Student life in the UK: housing, work, weather and culture
Work and money
20 hours a week in term time, full time in vacations, at £10.00 to £12.21 an hour (National Minimum and Living Wage rates). Living costs of £1,000 to £1,400 a month outside London; £1,500 to £2,000 in London.
Where students live
| City | Student areas | Room rent |
|---|---|---|
| London | Stratford, Camden, Southwark and Wembley for value; Bloomsbury and South Kensington for proximity to the central colleges. | £900 to £1,400 for a room |
| Birmingham | Selly Oak and Edgbaston for the University of Birmingham; Digbeth, Eastside and the Jewellery Quarter for BCU and Aston. | £500 to £800 for a room |
| Manchester | Fallowfield and Withington for student housing; Ancoats and the Northern Quarter for postgraduates. | £550 to £850 for a room |
| Edinburgh | Marchmont, Newington and Leith. | £600 to £950 for a room |
| Glasgow | West End for Glasgow, city centre for Strathclyde and Caledonian. | £500 to £800 for a room |
| Leeds | Headingley and Hyde Park. | £450 to £700 for a room |
| Liverpool | Smithdown Road, the Georgian Quarter and the Baltic Triangle. | £400 to £650 for a room |
| Cardiff | Cathays and Roath. | £450 to £700 for a room |
| Bristol | Clifton, Redland and Bedminster. | £600 to £900 for a room |
| Oxford | Cowley, Headington and Jericho. | £650 to £1,000 for a room |
Everyday life
- Over 160 universities and higher education providers, from 900-year-old Oxford to universities founded this century.
- A 16-25 Railcard cuts a third off most train fares.
- Most halls include all bills and internet in the rent.
- International students can open a UK bank account with a passport and a proof-of-address letter from the university.
- The academic year normally runs from late September to June.
- UK degrees are graded First, 2:1, 2:2 and Third; many employers ask for a 2:1.
- Term-time work of 20 hours a week is written on your visa; the university will also cap it.
- Council tax is waived for full-time students.
Health cover
£776 a year Immigration Health Surcharge, paid upfront for the whole course.
Figures are indicative for the 2026/27 cycle, change with exchange rates and policy, and should be confirmed with the university or the relevant government before you decide.
Get this checked for your case
Rules change and every application is different. A counsellor confirms the current position for your country and course. Free.
Talk to a counsellorRelated questions
How much study gap is accepted for a UK master's?
Most universities accept a gap of two to five years if you can explain it: work, family, an exam attempt, or a business. Gaps longer than that are still possible with relevant work experience. We help you write the explanation the university and the visa officer both want to see.
How much money do I need to show for a UK student visa?
Your first year's tuition fees (minus anything already paid) plus living costs of £1,483 a month in London or £1,136 elsewhere for up to nine months. The money must sit in your or your parents' account for 28 days before you apply. Education loans from recognised lenders are accepted.
Can I get permanent residence after studying in the UK?
Not directly from a student visa. The usual path is Student visa, then Graduate Route, then a Skilled Worker visa with an employer, and after five years on qualifying visas you can apply for settlement. The rules changed in 2025 and may change again, so treat this as the current picture, not a promise.
Do I need IELTS for the UK?
Many universities accept a Medium of Instruction letter, or your school English marks, instead of IELTS, especially for students from India, Nigeria, Ghana and Kenya. Others insist on IELTS, PTE or the Duolingo English Test. We check each course before you spend money on a test.