Top 10 Cheapest Universities in UK for Indian Students in 2025

Cheapest Universities in UK: The United Kingdom is renowned for its numerous affordable universities, such as the University of Cumbria, Teesside University, and Leeds Beckett University, making it a top destination for international students. High-quality education and top QS ranked universities are key factors drawing students to study in the UK.

However, with average annual costs ranging from £10,000 to £38,000 (INR 9.5L to INR 36.5L), it's considered one of the pricier study-abroad options. While UK universities can charge home students up to £9,250 in tuition fees, international students face varying tuition costs dictated by university policies. Consequently, finding quality education at an affordable price can be challenging for international students. In this blog, we've compiled a comprehensive list of the most budget-friendly universities in the UK to assist students in pursuing their study abroad aspirations without financial strain.

The below inforgraphic list the top 10 cheapest universities in UK along with the fee details.

The benefits of studying in the UK as an overseas student include, top-ranking universities, better job opportunities, shorter courses, cultural diversity, scholarships and bursaries. The greatest thing is, that you can get these benefits without investing a lot of money in tuition fees. Let’s talk about each of the cheapest universities in UK for Indian students in detail.

1. University of Cumbria

The University of Cumbria is one of the cheapest universities in the United Kingdom with average annual fees of £12,800 per year. It was established in 2010 and almost 10,000 students are enrolled in the university. This university is popularly known for its research programmes, excellent teaching and support services. It has 5 departments, including the Institute of Science, Natural Resources, Institute of Business, Industry and Leadership.

Average Tuition Fees for Undergraduate programs	£12,350 Per Year
Average Tuition Fees for Postgraduate programs	£11,990 per year
English test scores (required)	IELTS : Undergraduate: 6.0 band; Postgraduate: 6.5 band TOEFL : Undergraduate: 72 score; Postgraduate: 80 score PTE : Undergraduate: 62 score; Postgraduate: 65 score
Scholarships	GREAT Scholarship, Chevening Scholarship

2. Coventry University

Coventry University is considered to be one of the cheapest universities with annual fees of £14,450 per year for international students. This university is recognised by various national and international rankings for its research outputs. The number of international students enrolled in Coventry University is 15,552. In 2017, this university received a Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) gold award for the highest-quality teaching standards in the country. It also owns an interdisciplinary research centre, which denotes that it is committed to applied research. Coventry University comprises arts and humanities, engineering, environment and computing, health and life sciences.

Average Tuition Fees for Undergraduate programs	£15,000 per year
Average Tuition Fees for Postgraduate programs	£17,900 per year
English test scores (required)	UKVI IELTS : Undergraduate: 6.0 band; Postgraduate: 6.5 band TOEFL iBT : Undergraduate: 79; Postgraduate: 88
Scholarships	International Pathways Scholarship

3. Teesside University

Teesside University is considered to be one of the cheapest universities in the United Kingdom with the average fee structure of £13,000 per year. This public university has approximately 28,000 students, with international students from around 120 countries. Teesside University has two locations and its affordable tuition fees attract thousands of international students. This university is reputed for undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, especially MBA Programmes. The satisfaction rate for Teesside University is around 84%. And, the employability rate of Teesside University is 57%.

Average Tuition Fees for Undergraduate programs	£11,000 - 13,000 per year
Average Tuition Fees for Postgraduate programs	£11,380 - 17,000 per year
English test scores (required)	IELTS: Undergraduate: 5.5-7; Postgraduate: 6-7 PTE: Undergraduate: 51-66; Postgraduate: 51-66
Scholarships	Teesside Sanctuary Award, Brittan Scholarship, Cleveland Scientific Institution Scholarship, Teesside University International Business School Accommodation Award, Teesside University International Business School Excellence Scholarships, Tees Valley Community Foundation Scholarship

4. Leeds Beckett University

Leeds Beckett University is popular for offering valuable education at affordable fee in the United kingdom. It is in the cheapest university in UK list as the annual fee is around £14,000 per annum. International students who want to study with low tuition fees can choose this university. As of now, it holds approximately 28,000 from around 100 countries. It is one of the UK universities where students are accepted with study gaps. Established in 1824, Leeds Beckett University is a public university located in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England.

Average Tuition Fees for Undergraduate programs	12,350 per year
Average Tuition Fees for Postgraduate programs	£ 11,990 per year
English test scores (required)	IELTS : Undergraduate: 6.0 band; Postgraduate: 6.5 band TOEFL : Undergraduate: 72 score; Postgraduate: 80 score PTE : Undergraduate: 62 score; Postgraduate: 65 score
Scholarships	LBU: International Students Scholarship, Undergraduate Scholarship, Postgraduate Scholarship, Research Scholarship

5. University of Chester

The University of Chester is one of the low-tuition fees universities in the United Kingdom with the annual average fee of £12,950 per year. This is a public university situated in Chester, England. It was founded in 1939 and ranked as the second-best university for international students by the Whatuni Student Choice Awards. This university has a student population of around 20,000 from 130 countries worldwide and has a 90.4% employability rate. It started as the first purpose-built teacher training college in UK, and now it has five campus sites. Most of the international students come from Europe, as well as Asian, Middle-Eastern, and African students enrolled in this institution full-time or part-time.

