Studying in the United Kingdom, especially in London, is expected to be expensive because of the high living standard and the excessive competitiveness of higher education institutions. In spite of this, the United Kingdom remains one of the most overseas study destinations in the world because it houses some of the world’s top-rated universities. Moreover, London is a historical artifact and open museum as such and one of the most significant financial hubs in the world.
Because of this, international students can easily find a scholarship to defray the high cost of education in the United Kingdom since even the cheapest universities will still be expensive compared to other European countries. Nonetheless, the following affordable universities in the United Kingdom are certainly worth considering.
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Cheap Universities in the United Kingdom
1. University of Cumbria
- Annual Undergraduate Program Tuition Fee: 7,50 GBP – 15,500 GBP
- Annual Graduate Program Tuition Fee: 12,800 – 15,500 GBP
The University of Cumbria was formed in 2007 with the merger of St. Martin’s College in Lancaster, the Cumbria Institute of Arts, and parts of the University of Central Lancashire. The university is organized into five departments – Institute of Business, Industry and Leadership, Institute of Health, Institute of the Arts, Institute of Education, and the Institute of Science, Natural Resources, and Outdoor Studies. Law and Education are UC’s most prominent departments, at the top of the UK’s lists.
The University of Cumbria is an affordable university in the United Kingdom and is ideal for international students looking to study in a university with smaller class size and located in areas with a lower cost of living.
2. University of Chester
- Annual Undergraduate Program Tuition Fee: 9,250 GBP – 12,950 GBP
- Annual Graduate Program Tuition Fee: 12,450 GBP – 18,000 GBP
The University of Chester is a public university with five campus sites in England. Students who want the feel of the UK’s Ivy League universities like Oxford and Cambridge should note that the University of Chester is the UK’s fifth oldest higher education institution, initially established as a teacher training college. The university offers a wide range of undergrad and postgrad degrees, around seven faculties of studies, and foundation and apprenticeship degrees.
Most of its 20,000 students are from the United Kingdom, and there are more female students than male students. The university is known for its courses in Health and Social Care, Medicine, Dentistry and Clinical Sciences, and Education and Children’s Services.
3. Leeds Beckett University
- Annual Undergraduate Tuition Fee: 9,250 GBP – 13,000 GBP
- Annual Graduate Program Tuition Fee: 14,000 GBP
Leeds Beckett University, formerly Leeds Metropolitan University, is another affordable public university in the UK. It has campuses in the city of center of Leeds as well as in Headingley. The city of Leeds hosts five universities. It’s a vibrant student city tagged by a 2019 Safestore Study as the happiest major city in England.
The tuition fee at Leeds varies based on the course and whether it is pre-sessional, foundation, undergraduate, and postgraduate courses. International students from the EU also pay less than non-EU students.
4. Liverpool Hope University
- Annual Undergraduate Program Tuition Fee: 9,250 GBP – 11, 400 GBP
- Annual Graduate Program Tuition Fee: 5,200 GBP – 12,400 GBP
Liverpool Hope University is an ecumenical Christian university that came out of the merger of an Anglican college and two Catholic colleges. The university has seven schools and two departments. Hope University made the top 20 for Teaching Quality in the UK in The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024.
International students interested in getting a highly acclaimed degree in Education, Teaching, or Assessment should look no further. For international students looking to study within a vibrant but smaller community, Liverpool Hope University is a good choice as it is a relatively small university with less than 5,000 students.
5. University of Suffolk
- Annual Undergraduate Program Tuition Fee: 12,150 GBP – 13,725 GBP
- Annual Graduate Program Tuition Fee: 12,150 GBP – 16,380 GBP
Another affordable university in the United Kingdom is the University of Suffolk, a public university with campuses in Ipswich, Great Yarmouth, Bury St. Edmunds, and Lowestoft. The University of Suffolk is a young university, having received its university status and independence in 2016. It offers various courses through six Schools; School of Law and Social Sciences, School of Health Sciences, School of Psychology and Education, School of Science, Technology and Engineering, School of Arts, Design and Humanities, and The Suffolk Business School.
In September 2024, the university opened its new heritage facility located in the Ipswich campus. The Hold houses an extensive collection covering 900 years of the UK’s history. In addition to display galleries, it has a library, search room, and teaching spaces.
6. University of Northampton
- Annual Undergraduate Program Tuition Fee: 13,000 GBP – 15,900 GBP
- Annual Graduate Program Tuition Fee: 14,000 GBP – 14,900 GBP
The University of Northampton is a young higher academic institution that gained full university status in 2005. It offers undergraduate, foundation, and postgraduate degrees focusing on business and law, technologies and sciences, education, humanities, as well as health.
At Northampton, students can gain fast-track degrees in law, management, and marketing. This is one of the few places in the UK to offer such two-year degrees, which are becoming increasingly popular. Nonetheless, their highest international acclaim comes from their waste management studies.
One major benefit of studying at Northampton is that the university provides paid work placements on all undergraduate programs and even in selected postgraduate courses. These work placement programs significantly improve the students’ employability upon graduation.
7. Coventry University
- Annual Undergraduate Program Tuition Fee: 15,000 GBP
- Annual Graduate Program Tuition Fee: 17,900 GBP – 20,100 GBP
Coventry University is a cheap public university in the United Kingdom with campuses in Coventry and Central London. Most of its operations are in Coventry, while the London campus houses the business and management courses.
This is the sixth-largest university in the United Kingdom, with more than 29,000 undergraduate and 6,000 postgraduate students. Moreover, the CU’s four faculties offer a total of 300 courses. International students who wish to study at top-class colleges should look into the departments of Health, Agroecology, and Peacebuilding.
