Money matters

Non-UK student fees

If you are planning to study in the United Kingdom and want to attend a publicly funded training provider, your fee status (whether you pay full-cost fees or a subsidised fee rate) will be determined by the UK training provider you plan to attend.

Before you decide which training provider to attend, you need to be absolutely certain that you can pay the full cost of:


  • your tuition fees (the amount is set by training providers, so contact them for more information - visit the websites for training providers that you are considering because many list their fees)
  • the everyday living expenses for you and your family for the whole time that you are in the UK, including accommodation, food, heat, light, clothes and travel
  • books and equipment for your course
  • travel to and from your country.

You must include everything when you work out how much it will cost. You can get information to help you work this out accurately from training providers' international offices, UKCISA (UK Council for International Student Affairs) and the British Council.

UNIAID provides a useful finance calculator for international students, which will help you to manage your money whilst studying in the UK.

The UNIAID Student Life Wiki is an interactive university guide which allows students to view and edit articles about their town, university, living costs, and much more.

There may also be scholarships available. Your local British Council office (or their website)should have information about general scholarships. Training providers will put information about their own scholarships on their websites.

Financial help for EU students in England, Northern Ireland or Wales

If you are a British student but you live outside the UK or you are an EU citizen, you may be eligible for financial help to cover the cost of tuition fees for studying in England, Northern Ireland or Wales. The www.direct.gov.uk website has further information.

You may be eligible to apply for financial help to cover the cost of your tuition fees if:

  • you are an EU national or a family member of an EU national (The 27 EU countries are: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, The Netherlands, United Kingdom)
  • you have been living within the EEA or Switzerland for the three years immediately before the start of your course
  • your main reason for being in the EEA or Switzerland is not to receive full-time education.

In some circumstances, students from EEA countries or Switzerland may also be able to apply for help with living costs. If you or your parent, guardian or partner was temporarily employed outside the EEA and Switzerland for all or part of the three-year period, you may still qualify for finance.

Financial help for EU students in Scotland

If you are an EU citizen and would like to study in Scotland, please visit the SAAS website for more information.

Financial help for non-EU students

You will need to contact the training providers that you are considering for precise information on course fees and financial help available for you. Most training providers will also display this information on their websites.

Additionally UKCISA and the British Council will be able to assist you in your enquiry.