Costs and funding
How much does a UK Master's cost? A budgeting worksheet
Most budgeting mistakes come from planning around tuition alone. This worksheet separates what the university charges, what the UK government charges and what it costs to live, so you can compare courses on a like-for-like basis.
- Written by
- Devanka Pathak
- Reviewed by
- Devanka Pathak
- Published
- Last reviewed
Quick answer
How much does a Master's in the UK cost for an international student?
The total is tuition plus the visa application fee, the Immigration Health Surcharge, living costs and one-off costs such as deposits and travel. Tuition is set by each university and varies widely by subject and institution, so use the published international fee for your intake. The visa-related figures are fixed by the UK government and are listed below.
Last reviewed: 11 September 2026. Fees, visa rules and deadlines change. Check the official sources listed below before making decisions.
Key facts
- Student visa application (outside UK)
- £558
- Immigration Health Surcharge
- £776 per year for students
- Funds to evidence, outside London
- £1,171 per month for up to 9 months
- Funds to evidence, London
- £1,529 per month for up to 9 months
- ATAS certificate
- No fee
The full-cost worksheet
| Cost | Who sets it | How to estimate it |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition fee | The university | Use the international fee on the course page for your start year |
| Tuition deposit | The university | Usually deducted from tuition; check the amount, deadline and refund policy |
| Student visa application | UK government | £558 when applying from outside the UK |
| Immigration Health Surcharge | UK government | £776 per year of visa; periods of six months or less beyond whole years are charged at half the annual rate |
| Living costs | Your choices and location | Accommodation, food, transport, phone and study materials; London is usually more expensive |
| One-off costs | Various | Flights, accommodation deposits, winter clothing, English test and document fees |
Maintenance funds for your visa are not a living-cost estimate
For a Student visa, you must usually show that you have money to support yourself. GOV.UK sets this at £1,171 a month outside London and £1,529 a month in London, for up to nine months. That is £10,539 outside London or £13,761 in London for a course of nine months or more, in addition to any unpaid tuition for the first year.
- The money must be held for at least 28 consecutive days.
- The end of that 28-day period must be within 31 days of your visa application.
- These amounts are the evidence threshold for the visa. Your real living costs may be higher, particularly in expensive cities.
Comparing courses fairly
A cheaper course is not automatically better value, and an expensive course is not automatically better. Compare the full cost against what the course gives you: the depth of core modules, the quality of the dissertation or project, the relevance of the course to your goals and where graduates go next.
- Calculate the full cost for each shortlisted course using the same assumptions.
- Check whether scholarships are automatic, competitive or conditional on early deposit.
- Do not rely on part-time work to meet essential costs. Student visa work conditions apply, and intensive one-year courses leave little spare time.
- If you are considering an education loan, understand the repayment schedule before accepting an offer.
Scholarships and funding
Scholarships can reduce the cost but rarely cover everything. Many are university-specific tuition discounts; a smaller number of competitive national schemes cover more. Read our guide to UK scholarships for Indian students before building a scholarship into your budget.
Frequently asked questions
Why don't you list typical tuition fees?
Because fees differ substantially between universities and subjects and change every year. A single average would mislead you. Use the published fee for each course and intake, and we will help you compare them on a full-cost basis.
Is the Immigration Health Surcharge refundable?
Refunds only apply in specific circumstances set out by GOV.UK, such as a refused visa application. Check the official guidance for the current rules.
Do I have to show maintenance funds if my tuition is already paid?
Maintenance funds are separate from tuition. Paid tuition reduces the course fees you must show, but you still need to meet the living-cost requirement unless an exemption on GOV.UK applies to you.
Sources
- Student visa — GOV.UK, checked 11 September 2026
- Student visa: money you need — GOV.UK, checked 11 September 2026
- Pay for UK healthcare as part of your immigration application: how much you have to pay — GOV.UK, checked 11 September 2026
- Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) — GOV.UK, checked 11 September 2026
How this guidance was written
Written by Devanka Pathak. Devanka holds a PhD in Creative Computing from Bath Spa University, an MPhil in Gravitational Physics from Cardiff University and an MSc in Physics from Tezpur University, and has taught in UK higher education. Facts are checked against the official sources listed above and reviewed before publication. This page is general guidance, not immigration or legal advice, and does not guarantee any admission or visa outcome. Read our editorial standards.
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