How Much Does It Cost to Study in the UK? Home and International Fees

Fee figures: catalogue of 6 October 2026.

In the United Kingdom the price of a degree depends first on your fee status. "Home" students pay a fee capped by the government of the nation where they study. Everyone else, which since Brexit includes most EU citizens, pays an "international" or "overseas" fee that each university sets for itself and that is usually several times higher.

Home fee caps in 2026/27

Each of the four nations sets its own rules for local students:

Where you study	Maximum home fee for 2026/27
England	£9,790 (about €11,626) at providers with a TEF award and an access and participation plan; £9,525 (about €11,312) or less at others
Wales	£9,790 (about €11,626)
Northern Ireland	£4,985 (about €5,920) for students from Northern Ireland
Scotland	No fee for eligible Scottish students; up to £9,790 (about €11,626) for students from the rest of the UK

In Scotland the Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS) pays the fee (£1,820 a year) for eligible Scottish-domiciled students, so they pay nothing themselves. Students from England, Wales and Northern Ireland pay the rest-of-UK fee, and so, since 2021/22, do Irish citizens. In Northern Ireland, Irish citizens normally pay the local fee, while students from Great Britain pay more.

These are caps, not prices: a university may charge less. The government has already announced that the top cap in England will rise to £10,050 (about €11,935) in 2027/28, which is the year most current applicants will start.

Who counts as a home student

Fee status is decided by each university under detailed regulations, not by your passport alone. In broad terms, according to GOV.UK and UKCISA (the UK Council for International Student Affairs):

UK and Irish citizens who have lived in the UK, Ireland or the Islands for three years before the course normally qualify. Irish citizens keep their rights under the Common Travel Area.
EU, EEA and Swiss citizens with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme can qualify, provided they also meet the residence conditions, usually three years' residence before the course starts. Each category has its own small print.
Everyone else pays the international fee. EU citizens who arrive after Brexit without settled or pre-settled status are treated like any other international student.

If you are unsure, ask the university for a fee status assessment before you accept an offer.

What international students pay

At public universities in our catalogue the international fee for the first year starts at €11,234, with a typical figure of €25,557 a year. Humanities and business usually sit at the lower end; laboratory and engineering courses cost more.

Medicine is the expensive exception. International students pay a typical €55,816 a year in our catalogue, and dentistry a typical €50,056. Several medical schools charge more again in the clinical years, so read the whole fee schedule. Our guides to medicine in English and dentistry in English compare the UK with the rest of Europe.

Fees are usually fixed for the first year only. Many universities raise international fees each year of the course, and some publish the rise in advance.

Private universities

A small number of private universities, such as Regent's University London and the University of Buckingham, sit outside the fee caps and set their own fees for all students. In our catalogue international students at private institutions pay a typical €21,020 a year.

Student loans: home students only

UK student loans are for home students. For courses starting on or after 1 January 2027, students from England apply through the new Lifelong Learning Entitlement. UK and Irish citizens and people with settled status who meet the three-year residence rule can get a Tuition Fee Loan and a Maintenance Loan; people with pre-settled status are usually eligible for a Tuition Fee Loan only. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have their own agencies. International students cannot borrow from any of them and must pay fees from their own money, a sponsor or a scholarship.

Money you must show for a visa

Students who need a Student visa must show the first year's course fee plus living costs of £1,529 a month (about €1,816) in London or £1,171 a month (about €1,391) elsewhere, for up to nine months. The money must have been in your account for at least 28 consecutive days. The visa fee and the Immigration Health Surcharge come on top. Our UK student visa guide has the details.

Scholarships

The best-known UK government award, Chevening, funds one-year master's degrees, not bachelor's degrees. For undergraduates the main source is the university itself: many offer scholarships or fee discounts for international students, usually a fixed sum off the first year's fee, sometimes renewed each year. Look on each university's fees and funding pages, and see scholarships and financial aid for programmes in your home country.

How to keep costs down

Check your fee status first. It is the difference between a capped home fee and an international one.
Compare international fees between universities: the same subject can cost very different amounts.
Budget for rent separately. Our student housing in the UK guide gives official hall prices.

Where to look next

Official sources

Always check current information on the official website of the university before you apply.