Money Advice

The UK Government requires students to provide evidence that they have enough money to support themselves during their course. In addition to tuition fees, the UK Government expects you to have at least:

• £1,023 per month (for up to 9 months) for courses outside London. For UWS students this means those studying at Paisley, Ayr, Lanarkshire or Dumfries Campuses.
• £1,334 per month (for up to 9 months) for courses in London. For UWS, this is the London Campus only.

In order to obtain your CAS and visa you will evidence to the UK Government that you have this money. It is really important that you have access to this money after you obtain your CAS and visa and arrive in the UK as you will need this for your living costs.

If your course lasts longer or you plan to stay in the UK between years of study, you should ensure you have more funds available.

Depending on your individual circumstances this might not seem very high, or it might be more than you expected. It’s important to remember that these figures are a minimum requirement and act as a guide only. Students will often aim to spend less than the Government figures, but this is not always possible. The cost of living in the UK is likely to be different from in your home country and it’s important to make a realistic budget for the whole of your course.

Things to consider:

The value of your money and income from home…

When planning your monthly budget for your time in the UK, don’t just use the exchange rate as it is today. Check what the rate has been in the last few months and what it’s projected to be for the months ahead, then use an average or lower-value rate for your budget. It’s always better to assume the value will be lower and make sure you can manage, than budget for a higher value and struggle if things change.

One-off and unexpected costs…

Your first few weeks or months in the UK may be more expensive as you face costs such as accommodation deposits, initial supplies, buying equipment etc. You need to plan for this in your budget.

You also need to think ahead – if something unexpected happens, for example, you lose or break your laptop, or your income from home decreases, you should have funds set aside to manage these situations.

Your priorities…

Your main priority will always be succeeding on your course and meeting the cost of your studies.  After that, a high priority will be to meet your cost of living. You need to balance this carefully with your quality of life in the UK – sometimes saving money in one area can have a negative impact on another, such as your wellbeing.

Everyone is different, and many international students will want to take full advantage of being in a new country, and spend time and money experiencing the culture, travelling, and generally having a great student experience.

If you are on a student visa you will have already shown your financial status when you applied for your student visa. Students on a Standard Visitor visa for study purposes must produce evidence of money to pay fees and living costs, if any, at UK immigration.

You must show evidence that you:

• Have paid all or part of your course fees and (if relevant) accommodation fees to your Student Sponsor (UWS), and/or
• Are receiving official financial support, and/or
• Have enough money to cover your remaining course fees and living costs

It will also ease your entry at Border Control if you have already made arrangements for your accommodation before leaving your home country and can evidence this.

Choosing a place to stay is a very important decision and will have a big impact on your overall experience of studying and living in the UK. There are a wide range of options, and you can choose the one that suits you best.

We have an entire section of guidance below related to finding accommodation, understanding how much this might cost, understanding the extra costs that might apply such as household bills, and budgeting for this.

It is essential that you consider your accommodation arrangements before arriving in the UK. It is not often possible to find safe accommodation quickly, and we recommend you do not rely on being able to source accommodation on the day that you arrive in the UK.

Sadly, there are some out there who would take advantage of international students seeking last minute accommodation. The best way to protect yourself against this is to be alert and be prepared by using the information below.

If you would prefer not to commit to accommodation until you have been able to see it in person, that is understandable. However, we would recommend making short term arrangements so you have somewhere safe to live in the interim, such as a bed and breakfast or budget hotel.

Students arriving with family members – a partner or child(ren) – are required to show that they have enough money to cover the living costs of their dependent(s) for the duration of the course. This is in addition to student tuition fees and in addition to the amount the student will need for their own living costs.

For every dependent, the UK Government expects you to have at least another: 

• £680 a month (for up to 9 months) for courses outside London.
• £845 a month (for up to 9 months) for courses in London.

School

If you arrive in the UK with children of school age, you will usually be able to enrol them in a local state-funded school. It is your responsibility to ensure that your children are registered correctly for school. School age in the UK begins at 4 or 5 years old, and ends at 16 years old at a minimum.

Enrolling your children in school will enable you to focus on your own course of study knowing that they are safe and well-cared for, but you will have the added responsibility of ensuring your children have the required school uniform and school supplies.

