Cost of Studying in UK for Indian Students in 2027

The cost of studying in the UK has risen over the years. Increasing examination, visa and living costs also lead to an increase in the total cost of studying in the UK. 

Unlike other countries where the tuition fee depends on the course, in the UK the tuition fee is decided on the basis of the type of structure the course has. It means that if your course is focused on classroom learning, lectures, etc., then the fee for that course will be different from a course which is focused on practical learning, laboratories, etc. An immigration statistics report released sometime back stated that a total of 95,000 visas were given to students from India in 2024-25.

Medical courses are very different from both of these, and it focuses on both classroom learning and working in the laboratory for different kinds of experiments. The cost of tuition fees for medical courses and an MBA in UK is very high compared to other courses. The reason behind this is that these courses are highly specialised and in high demand.

Cost of Studying in the UK for Indian Students

The average total cost of studying in the UK for Indian students ranges from £22,000 to £55,000 per year (approximately ₹28 lakh to ₹71 lakh) 0 depending on your university, course, city and various other factors. The cost of studying slightly increases every year owing to inflation and the rising maintenance funds for quality education. Your cost of studying in the UK is determined by a number of components, such as - 

1. Tuition fees

2. Living Costs

3. UK Student Visa Fees, IHS and the TB Test Fees (one-time payable)

4. English Test Fees (one-time payable)

5. Airfare (one-time payable)

In the coming sections, we will discuss all these components and determine how much Indian students have to pay on average during each step of their higher education journey in the UK. 

Tuition Fees in the UK for Indian Students

The tuition fees in the UK for Indian students vary based on several parameters, such as:

1. The level of your degree (whether a bachelor’s or master’s degree)

2. The ranking/reputation of the programme/university you’re going to study/study at.

3. The city where you choose to study

4. The high demand and limited availability of seats for particular courses (for example, degrees in medicine and related fields tend to be the costliest in the UK, while degrees in humanities and social science tend to be the cheapest).

As per the British Council, the average cost of tuition for undergraduate courses in the UK for Indian students ranges from £11,400 to £38,000 a year. Also, as per the standards, the bachelor’s degrees in Wales, England and Northern Ireland last for three years, while in Scotland, these degrees usually last 4 years. So, the average tuition fee range for a 3-year bachelor's degree in the UK is around £34,200 to £114,000, while for a 4-year bachelor's degree it is £45,600 to £152,000.

Similarly, the average cost of tuition for master’s courses in the UK ranges from £9,000 to £30,000. As most of the master’s courses in the UK conclude in one year, the above-given range is the final range for average master’s fees in the UK. After the first year, if students wish to continue living in the UK and look for a job for themselves, they can switch to the Graduate Route. The cost that students will then have to pay will only be their living costs and the cost of switching from the Student Visa to the Graduate Route in the UK. 

Table Note: All the GBP to INR conversions done in the above and the remaining tables in this article are done as per the exchange rate on Sep 07, 2026, i.e. GBP 1 = INR 127.65

Note: The above figures are averages only. They do not describe the exact highest and lowest figures of the fees range. If you wish to study in the UK affordably, you may explore the courses offered by the cheapest universities in the UK.

Cost of Living in UK Rises from Nov 2026 for International Students

As per Economic Times (ET), the financial requirements for the UK Student Visa are going to increase from Nov 30, 2026. From Nov 30, 2026 onwards, international students, including Indian students, will be required to show an amount of GBP 1,570 per month for courses in London for up to 9 months. Similarly, GBP 1,203 per month will be required as proof of funds for courses outside London for a period of 9 months. This money should be available in your bank account for 28 consecutive days - counted backwards from the date of your most recent evidence/proof of funds. 

The major portion of the living costs in the UK comes from accommodation. Private accommodations in the UK are costly, while shared and student accommodations are a lot cheaper. In shared accommodations, students can even share their electricity, water, gas and WiFi bills along with sharing groceries. This type of living proves to be a lot more affordable for Indian students, plus they end up making connections they can relish for life!

UK Student Visa and IHS Fees for Indian Students 2026-27

The UK student visa fee for Indian students was last updated in April 2026. The current fee for the UK student visa is GBP 558. As the Immigration Health Surcharge is mandatory for international students, Indian students are required to pay an additional fee of GBP 776 towards the IHS in UK - for each year you’re going to study in the UK. 

