The Cheapest Universities in the UK for International Students

Here, we bring you the list of the cheapest universities in the UK for international students.

Studying in UK universities can definitely take a toll on your finances. This is because tuition fees in UK universities are costly.

However, there are many affordable universities in the UK where international students can study affordably, whether for undergraduate or postgraduate degrees.

What Makes Studying in the UK So Attractive to International Students

• Best Universities: The country offers quality higher education with excellent facilities and research opportunities. Thus, the UK is home to the best universities in Europe and the world to get a degree to help one compete in today’s global economy.
• Diverse Population: The UK is the home to hundreds of thousands of foreign-born individuals from Africa, Asia, and the Middle East, studying here annually.
• Outstanding Student Life: UK universities offer vital support services for international students, from housing, career, and transport to healthcare.
• Fantastic Career Opportunities: With the correct permit, international students can get work experience in the UK. This could be part-time jobs, internships, work placements, or full-time jobs after graduation.
• Scholarship & Bursaries: Many UK universities offer scholarships and bursaries for international students who need financial aid to pay their tuition fees or living expenses while studying in the UK.

Benefits of Studying at the Cheapest Universities in the UK

• Lower Living Costs: Many cheap universities in the UK are located where the cost of living is lower. Therefore, international students spend less on food, clothing, housing, and other expenses.
• Lower Tuition Fees: The tuition fees decrease the financial burden on international students and allow them to save more
• Diversity: The cheapest universities in the UK attract students worldwide, which offers a diverse and multicultural experience.

List of the Cheapest Universities in the UK for International Students

Most UK universities’ tuition fees are way more expensive for non-EU international students than British or European citizens. For this reason, prospective international students seek the cheapest universities in the UK. To the rescue, some universities offer cheap fees for international students.

The average tuition fees at the cheapest universities in the UK range from £9,250 to £15,000. Nevertheless, these universities offer competitive courses.

The cheapest universities in UK for International students include:

University of Cumbria

• Establishment Date: 2007
• Location: Cumbria (Carlisle HQ), Lancaster, Ambleside, & London
• Tuition Fees: £13,575 – £16,400

The University of Cumbria is considered one of the cheapest universities in the UK for international students. The university has 5 campuses, each providing courses to international students. The university offers about 100 multidisciplinary courses. Also, it provides many scholarships and grants to international students.

University of Bedfordshire 

• Establishment Date: 1882 
• Location: Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire,
• Tuition Fees: £15,500 – £19,700

The University of Bedfordshire is among the cheapest UK universities for international students. Due to its affordable fees, it enjoys a global appeal, hosting students from over 100 countries worldwide. The university offers undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral degrees across 8 departments. These include Arts, Business & Law, Engineering & Physical Sciences, Humanities & Social Sciences, and Natural Sciences. Also, the university has global partnerships with China, Europe, and Middle East.

Teesside University

• Establishment Date: 1930
• Location: Middlesbrough and Darlington
• Tuition Fees: £11,000 – £17,000

It is one of the cheapest universities in the UK. It offers many study programs and excellent teaching and research. The university’s affordable tuition makes it even more attractive to international students. Also, it has five academic schools: 

• School of Health and Life Sciences.
• School of Computing, Engineering and Digital Technologies.
• School of Social Sciences, Humanities and Law.
• Teesside University Business School.
• The School of Art and Design.

Coventry University

• Establishment Date: 1992
• Location: Coventry
• Tuition Fees: £16,800 – £19,850

The university is celebrated among international students as one of the cheapest universities. The university has its main campus in Coventry, with a satellite campus in London. Also, the university offers over 100 bachelor’s & master’s courses. 

The University of West London 

• Establishment Date: 1992
• Location: Ealing, Brentford, & Reading
• Tuition Fees: £14,250 – £17,250

The University of West London is one of the cheapest universities in the UK for international students and provides high-quality education. In addition, the university has attained an excellent reputation due to its research facilities, skilled instructors, and excellent teaching. Furthermore, The University of West London includes nine schools:

• The Claude Littner Business School
• London Geller College of Hospitality and Tourism
• The School of Computing and Engineering
• London College of Music
• The College of Nursing, Midwifery and Healthcare,
• The School of Law,
• School of Human and Social Sciences,
• The School of Biomedical Sciences
• London School of Film, Media and Design.