School Lunches in Scottish state-funded schools are provided to all children in Primary 1 to Primary 5 for free.

Childcare

If your children are too young to attend school, or you need them to be cared for outwith school hours, then you may feel that you need help with childcare to be able to focus on your studies and attend your course. If there is nobody else to care for your child in the UK e.g. a partner, relative or friend, then you may choose to access formal childcare through childminders, a nursery, after school service etc.  These services cost money, so you will need to plan carefully for these extra costs and do your research to ensure you access the service that is right for you.

You can find out more about childcare options near you by visiting childcare.co.uk

The University may be able to make a contribution towards your study related registered childcare costs from the UWS Childcare Fund. The UWS Childcare Fund is only available for childcare provided by a Registered/Formal Childcare Provider to allow you to attend University or study. Funding cannot be considered where childcare is being provided by a partner, relative, friend or other unregistered person, in an informal way. Funding also cannot be provided to enable you to engage in work.

As this fund provides a contribution towards your childcare costs only, you will need to ensure that you are in the financial position to meet the remaining costs of this.

The currency in the UK is pounds sterling (£) and one pound (£1) is equal to 100 pence (p).

Various banks across the UK print their own bank notes so you will often see currency from English banks, Scottish banks and Northern Irish banks. All of these bank notes are legal tender, but it is often easier to use English bank notes when outside of Scotland or Northern Ireland.

Bank notes are in denominations of £100, £50, £20, £10 and £5. Many shops and bars will not accept £50 notes or above. Banks will exchange these notes for smaller denominations. Coins are in denominations of £2, £1, 50p, 20p, 10p, 5p, 2p and 1p.

You can withdraw money from cash machines (ATMs) with most debit and credit cards. Check the symbols on the machine to find out which cards are accepted. Some cash machines charge a transaction fee – look out for a message on the screen.

Opening a UK bank account is the best way to safely manage your money as an international student. Opening a bank account in the UK usually takes several weeks and you will generally have to visit the bank in person to start the process.

Any large UK bank is likely to open an account for an international student if you have the correct documentation and identification. The documentation usually required to open a UK bank account includes:

• Your passport and valid visa if you are an international student 
• Your passport or National ID card if you are from the European Union
• Proof of studies in the form of a Bank Letter from UWS, available to order through the Hub Portal. London campus students can request a bank letter from london@uws.ac.uk
• Proof of address in the UK. Again, you may find it quick and simpler to open an account if you have made accommodation arrangements prior to arriving in the UK.

A basic current account with any bank should meet the needs of most international students. It will allow you to withdraw cash at ATMs, set up direct debits and standing orders and will give you access to basic online and telephone banking services, including mobile banking apps.

Some UK banks are linked with others around the world so your home bank may be able to open an “international account” with a UK bank for you. Although this saves you opening an account on arrival, be aware that these sorts of accounts often include minimum monthly deposits and regularly charge you a fee simply for having that type of account. It may be that the benefits offered by the bank suit you and your finances but it’s important to check the details before you commit.

Please note that UWS does not endorse any bank in particular. To compare a range of bank accounts which are best for international students, we recommend this resource from Save the Student.

You should bring enough money with you to live on for your first few weeks in the UK. How much you need will depend on your personal plans and circumstances. Read through the sections below for information on how to budget for your arrival and then for the rest of your studies. You will need to decide how much money to bring at first and how much you will need to have access to for the rest of your time here.

For your arrival, please bring only what you will need to get started and do not bring large amounts of cash. Carrying a lot of cash is not secure, especially if you plan to arrange accommodation after you arrive. Once you have a bank account here in the UK, you can talk to your bank about the best way to transfer money from overseas to support you during your ongoing stay.

UWS manages accommodation in Ayr and Paisley. Staying in University managed accommodation takes the worry out of household bills as the price includes internet access, electricity, heating, security and insurance. It also provides a safe and secure place to live close to campus and is a great way to meet new friends.

Remember that while renting privately may seem cheaper, the monthly rent won’t include any household bills. Take a look at our accommodation comparison to decide what's right for you.

