The UK is the second most famous destination to study abroad for international students after the USA. There are more than 700,000 international students enrolled in UK universities. However, the UK is one of the most expensive destinations to study abroad. High tuition fees are a serious issue for international students who would like to study in the UK. Therefore, The first thing that most international students look for is affordable UK universities. Therefore, we made a list of the 11 cheapest universities in the UK for international students in 2022 to help you find a suitable college that fits your budget, qualifications, and abilities. We will also mention the average tuition fees in each of these universities.
UK Higher Education System
Many UK universities top the list of best universities in the world. In THE World University Ranking for the year 2022, 8 UK universities ranked among the best 50 universities in the world, which are:
- University of Oxford ranks #1(best university in the world).
- University of Cambridge ranks #5
- Imperial College London ranks #12.
- UCL ranks #18.
- London School of Economics and Political Science ranks #27.
- University of Edinburgh ranks #30.
- King’s College London ranks #35.
- University of Manchester ranks #50.
UK universities´ tuition fees are among the highest in the world, however, the high-quality education at these educational institutions is definitely worth investing your time and money.
The UK’s higher education system starts with a three-year bachelor’s degree. However, sometimes an undergraduate program might last for 4 years, as an international student might need a preparatory year before starting his/her university studies. In addition, some undergraduate programs in the UK require students to do a one-year internship before graduation.
International students may find differences in bachelor’s programs between the four countries of the United Kingdom, England, Wales, Northern Ireland, and Scotland
Master programs in UK universities are taught or research programs. Duration is usually between one to two years.
In the UK, it takes at least up to 3 years to complete a Ph.D. degree.
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Can I study in the UK for free?
Although universities in the UK are not tuition-free, you still have the chance to study in the UK for free as an international student. Scholarships and financial aid are among the most common ways to study in the UK for free. UK universities are among the most famous institutions that offer thousands of scholarships every year. In most cases, funding includes Tuitions fees, accommodation, monthly stipend, and other expenses!
One of the most famous scholarships in the UK is the Chevening Scholarship to study any Master’s program in the UK.
In addition, most universities in the UK, the UK government, and many foundations provide Scholarships to foreign students. To help you find financial opportunities in the UK easily, we recommend checking these scholarships Search engines in the UK:
Another option to help you finance your studies in the UK is the part-time job opportunities available for you as an international student in the UK. Students can work while studying in the UK for 20 hours per week. However, on official holidays they can work for more hours and thus make more money.
Check also: Guide to AMAZING Scholarships in Canada for International Students
List of the Cheapest Universities in the UK for International Students 2022
Tuition fees at universities in the UK vary depending on the study level and the chosen program. Recently, universities in the UK implemented an increase in the yearly tuition fees for international students. so you will notice an increase in the study cost for this year compared to previous years
For the year 2022, the University of Chester is the cheapest university in the UK for international students. It offers programs for bachelor, master, and Ph.D. with average tuition fees of £12,950 per year for undergraduates, around £13,450 per year for Master, £13,750 for MBA, and £13,330 for Ph.D.
Generally, all UK universities mentioned in our list are affordable universities with low tuition fees compared to other universities in the UK.
12. Coventry University
Coventry University is a public university founded in 1843 as a college of applied arts and design but recently it has expanded into a large institution of higher education providing education to more than 31,000 enrolled students.
This affordable university in the UK has the main campus in Coventry, and the second one in London offering programs in management and business.
It consists of four academic faculties with different departments. It offers over 130 undergraduate programs and over 100 postgraduate courses. Foundation degrees, diplomas and short courses are also offered for students.
The cost of studying at Staffordshire University
- Check university tuition fees on their official website.
- Bachelor’s programs: £15,000 per year.
- Master’s programs: £17,900 per year.
- MBA: £20,100 per year.
- MSc with Extended Professional Practice: £18,950 per year.
- Scholarships: Available.
11. Staffordshire University
Staffordshire University is a public university established in the beginning of the 20th century. The university expanded with time to become one of the best affordable universities in the UK. It offers high-quality education with low tuition fees for international students. Currently, It has more than 15,000 enrolled students.
Staffordshire University in the UK is an intensive research educational institution. It includes some of the best departments in the UK, such as: Psychology, Biosciences and Molecular Biochemistry, and all of them rank high on universities rankings by subjects around the world.
