Many students and parents have the misconception that studying in the UK will be more expensive than staying in the US. They couldn’t be more wrong!
Studying in the UK ends up being the same cost, if not cheaper, than studying in the US. According to this recent article from Forbes, US university tuition and expenses are higher than almost every other country.
University Tuition and Living Costs in the UK vs. the US
Going to university in the UK is far more financially beneficial to go to university in the UK than in the US. The average tuition for a year of education in the UK can range from $12,000 – $31,000 for a year 3 bachelor’s degree, compared to the US, where the average tuition for one year is $25,707 (in-state tuition) and can go up to $54,501 (private universities).
As for Living expenses (accommodation + travel + food, etc.) can be anywhere from $11,000 to $18,000 per year (British Council, 2022).
Some students manage to do things even cheaper than that! It depends on your lifestyle, and if you’re living in student housing, or private housing, with or without flatmates.
Why are UK degrees generally cheaper? Let’s go over the reasons why, as well as the ways US students fund their UK studies.
UK Degrees are Shorter in Length
Students can complete both their bachelor’s and master’s degree in just 4 years – saving them 2 years of expensive tuition and living expenses.
Standard degrees in England, Wales and Northern Ireland universities are 3 years in length. Master’s degrees are completed in 1 year. PhD’s can range from 3 to 4 years.
Of course, there are some exceptions to this rule for specialty programs, but the lengths mentioned above are generally the case. Cutting out an extra year of study is undoubtedly going to save a student a lot of cash!
As for Scotland, bachelor’s degrees are 4 years in length. The price a student would pay studying in Scotland would be comparable to studying at an in-state university in the US, however, the experience couldn’t quite compare.
So, if you are looking to strategically save and earn both your bachelor’s and master’s degree, the UK is a highly attractive option. Earning both degrees in the US could take as long as 6 years or more. Can you imagine coming back to the US with a master’s degree, while your friends studying in the US have just completed or are trying to complete their bachelor’s degree?
? Need help with your UCAS application? Get our UCAS Guide for $39
Costs Vary by University and Location
There is a narrow range of tuition costs across the UK, thus, it’s pretty easy to apply to universities within your budget with a little research. Not surprisingly, universities outside of London will be cheaper than universities within London, especially when it comes to accommodation and living costs. Welsh universities end up being a steal, so don’t sleep on them!
Furthermore, if a university is really well known or very highly ranked, they may be more expensive than universities that are lesser known. Our search tool can help you discover universities that offer a good education, but aren’t as well known as some of the main contenders you’ve already heard of.
Using FAFSA to Fund Your UK Studies
Did you know that FAFSA will let you use your student loans for UK universities? The process works the same as the US: UK universities have FAFSA codes you can easily plug into the application.
Once you confirm an offer at a UK university, you’ll work with the finance team to complete the FAFSA process. It’s really that simple!
Scholarships are Available
UK universities open up scholarships to students in early spring. Scholarships typically range from £1,000 – £5,000 and are applied for after you send in your university application. Many students are able to win scholarships that help offset costs.
If you are looking for larger scholarships, check out our scholarships page to learn a variety of options.
Employment in the UK as a Student
Beyond loans and scholarships, you can actually work up to 20 hours in the UK while studying. Outside of term, students are able to work up to 40 hours a week. This is not a common practice in every country, so it’s a nice bonus that the UK offers students this option.
Application Fees are Cheap and/or Non Existent
One thing to note is that application fees are also very cheap in the UK. It’s roughly $30 to apply to up to 5 universities for bachelor’s programs, and generally free to apply to master’s and PhD programs (except for some specialty programs, like MBA’s). This makes it easy and cheap for a student to apply to UK programs.
Resources: Education Data Initiative
How The UK Study Expert Can Help You
Are you in the process of finding the right fit UK university? Check out our university search engine. Where you’ll be able to learn about UK universities and their entry requirements.
Or you can find your best university by taking our free UK University Quiz Match.
Need to speak to an advisor about studying in the UK? Check our Services webpage to see what the best available options are for your needs.
Need help figuring out your UCAS application? Check out our step-by-step UCAS Guide!
About the Author:
Ashley Jeanson is an international education expert with over 9 years of experience in the field. She’s worked for a mixture of study abroad providers, universities in the US and the UK, and third-party providers, mostly specializing in helping American students attend UK universities. In her spare time, she travels the globe and is eternally in search of the best cup of coffee.