Find out more about UWS Accommodation

If you or feel that university accommodation is not suitable for you, or you want to rent privately, we have a lot of helpful guidance to make sure you make an informed decision. You’ll need to think about whether this is an affordable option for you and what your responsibilities are as a private sector tenant.

You’ll need to consider how to find accommodation, types of tenancy, regulations for landlords and letting agents, household bills etc., and we have lots of advice about this specifically.

Find out more here.

Choosing a place to stay is a very important decision and will have a big impact on your overall experience of studying and living in the UK. There are a wide range of options and you can choose the one that suits you best.

You should try to think about what you want from your time here; how best to succeed in your studies, meet new people and enjoy some work experience. Remember that wherever you choose to live won’t just be a place to stay, it will be your home in the UK.

When you look at accommodation options don’t focus on price alone, ask yourself some questions:

Distance…

• How will I get to/from the University?
• How long will it take each day?
• How close it is to other places I need like food shops, part-time work, entertainment?
• How much will it cost me to travel?

Staying further away from University means paying more to get to and from the campus. It also means losing time travelling that could be spent studying, working, socialising or resting. Accommodation further out might be cheaper to rent, but more costly to live.

Comfort…

• Will I be able to study in peace?
• Will I be able to make and see new friends easily?
• Will I feel safe?
• Will I have access to a proper kitchen?

If you are not comfortable and secure in your new home then this will have a negative impact on your studies and life in general.

If you can’t easily prepare your own meals, you are likely to buy more fast-food and eat out which is worse for your well-being and much more expensive than cooking for yourself.

Take a look at our Private Rental Guide below for detailed information about the different options open to you and how they compare. 

For guidance specific to International students arriving in the UK, read our Accommodation quick guide here.

Lots of variables impact the price you might pay for accommodation, especially when renting privately. In 2022, the average student in the UK spent £418 a month on rent, according to Save the Student’s National Student Money Survey 2022.

This varies across the country, and you can also expect the following factors to impact what you might expect to pay:

• Location, even within a town or city, this can vary
• Size of the property, and how many rooms/tenants are allowed to share
• Quality of the property
• Safety of the area
• What is included in the rent, such as bills

Rogue landlords will prey on students looking for a great deal on accommodation, especially international students. Rogue and unregistered landlords might offer accommodation that costs a lot less than others in the area, but they won’t be adhering to rules and regulations that are designed to keep you safe.

The best way to avoid falling victim to rogue landlords is to use our Private Rental Guide below.

If you choose to rent privately you will be responsible for household bills on top of the cost of rent. These can include:

• Contents Insurance
• Energy, such as electricity and gas
• Internet
• TV Licence

You can find out more about these types of costs on our Home webpage.

On average in the UK, the amount an adult spends on grocery shopping is around £30 per week, with around an extra £15 spent on food prepared out. How much you spend on food will vary depending on what types of food you eat, which supermarket you buy from, how smart a shopper you are, and how much food you buy from takeaways or restaurants.

There are several large supermarkets in the UK selling a broad range of fresh, frozen and pre-packaged foods as well as personal and household supplies. Some supermarkets are known for being cheaper and offering budget-brands with special offers, while others offer a more expensive, premium choice of items. Aldi, Lidl, Asda and Tesco are the less expensive supermarkets, while Sainsbury’s, Morrisons, Ocado, Waitrose and Marks & Spencer Food are generally more expensive.

There are also many smaller stores where you can pick up essentials but usually at a higher cost. Shops like Spar, McColl’s and Nisa might be closer to you but can work out more expensive if you shop there regularly. So these are best used infrequently.

Supermarkets in the UK are increasingly stocking foods from around the world, so you may find familiar brands and ingredients specific to your home country. You can also find independent stores which may specialize in world foods if you are looking for something specific.

For more information on budgeting for food costs including tips for spending less when grocery shopping, recipes, eating-out guides and countless tips on how to save by wasting less, take a look at our Food webpage.

The UK has a well-established travel network across and within all major cities including buses, trams, trains and internal flights. You can use the Travel Line website to plan a journey and find out how much it will cost. This is a good resource when you are considering accommodation options, and how much travel costs might add to your day to day spending if you choose to live further away from your campus.