Staffordshire University ranks among the top 1000 universities in the world, and top 100 universities in the UK.
The cost of studying at Staffordshire University
- Check university tuition fees on their official website.
- Bachelor’s programs: £14,500 per year.
- Master’s programs: £15,000 per year.
- Postgraduate Research programs: £13,000 per year.
- Scholarships: Available.
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10. Buckinghamshire New University
Buckinghamshire New University is a public university with many campuses around the UK, in High Wycombe, Uxbridge, and Aylesbury. It is definitely one of the best options for international students to study in the UK with low tuition fees.
It has approximately 12,000 enrolled students, and it offers bachelor’s and master’s programs.
This university is a good choice for international students who would like to study in an area close to the sights of London, without spending a lot of money on tuition fees.
The cost of studying at Buckinghamshire New University
- Check university tuition fees on their official website.
- FOUNDATION YEAR: £14,250 per year.
- Bachelor’s programs: £14,250 per year.
- Postgraduate courses: £14,800 per year.
- Professional courses: £14,250 per year.
- Scholarships: Available.
9. University of Wales Trinity Saint David
University of Wales Trinity Saint David is a public university that was established in 2010. It has more than 12,000 enrolled students in undergraduate and graduate study levels.
This affordable multi-campus university has three main campuses in South West Wales, Carmarthen, Lampeter, and Swansea, and a fourth campus in London.
The university was established by merging the two oldest institutions of higher education in Wales, the University of Wales Lampeter (UWL) and Trinity University College (TUC) in 2010, under the Royal Lampeter Charter of 1828
The cost of studying at Wales Trinity Saint David
- Check university tuition fees on their official website.
- Bachelor’s programs: £13,500 per year.
- Master’s programs: £15,000 per year.
- Ph.D. programs: £15,000 per year.
- Distance learning full-time: £10,000 per year
- Scholarships: Available.
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8. University of the West of Scotland
The University of the West of Scotland (UWS), formerly known as Paisley University, is a public research university, located in the southwest region of Scotland. It has many campuses, including in the cities of Paisley, Dumfries, Ayr, and Blantyre. It also included a co-campus in London.
The university currently enrolls more than 15,000 students. It has an international reputation for providing high-quality education and has a wide variety of Bachelor’s and Master’s programs. University of the West of Scotland consists of 6 faculties and offers more than 100 different programs.
The cost of studying at University of the West of Scotland
- Check university tuition fees on their official website.
- Bachelor’s programs: £12,000 – £15,000 per year.
- Master’s programs: average £14,500 per year.
- Ph.D. programs: average £14,500 per year.
- Graduate Diploma: £11,000 per year
- Scholarships: Available.
7. Royal Agricultural University
The Royal Agricultural University was founded in 1845 as the first institution of agricultural education in the English-speaking world. It is a public university located in Cirencester in Gloucestershire
It received the status as a university recently in 2013. The university focuses on providing high-quality education in fields related to agriculture. More than 30 undergraduate and graduate programs and courses are offered by this affordable university in the UK to international students.
Currently, the university has around 1,500 enrolled students in total. Courses are taught in 4 colleges: College of Agriculture, College of Real Estate and Land Management, College of Business and Entrepreneurship, and the School of Riding.
The Royal Agricultural University also ranks as one of the safest universities in the southern region of England. In addition, the application process and steps are very clear and simple.
The cost of studying at Royal Agricultural University
- Check university tuition fees on their official website.
- Bachelor’s programs: £13,500 per year.
- MSc courses: £15,950 per year.
- PhD / MScR: £12,750 per year.
- Graduate Diploma: £13,500 per year.
- Scholarships: Available.
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6. University of Bolton
University of Bolton is a public research university located in Bolton, Greater Manchester. Founded in 1982 (received its status as a university in 2004), it is one of the UK’s leading higher education institutions. The university maintains a high research profile and focuses on providing world-class degrees and programs for students from all around the world.
Currently, University of Bolton has more than 7000 enrolled students, and around 15% of them are international students from 70 different countries around the world. The main campus in Bolton is equipped with advanced student facilities, and the accommodation is one of the best options for students in the north of the UK.
University of Bolton also has campuses in Ras Al Khaimah (United Arab Emirates) and Colombo (Sri Lanka), with additional international partnerships linked to a group of universities in the world.
