10 Low Tuition Universities in UK for International Students

If you’re considering studying in the UK and you need a guide to help you find out the low tuition universities in UK for international students, then this article was meant just for you.

But first, you might be wondering “am I right in deciding to study in the UK?” or “why should I choose the UK as my country of study?” These questions are well answered in this piece.

Also, you maybe wondering what the cost of tuition for international students in the UK looks like and if you’d be able to afford it. If you are, wonder no more as we’ve also got it covered in this article.

Well, read till the end and we will show you some internationally recognized, low tuition universities in UK for international students that you can easily apply to and kickstart your studies.

Why International Students Choose to Study in the UK

1. High Quality Education

Universities in the UK are among the best in the world. In fact, at least four of the top 50 universities in the world are located in the UK. The UK also has a very good reputation in education.

Did you know that the Oxford and Cambridge universities in the UK are more than 800 years old!? It takes more than just teaching to last that long and its goes to show you just how reputable the UK is in the education sector.

2. Variety Of Degrees

UK universities are known to offer a vast range of degrees. From the more common degrees like Business Administration and Medicine to the less common ones like Horology and Ethnobotany (I bet you’ve not heard of these).

So wherever your interests lie, the UK will probably have a degree for you. You can check out weirder and more uncommon university degrees here.

3. Shorter Duration of Study

In the UK, you can normally complete an undergraduate degree in 2-3 years and a masters degree in 1 year. This in contrast to many countries of the world like the USA where it takes about 4 years to finish an undergraduate degree and about 2 years to finish a masters degree.

This means you don’t need to spend so much time in school and you’ll also save money on tuition, accommodation and living expenses. Pretty great right?

4. Welcoming to International Students

The UK has a good history of being friendly to international students and this is evident in the various full and partial scholarships that are available to them. The UK is also very multicultural and accepting to people of different cultural backgrounds.

With over 200 000 international students studying in the UK each year, the UK is one of the most welcoming countries for international students.

5. High Rate of Employment

It’s no secret that employers nowadays want to hire quality staff and the most common way of determining staff quality is by their academic records.

Schools in the UK are internationally recognized as being of the highest standards so their graduates are also seen as high quality. You school in one of them, and you have a high chance of getting employed in your preferred field.

These are just a few reasons to choose the UK as your location of study. There are many more reasons.

Eligibility for International Students to Study in the UK

The eligibility requirements to study in the UK vary from university to university. This is because the universities are allowed to set their own entry requirements based on their own internal policies.

However there are some general requirements.

• An up-to-date UK passport
• A student visa.
• You must have a very good academic record.
• Most universities have some kind of entrance test for international students, so you will have to pass it to gain admission.
• You must get an English language proficiency certificate. this means you have to write and pass the IELTS test or its equivalent. This is to show that you have very good English language skills
• You must provide proof to show how you intend to fund your education.
• For international students from some countries, you will need to provide a negative Tuberculosis (TB) diagnosis.

Low Tuition Universities in UK for International Students

The main discouraging factor for most students who wish to study abroad is the cost of studying abroad. The UK is notorious for its high cost of living and is one of the most expensive places for an international student to study and that is even if you exclude London.

In fact, students in London spend about £182 per week or £640 per month on rent alone! It’s actually that bad. However, we have done some extensive research and come up with some of the most reputable low tuition universities in UK for international students.

1. Teesside University

Teesside University has its main campus in Middlesbrough, North Yorkshire in North East England. It was founded in 1930 and has a student population of 18 000+ students. This University is committed to innovation and creativity among its students.

Its average annual tuition for undergraduates is about £10 750.

2. Staffordshire University

Established in 1992, it is one of the leading modern universities in the UK. It has four main campuses with the main one located in Shelton, Stoke-on-Trent. The university is noted for its top rated science departments.

Its average annual tuition for undergraduates is about £10 900.

3. University of Cumbria

The University of Cumbria was formed in 2007 and has its main headquarters in Carlisle. It is one of the newest public universities in the UK and has over 10 000+ students enrolled. It is the only UK university with a base in a national park.