The University of Chester

• Establishment Date: 1839
• Location: Chester, Ellesmere Port and Warrington, Cheshire and Shrewsbury, Shropshire
• Tuition Fees: £13,950 – £20,000

The university has over 12,000 – 15,000 students from over 60 countries studying for undergraduate or postgraduate degrees. Its students come from Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and continental Europe.

Staffordshire University

• Establishment Date: 1906
• Location: Stafford, Stoke-on-Trent, Lichfield, Shrewsbury, & London
• Tuition Fees: £16,750 – £19,000

It is considered one of the most affordable universities in the UK. The university is home to 15,000 students from over 100 nationalities. 

The University of Bolton

• Establishment Date: 1824
• Location: Bolton, Greater Manchester
• Tuition Fees: £15,950

Located in Bolton, it is another of the cheapest universities in the UK for international students. The university offers a range of Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees and other short courses. They include Accountancy, Business and Management, Civil Engineering, Computing, etc.

Leeds Beckett University

• Establishment Date: 1824
• Location: Leeds
• Tuition Fees: £16,000 – £17,500

Listed among one of the cheapest universities in the UK for international students, the university is renowned for offering affordable education. In addition, the university has some of the lowest tuition fees among all British universities. Thus, international students from over 100 countries study at the institution.

The University of Stirling

• Establishment Date: 1967
• Location: Stirling, Scotland
• Tuition Fees: £16,000 – £20,000

Founded in 1967, the University of Stirling is one of the cheapest universities in the UK. For its prospective students, it offers a broad spectrum of study programs. These include Accounting and Finance, Biology, Business and Management, Economics, Politics, and others.

The University of Suffolk

• Establishment Date: 2007
• Location: Suffolk and Norfolk
• Tuition Fees: £14,610 – £17,100

Located in the vibrant town of Ipswich, offers affordable tuition fees and a supportive learning environment. The university is spread over four campuses: a central hub in Ipswich and Bury St Edmunds, Lowestoft, and Great Yarmouth. With various undergraduate and postgraduate programs, this university allows international students to pursue their academic goals. These include Nursing, Computing, English, Fine Arts, Social Work, etc.

The University of Wolverhampton

• Establishment Date: 1899
• Location: Wolverhampton
• Tuition Fees: £15,450 – £17,450

The University of Wolverhampton is another one of the most affordable UK universities for international students. The university has four faculties comprising 18 schools and institutes across the West Midlands, Shropshire and Staffordshire. Also, the university offers over 500 undergraduate and postgraduate courses, including Business, Politics, Engineering, English, etc.

The University of Greenwich

• Establishment Date: 1890
• Location: London
• Tuition Fees: £17,000 – £18,450

The University of Greenwich offers a diverse range of courses to international students. They include architecture, business, computing, mathematics, education, engineering, humanities, natural sciences, pharmacy and social sciences. Academic disciplines at Greenwich are organized into four faculties, which host a range of subjects:

• Faculty of Liberal Arts and Sciences
• Business School
• Faculty of Education, Health & Human Sciences
• Faculty of Engineering and Science

Leeds Trinity University

• Establishment Date: 1966
• Location: Horsforth, Leeds, West Yorkshire
• Tuition Fees: £12,000 – £15,000

Founded in 1966, it is one of the cheapest UK universities for international students. Initially founded to provide qualified teachers to Catholic schools, it slowly expanded and now offers foundation, undergraduate, and postgraduate degrees. These courses include Computer Science, Law, Marketing, Nursing, and others.