The cost of studying at University of Bolton
- Check university tuition fees on their official website.
- Bachelor’s programs: £12,450 per year.
- Master’s programs: £13,000 per year.
- Ph.D. programs: £12,450 per year.
- Scholarships: Available.
5. Plymouth University
Plymouth University takes 7th place on our list of the cheapest universities in the UK for international students. It is a public university located in Plymouth in the south of England. The university origins go back to the early 19th century, and it currently has around 23,000 enrolled students in total.
This low-cost university in the UK consists of 5 major faculties including Arts, Humanities, Business, Health Sciences and Natural Sciences.
The cost of studying at Plymouth University
- Check university tuition fees on their official website.
- Bachelor’s programs: average £12,000 per year.
- Master’s programs: average £13,000 per year.
- Ph.D. programs: average £13,000 per year.
- Scholarships: Available.
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4. University of Cumbria
The University of Cumbria is a public research university located in Carlisle, in the North West region of the United Kingdom. The university roots go back to the early 19th century as an art school.
The university has recently expanded into a global educational institution providing classes to more than 9,000 enrolled students. The main campus is located in Carlisle with other campuses in Lancaster, Ambleside and Workington.
The university includes 5 faculties: Institutes of Business, Health, Arts, Education and Science, that offer more than 100 different programs.
The cost of studying at University of Cumbria
- Check university tuition fees on their official website.
- Bachelor’s programs: £13,250 per year.
- Master’s programs: £12,800 per year.
- Ph.D. programs: £12,800 per year.
- Scholarships: Available.
3. University of Sunderland
Located in the northeastern region of Sunderland, the University of Sunderland is another affordable public university in the UK. It was founded in 1901, it has over 13,000 enrolled students.
University of Sunderland has two campuses, the first one in Sunderland in London, in addition to an international campus that was recently established in Hong Kong.
This low-tuition university consists of 5 major colleges and offers a wide range of programs. Also, It ranks among the top 100 universities in the UK.
The cost of studying at University of Sunderland
- Check university tuition fees on their official website.
- Bachelor’s programs: £13,100 per year.
- Master’s programs: £13,000 per year.
- Ph.D. programs: £7,000 per year.
- Distance learning full-time: £8,000 per year
- Scholarships: Available.
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2. University of Suffolk
Located in Suffolk in East Anglia, Suffolk University is a public research university, and one of the most recent additions to the UK higher education system. The university was established in 2007. It consists of 5 campuses, with the main campus located in Ipswich with additional campuses in: Ipswich, Lowestoft, Bury St Edmunds, and Yarmouth.
The university has 6 faculties, including Colleges of Law and Social Sciences, Health Sciences, Psychology and Education, Science/Technology and Engineering, College of Arts and College of Business.
This low-cost university in the UK has over 5,000 enrolled students. It ranks among the top 100 universities in the UK, and it offers more than 70 different courses and programmes.
The cost of studying at University of Suffolk
- Check university tuition fees on their official website.
- Bachelor’s programs: £13,000 per year.
- Master’s programs: £13,000 per year.
- Ph.D. programs: £13,000 per year.
- Scholarships: Available.
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1. University of Chester
The University of Chester is the fifth oldest higher education establishment in England, with only the universities of Oxford, Cambridge, Durham and London outdating it. It is a public university located in Chester, England.
The college which would become the University of Chester was founded in 1839. In the 20th Century, the institution steadily expanded its student numbers and the variety and nature of its courses, which range from Animation to Zoo Management.
The University of Chester now has over 1,700 staff and some 20,000 enrolled students. It offers a range of foundation, undergraduate and postgraduate courses, as well as undertaking academic research. In addition, It holds the Silver Award in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF).
The cost of studying at University of Chester
- Check university tuition fees on their official website.
- Bachelor’s programs: £12,950 per year.
- Master’s programs: £13,450 per year.
- MBA: £13,750 per year.
- Ph.D. programs: £13,308 per year.
- Scholarships: Available.
This was a full list of the 12 cheapest universities in the UK for international students in 2022 and the tuition fees in each one of them. If you are planning to study in the UK on a limited budget, I am sure that you will find the right choice between these affordable UK universities!
Check more articles about studying abroad following Study Abroad Category
Are you looking for opportunities to study abroad for free? Check international scholarships category.
