United KingdomAsked by Meghna Pillai10 July 2026Tuition fees for international students at UK universities are among the highest globally. Here is what to expect:
Undergraduate programmes (3–4 years):
- Humanities, Arts, Social Sciences: £15,000–£22,000/year
- Business and Management: £18,000–£28,000/year
- Engineering and Technology: £20,000–£28,000/year
- Computer Science: £18,000–£28,000/year
- Medicine/Dentistry: £30,000–£58,000/year
- Architecture: £22,000–£28,000/year
Postgraduate taught (Master's — 1 year):
- Most taught Master's: £15,000–£35,000
- MBA (1-year): £30,000–£100,000 at top business schools (LBS, Oxford Saïd, Cambridge Judge)
Postgraduate research (PhD — 3–4 years):
- Many international PhD students receive full funding (fees + stipend ~£18,000/year) through university scholarships, UKRI grants, or supervisor-funded positions
- Self-funded PhD: £15,000–£25,000/year
Russell Group vs other universities:
Russell Group universities (Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial, UCL, Edinburgh, etc.) typically charge at the higher end but carry significant career value.
What to look for in addition to fees:
- Programme length (most UK Master's are 1 year vs 2 years in many countries — saves money overall)
- Scholarship availability
- Graduate employment rates for your specific programme
Financial aid: UK universities offer fewer automatic merit scholarships than US or Australian universities. Chevening, Commonwealth, and GREAT scholarships are the main government-funded options. Apply very early.