University of Sunderland

• Establishment Date: 1901
• Location: Sunderland, Tyne and Wear
• Tuition Fees: £13,000 – £17,000

Located in the Northeastern region of Sunderland, it is one of the most affordable universities in the UK for international students. Apart from Sunderland, It now has campuses in London and Hong Kong. The university offers cheap courses in the UK for international students. Some subject areas are Business and Management, Engineering, Law, Medicine, and others.

University of Plymouth

• Establishment Date: 1992
• Location: Plymouth
• Tuition Fees: £15,950 – £17,950

Located in Plymouth in South England, the university offers international students an affordable institution to study different arts & humanities, business, health sciences and natural sciences courses.

Wrexham University

• Establishment Date: 1887
• Location: Wrexham, Wales
• Tuition Fees: £11,750 – £16,000

Founded in 1887, Wrexham University is located in Wales, UK. It is a public university with three principal campuses: the Wrexham campus, the Northop campus, and the St. Asaph Campus. Also, it offers both undergraduate and postgraduate degrees and professional courses in business, computing, nursing, etc.

Queen Margaret University

• Establishment Date: 1875
• Location: Musselburgh, Scotland
• Tuition Fees: £8,000 – £21,875

Established in 1875, it is one of the cheapest universities in the UK for international students. This university offers prospective international students various courses in Education Studies, Business Management, and Nursing programs. 

Southampton Solent University 

• Establishment Date: 2005
• Location: Southampton, Hampshire
• Tuition Fees: £15,000 – £16,000

The Southampton Solent University course categories include Art and Design, Business, marketing and finance, Computing, Engineering, and Law. Other categories include Maritime, Social work, criminology, sociology, etc. Its main campus is located on East Park Terrace near the city center and the maritime hub of Southampton.

Royal Agricultural University

• Establishment Date: 1845
• Location: Cirencester Gloucestershire
• Tuition Fees: £15,000 – £18,000

Established in 1845, it was the first agricultural college in the UK. The university provides over 30 undergraduate and postgraduate program to students from over 45 countries. These programs are grouped into 6 subject areas, namely:

• The School of Agriculture
• The School of Business and Entrepreneurship
• The School of Equine Management and Science
• The School of Cultural Heritage
• The School of Environment
• The School of Land & Property

University of Hull

• Establishment Date: 1927
• Location: Kingston upon Hull
• Tuition Fees: £15,000 – £16,500

As one of the cheapest UK universities, it enables international students to spend less on their studies. As a result, The University of Hull attracts international students from over 100 countries. Most full-time courses are offered by 

• Faculty of Arts, Cultures & Education 
• Hull University Business School 
• The Law School & School of Politics and International Studies
• Faculty of Health Sciences
• Social Work
• Hull York Medical School 
• Faculty of Science & Engineering
• Mathematics 

University of the Highlands and Islands

• Establishment Date: 1992
• Location: Highlands and Islands, Moray and Perthshire, Scotland
• Tuition Fees: £15,000 – £16,000

The University of the Highlands and Islands, located in Scotland, offers a range of affordable courses for international students. With its focus on research and innovation, this university provides excellent educational opportunities at a lower cost than many other UK institutions. Some of its subject areas include:

• Business, leisure and tourism
• Computing and IT
• Energy, engineering and construction
• Humanities and social sciences
• Science and environment

University of Wales Trinity Saint David

• Establishment Date: 2010
• Location: Lampeter, Carmarthen, Swansea, London, Cardiff, Birmingham
• Tuition Fees: £13,500 – £15,000

The University of Wales Trinity Saint David, located in Wales, offers a range of affordable courses for international students. It operates three main campuses in South West Wales: Carmarthen, Lampeter and Swansea, and a fourth campus in London. Also, it has learning centers in Cardiff and Birmingham. The university’s main subject areas include Art & Design, Architecture, Law, Engineering, Business & Management.

Others

• Liverpool Hope University: £13,000 – £15,000
• University of Central Lancashire: £16,500 – £16,900
• The University of the West of Scotland: £15,250 – £18,000
• Plymouth Marjon University: £13,000 – £14,500
• Buckinghamshire New University: £13,750
• Leeds Trinity University: £12,000 – £15,000