Important Note:

1. The IHS needs to be paid in full - for the complete duration of your programme - at the same time as you apply for a UK student visa. 

2. The IHS is calculated for periods of 6 months, and you will have to cover extra months that you would need to switch to other visa types. So, for example, if you’re going to study a 3-year bachelor’s degree, you will have to pay towards the IHS for 3.5 years. Whereas for a 1-year master’s course, you’ll be required to pay towards the IHS for 1.5 years.

This makes your total:

• For bachelor’s courses of 3 years: GBP 558 + GBP 2,716 (covering 3.5 years) = GBP 3,274

• For master’s courses: GBP 558 + GBP 1,164 (covering 1.5 years) = GBP 1,722

*The Exchange Rate used is GBP 1 = INR 127.65

Indian students are also required to submit their Tuberculosis Test reports along with their application for UK student visa. This test generally costs INR 1,800 to INR 3,700. 

English Test Fees for Studying in the UK

English tests that are most commonly accepted by universities in the UK include - IELTS Academic, TOEFL iBT and PTE Academic. Even though these tests differ a lot in terms of their syllabus, length, and exam patterns, they cost similarly for Indian students. The IELTS Academic exam costs INR 19,000, TOEFL iBT costs INR 18,000 and PTE Academic costs INR 18,900. So, on average, for budgeting purposes, Indian students may keep aside an amount of INR 19,000 for English tests.

UK University Application Fees 2027

For undergraduate courses, the standard route is to apply via UCAS. The UCAS application fees in 2027 for undergraduate courses in the UK are GBP 34.50 for 5 university and course choices. This comes to around INR 4403.77 for Indian students. 

On the other hand, for master’s courses, universities generally accept a direct application - submitted via their online, dedicated application portals. While most universities don’t charge an application fee for international students, the ones that do only charge a minimal fee. The average university application fees for master’s courses in the UK range from GBP 00 to GBP 60, which converts to INR 00 to INR 7658.74, per master’s application.

Cost of One-Way Flight Ticket to the UK

The flight ticket cost can vary a lot depending on how early you book, where you fly into London Heathrow versus regional hubs like Manchester or Edinburgh and where you take the flight from within India. Whichever way you choose, the one-way flight tickets to the UK can cost anywhere from around INR 45,000 to INR 90,000 for Indian students. 

Total Cost of Studying in the UK for Indian Students

Indian students will be required to bear the following costs as part of their complete expenses of studying in the UK in the first year:

This comes down to the total average cost of studying in the UK to be approximately INR 52.57 L for a bachelor’s course and INR 43.94 L for a master’s course.

If you plan to live specifically in London or outside London, the total averages will shift by roughly INR 2.1 L up or down.

Working on a UK Student Visa

Can working part-time on a UK student visa help me cover my expenses to study in the UK? Well, this is a common question in most students’ minds. For the benefit of students, the UK government allows international students to work part-time during their period of study in the country. Students on a UK student visa for a full-time degree can work part-time for up to 20 hours a week and can make a minimum of GBP 10.85 to GBP 12.71 per hour depending strictly on their age (age 18 to 20: GBP 10.85 per hour, and age 20 and above: GBP 12.71 per hour). To ensure all their students fulfil the requirements of earning a degree after the course completion, most UK universities recommend that international students work part-time for only 15 hours a week. This makes sure that students are not spending most of their time in on-campus/off-campus jobs/internships.

In conclusion, Indian students can earn somewhere between GBP 900 and GBP 1,300 from part-time jobs while studying in the UK, which corresponds to INR 1.15 L to INR 1.66 L per month. This amount of money is not sufficient to cover their monthly living expenses in full, but it contributes more than 50% of the actual expenses. Students can either use this amount as extra pocket money or keep it for their savings. In the end, the part-time job doesn’t just profit students monetarily but also helps them obtain valuable work experience in the UK.

This was all about the cost of studying in the UK for Indian students in 2026-27. If you wish to study in the UK, you may reach out to Shiksha’s Counselling Services for free. You may also drop your queries in the comments section below.