The Costs of Higher Education

•  accommodation
•  general living expenses
•  tuition fees.   

Universities charge in the region of £65 - £120 per week for accommodation in their halls of residence. These costs depend on whether the halls are full board or self-catering and include all bills apart from telephone and internet connection costs.  

The average weekly cost of private rented student accommodation in the UK is around £60, this is exclusive of bills.

• food
• toiletries
• clothes
• insurance
• books
• stationery
• travel
• social activities, and 
• phone bills.        

The National Union of Students (NUS) estimates that the average student spent around £8,338 on general living expenses during the 2005-06 academic year.

Students now have to pay money directly to universities to help cover the cost of their education.  There are different systems in place in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

Students are not expected to pay tuition fees before they study (although they can pay them in one lump sum if they wish to). Instead, they will be able to take out a loan to cover the fees which will be paid directly to the university on their behalf.  These loans are referred to as 'fee loans':

• 
  They have a very low interest rate which is linked to the rate of inflation.  

• No loan repayments will have to be made until after graduation, and not until earnings exceed £15,000 per annum.

• The size of monthly repayment will be linked to the rate of income.

• Payments will usually be made automatically through the Pay as You Earn (PAYE) system and will be collected by HM Revenue and Customs (formerly the Inland Revenue).

Choose the region you are interested in studying in, for more information on the cost of tuition in that area: