UK Student Finance
An A-Z of Student Finance

Tuition Fees & Living Costs

If you are planning to go into higher education, it’s important to know what it’s likely to cost. Then you can see how much money you will need and how to budget.

The two types of financial costs you’ll face as a full-time or part-time student in higher education are:

·        tuition fees

·        your day-to-day living expenses

Tuition Fees

Tuition fees help cover the costs of universities or colleges, such as salaries of teaching staff and the cost of the facilities. You will be able to borrow money to pay these fees.

You can search for information about tuition fees for individual courses through the UCAS website.

 

Full-time students in 2006/2007

If you are starting a course from September 2006 onwards, the tuition fees you are charged can be up to a maximum of £3,000 a year, depending on your university, the course you choose and where in the UK you study.

If you are starting your course having taken a gap year in 2005/2006, different rules apply.

If you started your course before September 2006, the tuition fee contribution you can be charged will be up to a maximum of £1,200 a year in 2006/2007. How much you pay will depend on your personal circumstances.

Full-time students in 2007/2008

If you are starting a course from September 2007 onwards, the tuition fees you are charged can be up to a maximum of £3,070 a year.

Tuition fees for part-time students

There are no regulations on how much tuition fees part-time students can be charged. You should speak to your university or college to find out how much they charge and by how much the fees are likely to rise over the length of your course.

Living Costs

You’ll face various costs of living as a student. These will be higher if you live away from home, and higher still if you live away from home and study in London.

Living costs include:

·        accommodation – this is likely to be your single biggest living expense, and you may be expected to contribute to household expenses even if you live at home

·        food

·        household bills – gas, electricity, water rates, phone, TV licence, contents insurance (some of these are covered by rent in halls of residence)

·        clothes

·        travel

·        socialising

·        leisure and sport

·        study costs such as books, materials and field trips for your course

Budgeting

It’s really important to have a good idea of how much money you’re going to need to meet these costs over the length of your course.

·        try to work out a weekly or monthly budget and stick to it

·        remember that any grant or loan you receive is meant to last you until the beginning of the next term – including holidays

Financial Help with Living Costs

Your living costs are looked at differently depending on whether you are a full-time or part-time student.

As a part-time student it is assumed that your living costs are met elsewhere (such as through working, savings or benefits). However, you may be eligible for a grant to help with the costs of your course.
 

 

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