Its average annual tuition for undergraduates is about  £11 000.

4. Leeds Trinity University 

Leeds Trinity University is one of only two Catholic universities in the UK, but it welcomes students from the all faiths. It was formed in 1966 but given full university status in 2012.

It was primarily a teacher training university but has expanded to offer various courses. Leeds Trinity is relatively new with about 3 500+ students.

Its average annual tuition is about £9 000.

5. Harper Adams University

This university plays a very important role in the agricultural and rural sector. It is a specialist agriculture, agribusiness, food engineering and processing university. It provides higher education for specialists in the agricultural sector.

It was officially recognized as a university in 1998 and has a student population of about 5 500+ students.

This is obviously one of the best low tuition universities in UK for international students.

Its average annual tuition is about £10 200.

So if you have any real interest in agriculture and food processing, then this is the university for you.

6. University of Chester

The University of Chester is a public university located in Chester, England. It has six campuses with the university center in Shrewsbury.

In 2018, it was ranked as the safest city-based university in the North West of England. It’s student enrollment is at 16 000+ students.

It’s average annual tuition fee is about £9 750.

7. University of Stirling

The University of Stirling has a five star rating in teaching, making it one of the top universities in the UK. It also has one of the highest cultural diversities in the UK with 14 000+ students coming from more than 120 countries.

It was established in 1967 through a royal charter and has grown to become known for its facilities. They also have a very good athletic record having won the UK sports university of the year for 2020.

It’s is located in Stirling, Scotland.

It’s average annual tuition fee is about £11 500.

8. University of Bedfordshire.

The University of Bedfordshire is a public university situated in Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire, England. It has been around since 1882 but it gained university status in 1992 as University of Luton.

It has a student population of about 14 000 students and it has five campuses.

It’s average annual tuition fee is about £10 500.

9. Buckinghamshire New University

Another one on our list of best low tuition universities for international students in UK, is Buckinghamshire New University.

Originally founded in 1893 as the School of Science and Arts, Bucks New University has grown to offer various courses. It has five campuses.

It is reputed for offering degrees from business and pilot training to nursing and  healthcare that are focused on employability and real life use.

It’s student enrollment count is at about £11 000 students.

It’s annual tuition fee is about £9 000.

10. University of Bolton

Last but not the least on our list of low tuition universities in UK for international students, is the University of Bolton.

From gaining university status in 2004, The University of Bolton has gained an administrative strength of about 700 staff and 7000+ students.

It has only one campus and is located at Bolton, Greater Manchester, UK.

It’s average annual tuition is at about £9 000.

General Cost of Living in the UK

As a student who is planning to study in the UK at one of the low tuition universities in UK for international students, you should have a general view of how much your education will cost you.

There are four major things that make up your expenses as an international student. They are:

• Accommodations
• Feeding
• Transport
• Miscellaneous

Accommodation

The cost of accommodation or Rent in the UK depends on the type of residence (whether university residence or off campus) and on which city you are living in. Generally, rent is more expensive in London than in other cities.

The table below gives an overview of the rent costs in the UK

Transport

You will be surprised at how much money transportation will cost you as a student. Actually, transportation costs depend on the mode of transportation.

We recommend that international students use their travel cards when travelling within or between cities.

Transportation in London costs about £60 while it’s between £50 – £40 for other cities.

Feeding

For students living on campus, feeding isn’t much of an issue. If you’re living off-campus however, you will need to set some money aside for feeding.

You will spend about £45 per week and £175 per month on feeding, including groceries, takeaways and restaurants.

Miscellaneous

Miscellaneous is just miscellaneous. There’s no actual average costs to this one because it’s very subjective. Your miscellaneous costs depend solely on you.

So in the end, schooling abroad is normally costly and the UK just elaborates that point.

However, if you research thoroughly and prepare adequately, then your schooling experience will be without problems.

If by some twist of fate, you decide to school in Canada, then you need to see our article on low tuition universities in Canada for international students.