The cost of living in the UK depends on various factors such as location and on your own particular lifestyle. How much you spend will also be affected by the length of your stay in the UK.

However, here is a rough estimate of how much most international students spend during one academic year (36 weeks). A lot depends on the standard of living you expect to enjoy. The first couple of months will see you spending more than what your average expenditure will be in the full academic year. It will be high around the beginning as you would be paying out for things like accommodation deposits, buying groceries and only refilling them over a period of time, books, opening a new bank account, registering for National Insurance Number, and travel.

The cost of living in the UK varies depending on whether you live in or outside London and on your own particular lifestyle. The following is a guide:

These figures include the cost of accommodation, heating, lighting, food, clothing, books and daily travel for one person for one year.

We recommend that you carry some money in the form of currency notes and some in the form of traveller’s cheques and some as plastic money for when you first arrive in the UK and then once you have been able to open a bank account you will be able to transfer money from abroad.

There are some special reductions offered to students at many local shops, theatres, cinemas, museums and galleries; and special student fares are available on buses and trains. You normally need to show your student ID card to be able to take advantage of the reductions.