9 UK universities offering great instalment plans

Studying in the UK is becoming more expensive.

As inflation increases the price of goods, it’s getting harder to set aside some money for a UK degree when there are more pressing items to buy. 

The good news is that most UK universities allow students to pay their tuition fees through instalment plans. This is when you pay part of the cost first and make regular payments until the debt is completely paid. 

It’s something that can come in clutch, especially for international students who come from countries where the currency fluctuates wildly, like Nigeria.

In 2023, a UK university came under the spotlight when Nigerian students were withdrawn from their programmes “within hours” of missing a payment deadline.

They claimed to have informed the university of a possible delay of their fees due to a banking crisis that had taken place earlier in the year. Luckily, the university retracted its decision after the appeal from the students, though it put many on edge for a period.

In 2024, however, the extreme fluctuation of the Nigerian naira remains — students have seen costs rise by 300% in the same academic year.

This is where instalment plans come in — not just for Nigerians but for any international student who needs it.

6 UK universities offering great instalment plans

1. University of Hull

Located in Hull, the most affordable city in the UK according to Numbeo’s Europe Cost of Living Index, the University of Hull has a range of offerings that makes sure international students have all the financial help and support they need.

Undergraduate tuition fees for the 2023 academic year are set at 15,400 pounds (US$19,389) per year for arts programmes and 18,300 pounds (US$23,040) for science ones. Likewise, postgraduate tuition fees can go as low as 10,000 pounds (US$12,590).

Full-time undergraduate students pay in three instalments: 50% during enrolment and the remaining balance four months later. 

Similarly, postgraduate students will begin with a 4,000 pound (US$5,036) deposit followed by four instalments for the remainder. The first instalment is given a month after your studies begin, the second in the second month, the third in the fourth month, and the last in the fifth month. 

You don’t have to bid farewell to your opportunity to study abroad when universities offer help like scholarships and grants and allow you to pay your fees in instalment plans. Source: AFP

2. University of South Wales

With campuses in and around Cardiff, take your pick on the University of South Wales experience you want to create — whether it’s the city buzz, the coast’s beauty, or the countryside’s calmness. 

For the 2025-2026 academic year, undergraduate tuition fees range from 15,850 pounds (US$19,956) for programmes in Business or Creative Industries, and 16,200 pounds (US$20,397) for programmes in Computing, Engineering, Sciences, or Education. Master’s degrees range between 16,900 and 17,900 pounds (US$21,278 to US$22,537).

You have to pay 50% of your first year’s programme fees to secure your place at the University of South Wales. This equally applies if you are enrolling in a subsequent year. After that, you can arrange equal and consecutive monthly instalments to pay your fees.

3. University of West Scotland

With four campuses in the south-west of Scotland in Paisley, Lanarkshire, Ayr, and Dumfries, and a  London campus located in Canary Wharf, the University of West Scotland is all about giving their students the choice to choose the best option for themselves.

The undergraduate and postgraduate tuition fees begin at 15,250 pounds (US$19,201) for the 2024-2025 academic year.

The fees can be paid via an instalment plan that involves spending the first half of the tuition fee to enable a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) to be issued, and later on, it constitutes of seven equal monthly instalments which will be due on the 10th of each month.

 

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4. University of Lincoln

A top 150 university in the Times Higher Education Young University Rankings 2024, the Univerity of Lincoln sits stunningly at the heart of the city on the picturesque Brayford Pool waterfront.

Here, tuition fees for the 2025-2026 academic year range between 16,600 to 20,100 pounds (US$20,918 to US$25,329, depending on the programme and the level of study.

You can set up an instalment plan for your remaining fees once you’ve enrolled into a programme. Note that the maximum number of instalments you can arrange is nine, and you must pay consecutively from the month you enrolled. 

5. University of Sunderland

A nominee of the Times Higher Education (THE) annual awards for University of the Year 2024, the University of Sunderland is where the student experience is elevated and valued.

The experience extends to its fee payment too.

Here, tuition fees for the 2025-2026 academic year are 16,500 pounds (US$20,792) for undergraduate programmes and between 17,000 and 21,000 (US$21,422 to US$26,463) for postgraduate master’s programmes.

To be eligible for the university’s instalment plan, you must pay a 3,500 pound (US$4,410) deposit — 2,000 pounds (US$2,520) for EU applicants — or 50% of overall fees for the academic year for students from India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Pakistan, and Bangladesh before the CAS stage. The remaining 50% will be paid in five equal monthly instalments.

Without instalment plans, some students will face an uphill struggle to get the education they need in the UK, especially in expensive cities like London. Source: AFP

6. Birbeck University of London

Part of the University of London, one of the world’s largest and most highly regarded universities, Birbeck has more than 1,000 international students from over 100 countries choose its halls to pursue their studies.

Here, undergraduate fees start at 18,060 pounds (US$22,758) and postgraduate fees start at 19,830 pounds (US$24,988).

Birbeck offers two ways to pay your tuition in instalment plans. The first is by direct debit with monthly instalments. This allows you to spread your fee payments for up to 12 months each academic year, depending on how early you enrol — though the final instalment will be collected in June.

The second option allows you to pay termly, which means paying one-third of the yearly fee at the beginning of the three terms.

7. University of Salford

A top 10 UK university for international students as voted by students in the Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2024, the University of Salford is just minutes from Manchester, which was voted the second-friendliest city in the world by Timeout in 2022.

Tuition fees for the 2024-2025 academic year range from 13,750 to 20,340 pounds (US$17,327 to US$25,631), depending on the programme and level of study.

Undergraduates will be offered the option of five consecutive monthly instalments, and postgraduates will get seven consecutive monthly instalments. Both instalment plans involve a deposit of 5,500 pounds (US$6,931).

Pictured here is the HMS Victory, Britain’s most celebrated naval warship at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard. The ship has survived the cannonballs of Napoleon’s navy, being rammed by another warship, a World War II bomb, and even the UK navy plans to scrap her. Source: AFP.

8. University of Portsmouth

Located in the picturesque port city and naval base on England’s south coast, the University of Portsmouth has one campus in the city it is named after and another in London, just 90 minutes away by train.

Here, tuition fees for the 2025-2026 academic year range from 16,200 to 19,200 pounds (US$20,414 to US$24,194).

The instalment plan for international students begins with a deposit of 50% of your tuition fee upon registration. After that, you can pay the remaining in their second, fourth, or seventh instalment.

Your graduation from a UK university could depend on whether it offers you the support of paying your tuition fees in instalment plans, so choose wisely. Source: AFP

9. University of Aberdeen

Ranked second in Scotland and top 15 in the UK in the Guardian University Guide 2025 and Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025, the University of Aberdeen is dedicated to ensuring everyone has the opportunity for quality education.

Tuition fees for undergraduate programmes begin at 20,800 pounds (US$26,211), and fees for postgraduate programmes start at 22,000 pounds (US$27,722).

A minimum of 50% of the self-funded fee must be paid by the time of Registration, with the remaining fee being paid in three equal and consecutive monthly instalments on the 15th of the month. The instalment amounts depend on the deposit paid and the tuition fee rate.

Note that if you request an instalment plan after the due date, the 50% deposit and the outstanding instalments must be paid before an agreement can be approved.

Disclaimer: This article was last updated on November 25, 2024.