergraduate honors degree of a minimum of upper second class (2:1).
GREAT Scholarships
Various
£10,000
Indian citizens with undergraduate degrees, meeting English language requirements, and willing to work as ambassadors, attend networking events, and speak to potential scholars.
Rhodes Scholarship
University of Oxford
Full tuition + living expenses
Citizens of India completing school-leaving/undergraduate programs and between 18-23 years of age. A first-class honors degree and academic achievements are necessary.
Gates Cambridge Scholarship
University of Cambridge
Full tuition + living expenses
Citizens of any country outside the UK, applying for PhD, one-year postgraduate courses, or MLitt programs. The course should be eligible for the scholarship.
Source: official scholarship websites
UK Visa Application Cost
The UK student visa fee is £490 for those applying from outside the country.
Student Visa Process & Requirements for UK
The UK student visa process generally involves the following steps:
Acceptance to a Course: Receive an unconditional offer from a licensed Tier 4 sponsor (university).
Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS): Obtain a CAS from the university, which includes details of the course, fees, and other relevant information.
Financial Requirements: Demonstrate sufficient funds to cover tuition fees and living costs.
Healthcare Surcharge: Pay the Immigration Healthcare Surcharge (IHS) to access the UK's National Health Service (NHS).
Visa Application: Complete the online visa application form, pay the visa fee, and provide biometric information.
Interview: Attend an interview (if required) at a visa application center.
As of 2024, international students completing a recognized UK master’s, or PhD program can apply for the Graduate visa, which allows them to stay in the UK and work at any skill level for up to two years. This provides valuable work experience and opportunities to secure employment in the UK after completing studies.
Cost of Living in UK
The living cost in the United Kingdom is much higher than in India. However, internship and scholarship programs can help manage the cost of living. Apart from general factors like food, transport, and utilities, living costs also depend on the location.
For example, if you are taking admission to the London School of Economics, you need to stay in London itself, and the cost of living there is very high.
4 Effective Ways to Manage Your Master’s Cost in UK
Scholarships:
Students can apply for various university and government-offered scholarships to help them reduce the burden of living costs.
UK student discount hacks:
In the UK, several student discounts and other international student cards are available. Apart from this, special discounts on travel and other lifestyle hacks are also available, and you can save a ton of money by just showing them your student card.
Part-time jobs:
International students can apply for a part-time job as this would allow them to survive without overspending from their own pocket. They can earn approximately £15,000-£26,000 annually (per Glassdoor, July 2024), depending on the nature of the job and other factors.
On-campus jobs:
Many universities offer on campus jobs to students.
If the UK is your dream destination to study abroad, you must be aware of the costs involved so that it is easy to manage the expenses once you start living in the country. It is home to some of the top-ranked and prestigious universities and colleges for master’s specializations and degrees.
For more queries related to the cost of master’s in the UK, get in touch with upGrad Abroad counselors.
FAQs on Cost of Masters in UK
How much does MS in the UK cost in Indian rupees?
The total tuition cost of MS in the UK can be anywhere between £9,000 – £30,000 or approximately INR 9.72-32.40 lakh.
What is the average fees for masters in the UK?
The average fees for MS in the UK is about £9,000 – £30,000.
Is the USA cheaper to study or the UK?
Studying in the UK is more affordable than studying in the US. Most top universities in the US have high tuition fees, and the cost of living is high too. The UK also offers one-year master’s programs which helps save costs.
For example, studying MS in Computer Science at the University of Stanford will cost approximately $61,095 per year, while an MSc in Advanced Computer Science at Oxford University costs £36,000 ($46,315) for the one-year program.
Which college has the lowest fees in the UK?
Coventry University possibly has the lowest fees in the UK, going as low as £9,000 for undergraduate students.
Which UK city has the most Indian students?
London hosts the largest population of Indian students, followed by cities like Manchester and Birmingham. London’s diverse and inclusive environment, coupled with numerous job opportunities, makes it a preferred destination.
How much can we earn in the UK while studying?
International students can work up to 20 hours per week during term time and full-time during holidays. The national minimum wage is £8.60, allowing students to earn a minimum of £172 per week during term time.
Which job is best for students in the UK?
On-campus jobs are the best for students. For example, working as a server in an on-campus restaurant, teaching assistant, tutor or research assistant.
This is because students do not have to commute to other locations for jobs and can easily pursue all campus activities and attend classes without having to disrupt their schedules.
How much do Indian students earn in the UK?
The UK has a minimum wage of £8.60. Now, Indian students working part-time in the UK can earn around £15,000-£26,000 per year (according to the Glassdoor, July 2024 stats), depending on the number of hours worked and the type of job.
Pragya Sharma is a content developer and marketer with 6.5+ years of experience in the education industry. She started her career as a social media copywriter for NIELIT, Ministry of Electronics & IT, and has now scaled up as a 360-degree content professional well-versed with the intricacies of digital marketing and different forms of content used to drive and hook the target audience.
She is also a co-author of 2 stories in an anthology based on the theme- women empowerment.
Gauri Agrawal is a passionate, professional and proactive content marketer who wants to grow in the field of content creation.
She carries a rich experience of working in the Digital News sector with renowned names like Times Now Digital, and News X as a Copy Editor.
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