Is Imperial College London Expensive for Indian Students? Cost Breakdown & Expenses
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Imperial College is a dream university for most Indian students. However, the question of whether Imperial College London is affordable for Indian students is raised very often by students on Shiksha and other popular student community forums. In this guide, we break down the actual cost of studies at Imperial College UK for Indian students and also the steps they can take to reduce their overall cost of studies in London.
- Imperial College London Cost for Indian Students 2026
- Tips for Indian Students to Save Money in London
- Is Imperial College London actually expensive for Indian Students?
Imperial College London Cost for Indian Students 2026
Imperial College London Fees for Indian students interested in Master's courses range between GBP 18,350 and GBP 80,000 (INR 23.65 Lakhs and INR 1.03 Cr) per year. UG courses are slightly more affordable with tuition fees in the range of GBP 35,100 and GBP 42,000 (INR 45.27 Lakhs and INR 54.17 Lakhs) per year. Students pay a reduced fee of up to 20% of the overall tuition costs during their study abroad or work-placement years.
Cost of Living in London for Indian Students in 2026
The average annual cost of living in London for Indian students is GBP 22,041 (INR 28.4 Lakhs) per year. Mentioned below is a detailed breakdown of several aspects of living costs in London that Indian students need to plan for:
| Expense | Cost in GBP per month | Cost in INR per month |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | GBP 114-GBP 996 | INR 14.7 K-INR 1.28 Lakhs |
| Groceries and Food | GBP 307 | INR 39.6 K |
| Miscellaneous Costs | GBP 297 | INR 38.3 K |
| Travel | GBP 119 | INR 15.3 K |
| Total Estimated Monthly Cost | GBP 1,719 to GBP 1,837 | INR 2.2 Lakhs to INR 2.36 Lakhs |
Hidden Costs for Indian Students in London
Apart from the tuition and living costs, students also need to keep a budget in place for some other mandatory costs, such as visa fee, Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS), and application/exam fees. Mentioned below are the costs Indian students must plan for before packing their bags to London:
| Hidden Expense | Average Annual Cost in GBP | Average Cost in INR |
|---|---|---|
| Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) | GBP 776 | INR 1 Lakhs |
| Application Fee | UG: GBP 22.5-GBP 28.95 PG: GBP 90-GBP 150 |
UG: INR 2.9 K-INR 3.7 K PG: INR 11.5 K-INR 19.3 K |
| Books and Supplies | GBP 500-GBP 700 | INR 64.4 K-INR 90.2 K |
| Clothing | GBP 300-GBP 1,200 | INR 38.6 K-INR 1.55 Lakhs |
| Total | GBP 1,688.5-GBP 2854.95 | INR 2.17 Lakhs-INR 3.7 Lakhs |
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Tips for Indian Students to Save Money in London
Living in London is certainly hard on the purse. However, mentioned below are some tips that Indian students can follow to make their studies in London more affordable.
- Look for student discounts - Indian students in London can get special discounts at restaurants, movie halls, gyms, and high street stores. Students can also use a Student Oyster photo card or a 16-25 railcard that offers up to 30% discounts on train/tube fares per month.
- Opt for shared housing - Shared housing can help save GBP 600 to GBP 800 (INR 77.3 K to INR 1 Lakhs) per month. Sharing rooms with fellow Indian students may also help with homesickness.
- Land a part-time job early - There's no shortage of part-time jobs for Indian students in London. Retail staff, tutors, student ambassadors, and library assistants are some common roles that can help students make between GBP 10 and GBP 15 (INR 1.3 K and INR 1.9 K) per hour and help manage the daily costs of living.
- Apply for Scholarships - Imperial College UK offers several scholarships to help Indian students manage their costs in London. This includes the India Future Leadership Scholarship and the GREAT Scholarship India (worth INR 12.9 Lakhs). Students can also apply for external scholarships to study in the UK, such as the Chevening Scholarships India.
Check out the video below to get a glimpse of Indian student life at Imperial College London:
Is Imperial College London actually expensive for Indian Students?
With tuition costs above INR 40 Lakhs for most courses and the high costs of living, Imperial College is certainly among the most expensive universities in the UK for Indian students. But what Imperial offers, and most universities in the UK don't, is a global reputation (top 10 university in the world) and an excellent ROI (Return on Investment).
Its graduates earn six-figure salaries post-studies, which does make the high tuition costs worth it in the long term. Given below is a comparison between the tuition costs and the average salary earned by Imperial College grads:
| Course | Average Annual Tuition Costs | Average Annual Graduate Salary |
|---|---|---|
| MBA | GBP 78,000 (INR 1 Cr) | GBP 119,230 (INR 1.53 Cr) |
1 GBP = INR 129.00
Feeling overwhelmed by the high costs of studies at Imperial College London? Don't worry, get in touch with one of our Shiksha Study Abroad counsellors to get FREE counselling for the best alternative universities in the UK, how to get scholarships, find part-time jobs, affordable housing in the UK, and more.
Commonly asked questions
The Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) is a mandatory fee (GBP 776 or INR 1 Lakhs per year) paid by Indian students for the healthcare services offered by the National Health Service (NHS).
This allows students to get all healthcare benefits of a UK resident. The IHS covers hospital treatment, diagnostics, mental health services, dental services, and urgent medical needs.
For safety, access to university resources, and ease of making friends, living in university halls is usually better for 1st year Indian students in London.
Private rentals can be taken during later years. These can be more affordable (if shared), and offer better freedom to Indian students.
To know more, check out - the cheapest Accommodation for Indian Students in London
Indian students do face competition for part-time work in London. However, it is achievable if students start early, and use the right platforms. Networking with students on campus and applying heavily is key.
Retail Assistants, cafe/baristas staff, event staff, and library assistants are popular part-time work roles Indian students take in London.
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Akash Gaur, a BTech grad from Ghaziabad, is working as a Content Writer at Shiksha.com. In his role as a Study Abroad expert, Akash takes care of key pages for colleges and universities abroad. He creates, updates,
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