On a budget? Check out these 6 UK universities with affordable tuition

A chance to stay and work in the UK after graduation. Home to renowned landmarks like the British Parliament, Roman Baths, and Stonehenge. Top-ranked universities. The prestige of a UK degree. It’s not surprising why 605,130 international students chose the UK for the 2020-21 academic term, according to the Higher Education Student Statistics.

Studying in the UK is expensive, though.

International students can pay up to 38,000 pounds per year for undergraduate programmes and 30,000 pounds per year for postgraduate ones. This does not include the money students would likely have to spend on housing, food, and travel.

Fortunately, there are cheap universities in the UK for those looking for a more affordable option.

While they might not be well-known like King’s College London or the University of Manchester, students are guaranteed to enjoy a quality international education without breaking the bank.

Cheap universities in the UK for international students

You might not have heard of these universities, but they are uncompromising in their quality. Source: Brandon Bell/Getty Images North America/Getty Images/AFP

University of Bolton

The University of Bolton prides itself in having a diverse student body — with over 120 nationalities represented on campus. On top of that, the university has some of the lowest staff-to-student teaching ratios in the country.

You can explore unique career options through their various programmes. They cater to those interested in Automotive Performance Engineering, Fashion Photography, Visual Effects, Sport Rehabilitation, and many more.

For the 2024-25 academic term, the tuition fee for their undergraduate programmes starts at 15,950 pounds.

Queen Margaret University

Eager to pursue a career in business, nursing, or performing arts on a campus near the centre of Scotland’s capital? Queen Margaret University (QMU) might just be the place for you. Less than six minutes from Edinburgh city centre, QMU is within walking distance of Musselburgh town centre with easy access to East Lothian’s beautiful coast and countryside.

As for their programmes, QMU has various undergraduate offerings in the industries mentioned above and many others, like health sciences, education, and social sciences. Faculty members are also actively involved in research activities.

QMU’s tuition fees for their 2024-25 undergraduate programmes cost around 8,000 pounds.

 

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Southampton Solent University

Dating as far as 1856, Southampton Solent University kept itself relevant by offering experiential learning opportunities for undergraduate students to gain valuable real-world experience. Take, for example, Solent Creatives. The student-powered creative agency supports students eager to kickstart their careers in marketing, media production, and many more.

The university is located in Southampton, allowing international students to explore some of the city’s best entertainment and nightlife. Those who fancy a change in scenery can take a day trip to London, Bournemouth, or Portsmouth.

Like most UK universities, the fee structure will vary according to courses. If you are interested in pursuing a BSc Cyber Security, you can expect to pay 16,125 pounds for the 2024-25 academic year.

Leeds Beckett University 

Leeds Beckett University offers the best of both worlds. Its City Campus is nestled in the heart of Leeds. Meanwhile, the Headingley campus is set on 100 acres of parkland — offering easy access to Leeds city centre and is adjacent to the vibrant student towns like Headingley and Hyde Park.

The university’s teaching team bring a wealth of experience to ensure students are ready for the workplace. Picture Matty Bovan – described as one of “London’s pre-eminent young designers“ – as a teacher in class. Work placement opportunities also help international students to become more employable.

Generally, you can expect to pay around 16,000 pounds for the 2024-2025 academic year.

 

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Liverpool Hope University

Any international student can find a place at Liverpool Hope University. Located in one of the top three friendliest cities in the UK, Liverpool’s pool of world-famous architecture, great museums, and non-stop activity means students here have a life within and outside of the university’s halls.

In academia, the university received a silver rating in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) 2023. Its Computer Science and Information Systems programme ranked in the top 10 in the The Guardian University Guide 2024, while the History programme ranked within the top 20.

Liverpool Hope’s tuition fees for their 2024-25 undergraduate programmes cost around 13,000 pounds per year, and if you have completed a full-time undergraduate course at Liverpool Hope within the last three years, you will be charged home fees for postgraduate study. This will range between 7,500 – 9,000 pounds for most postgraduate degrees, with the exception of the International MBA, which will cost 13,000 pounds.

Plymouth Marjon University

Located in Britain’s Ocean City, Plymouth Marjon University is a gem in plain sight. Ranked #3 in England for student satisfaction (The Complete University Guide 2025) and in the top three universities in the country for social inclusion (Good University Guide 2024), it’s clear that students who make their way here will find themselves happy with their choice.

Plymouth Marjon offers a range of undergraduate programmes from the fields of arts and humanities, business, criminology, education in communities and with children, health and wellbeing, and sports, PE and training.

For the 2024-25 academic term, the tuition fee for undergraduate programmes costs 14,500 pounds.

Disclaimer: This article was last updated on June 26, 2024.