Remember that many areas have dedicated cycle paths and pedestrian walkways so you may be able to keep travel costs to a minimum by walking or cycling.

You will also find numerous taxi companies and car-transport apps to arrange a short car ride if needed. It’s important when taking a taxi to make sure that the driver is licensed to drive and take passengers. This is for your safety and to make sure that you pay a fair price. The average cost of a UK taxi journey of around 3 miles is £7 - £16, while a journey of 5 miles might cost around £10 - £20. The average price will be higher in London and will tend to be higher at night in all areas.

There’s a short guide for students taking a taxi or booking a private car here.

Travelling on public transport is much cheaper than by car. Bus and train companies in Scotland offer discounted tickets for repeated journeys so you can buy a weekly or monthly ticket to cover all your journeys at a lower price than paying for trips individually. Tickets are often further discounted for students, so look out for ‘18+ Student’ and not just ‘Adult’ prices.

Ultimately, your travel costs will depend on how far you need to travel, what transport you use and how frequently. Some courses will only require you to be on campus once or twice a week, while others will involve daily trips to and from the University. This can also vary throughout the academic year, so you can change your transport plans to suit your schedule.

The main bus companies for Scottish campuses are Stagecoach, McGill’s and First Bus.

A single one-way local bus journey is likely to cost between £1.80 - £2.50. For unlimited travel on buses for a single day, you can buy an all-day ticket for around £5.

If you know you will need to travel more frequently each week, then you can buy a weekly ticket for between £7 - £20.

Tickets for longer periods are also available, starting from around £60 for four weeks.

There are also numerous train travel providers across Scotland and you can check different train journeys and prices here.

A local train journey is likely to cost from £1.70. Weekly tickets range in price from around £25 - £50 depending on distance travelled.

Select your campus of study for specific transport information:

• Ayr
• Dumfries
• Lanarskhire
• Paisley
• London

Bus and train transport in London works on a centralized system, with the City of London divided into several travel Zones. You can buy tickets in advance, use a pre-pay card called an ‘Oyster Card’, or download an app to use your smart phone or smart watch as a contactless payment device. To find our more and plan a journey, visit the Transport for London website. 

For bus travel the current daily price cap is £4.95, meaning that no matter how many journeys you take in a day within the applicable Zones, you will pay no more than a total of £4.95. The current weekly cap is £23.30.

The London underground and overground train network charges from £1.60 per one-way journey, capped at £9/day for students using contactless/Oyster Card.

It’s difficult to anticipate what your social/entertainment/leisure costs will be before you get here – prices will differ depending on where you study, and overall costs will depend on your personal habits and priorities. You might be coming to UWS to study, but you also want to make sure that you enjoy your time here and get a well-rounded student experience.

Here are some things to think about that help you anticipate the cost of life in the UK:

• Similarly to supermarkets, you will find a range of cafes and restaurants across the UK offering services at very different price points. You can keep costs down by opting for budget friendly establishments, or take advantage of websites such as Groupon and 5pm to find deals at a fraction of the cost.
• The national average price for a pint of beer or glass of wine in the UK is around £4 per drink, with soft drink prices between £1.50 and £3 per drink. This will be higher in London, as well as in premium establishments.
• Average cinema tickets will range between £5 - £10 for a student ticket. This will be higher in London, and in higher end/independent cinemas.

You might want to take full advantage of your time in the UK and be a tourist. If so, you should plan to have additional funds available to you, on top of what you need to meet your study costs, and basic living costs.

International students are required to fund their own studies entirely, including bringing or purchasing whatever personal devices or other equipment are needed for your course. This might mean providing your own personal computer or laptop and accessories (if needed).

You may also want to use a smart phone for emails and social media. You might already have equipment at home that will work in the UK or you may need to adapt existing devices, or buy something when you arrive.

It's not always necessary to buy brand new equipment because second-hand and refurbished options are also widely available at a significantly lower price. For information on refurbished mobiles phones for example, take a look here.

Keeping in touch with friends and family at home is really important too and doesn’t need to be expensive. By choosing a suitable phone provider you can keep costs down. You can also use a smart phone or computer to share charge-free calls and messages over the internet. To start exploring different providers and applications take a look here.