Average Tuition Fees for Undergraduate programs	£12,750 Per Year
Average Tuition Fees for Postgraduate programs	£13,380 per year
English test scores (required)	IELTS: Undergraduate: 6.0 band; Postgraduate: 6.5 band TOEFL: Undergraduate: 79 score; Postgraduate: 88 score PTE: Undergraduate: 61 score; Postgraduate: 65 score
Scholarships	International Alumni Scholarship, Chevening Scholarship, DIKTI Scholarships, Goa Education Trust Scholarship, Snowdon Masters Scholarships, Commonwealth Scholarship

6. University of Bolton

The University of Bolton is an excellent option if you want an affordable education in UK. The reason being the university charges a average annual fee of £11,250 per year. It is a public university located in Bolton, Greater Manchester, England. There are approximately 6000 students enrolled from all over the world and offers unique courses such as Visual Effects for Film and TV and Special Effects for Film and TV. The acceptance rate of the University of Bolton is around 65-68%. The tuition fees for overseas students at the University of Bolton are £12,500 per year with a maximum fee of £14,450 per year.

Average Tuition Fees for Undergraduate programs	£12,500 Per Year
Average Tuition Fees for Postgraduate programs	£14,450 per annum
English test scores (required)	IELTS : Undergraduate: 6.0 band; Postgraduate: 6.5 band TOEFL : Undergraduate: 83 score; Postgraduate: 88 score PTE :Undergraduate: 51 score ; Postgraduate: 59 score
Scholarships	Stoller Scholarship, Excellence Scholarship, International Excellence Scholarships

7. University of West London

The University of West London is internationally recognized for its research centres, talented faculty, and hands-on learning with industry experts. This is one of the low-fee universities in the UK with the fee of £13,250 per year. It offers undergraduate programmes, not more than £13,000 per year. The University of West London offers one of the cheapest MBA programmes in London for international students. 

This university provides several scholarships that can help to offset expenses. International students can benefit from the funding opportunities including bursaries and grants worth up to £5,000 yearly (or up to £10k over four years). 

Average Tuition Fees for Undergraduate programs	£12,500 Per year
Average Tuition Fees for Postgraduate programs	£13,800 per year
English test scores (required)	IELTS : Undergraduate: 6.0 band; Postgraduate: 6.5 band TOEFL : Undergraduate: 78 score; Postgraduate: 88 score PTE :Undergraduate: 54 score; Postgraduate: 58 score
Scholarships	International Ambassador Scholarships, AMO Scholarship, LGCHT Friends and Alumni Scholarship, The 'Spike' Stent Scholarship, The Anne Naysmith Scholarship, The Cathie Wallace Scholarship, The Ian Carter Scholarship, The Geoffrey Harrison Foundation, Scholarship in Hospitality Management

8. London Metropolitan University

The London Metropolitan University is also known as London Met, which is a public university in London, England. This is one of the cheap university in UK with annual tuition fee of £16,000 per year. The number of students enrolled during 2019-2020 are 10,900. This university provides exceptional educational, high-end practical training, workplace skills, and opportunities for professional development. The London Metropolitan University has one of the largest teaching labs in Europe and has design studios, etc.

Average Tuition Fees for Undergraduate programs	£9,250 Per Year
Average Tuition Fees for Postgraduate programs	£10,334 per year
English test scores (required)	IELTS: Undergraduate: 6.0 band; Postgraduate: 6.0 band PTE: Undergraduate: 59 score; Postgraduate: 59 score TOEFL iBT: Undergraduate: 72 score; Postgraduate: 72 score
Scholarships	EU Transition Scholarships, London Metropolitan University Refugee scholarship, Unite Foundation Scholarship Scheme

9. Staffordshire University

Staffordshire University is one of the low-cost public research universities in the United Kingdom with the annual fee of £15,500 per year. The  This university is popularly known for its science department, and some of its programmes and departments are featured in the top 10 in the UK. This university has 20,000 students representing 100 nationalities. It is ranked as one of the top 100 universities in the league table of the Complete University Guide. Staffordshire University has a dedicated team for International Student Support to support international students well.

Average Tuition Fees for Undergraduate programs	£16,750 Per Year
Average Tuition Fees for Postgraduate programs	£17,000 per year
English test scores (required)	IELTS: 6.0 band Password English: 6.0 TOEFL iBT: Listening - 17; Speaking - 20; Reading - 18; Writing - 17
Scholarships	SMART Scholarship

10. University of Bedfordshire

The University of Bedfordshire is a public research university located in Luton, England. It is recognized as one of the low-fee universities in UK with the tuition fee of £13,000 per year. This university has the privilege of having students from more than 120 countries. It provides undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral degrees across 8 subject fields: Arts, Business & Law, Engineering & Physical Sciences, Humanities & Social Sciences, and Natural Sciences. In the University of Bedfordshire, around 92% of students who have graduated are either getting placements at top companies or pursuing postgraduate programs. Also, this university has international partnerships with China, Europe, and Middle East.

Average Tuition Fees for Undergraduate programs	£12,660 Per Year
Average Tuition Fees for Postgraduate programs	£12,450 per year
English test scores (required)	IELTS : Undergraduate: 6.0; Postgraduate: 6.0 TOEFL : Undergraduate: 72; Postgraduate:72 PTE :Undergraduate: 51; Postgraduate: 51
Scholarships	Postgraduate Research Scholarships and Discounts, Undergraduate Scholarships and Discounts, Postgraduate Taught (excluding MBA), MBA Scholarships and Discounts, Alumni Loyalty Scholarships, Scholarships and Discounts for Engineering Students

Cheapest Cities in UK for International Students

As an international student, a better place to start your study abroad journey is by choosing the city you want to study. The tuition fee often gives the idea about the cost of living in the city. In other words, if the living expenses are less in the city, then the chances of finding low-cost universities in UK for international students are higher. 

We have listed six cities that provide low rent and other perks, in the table below. We included information regarding accommodation, transportation, student housing, etc.

City	Living Cost (GBP)	Accommodation cost (GBP)	Food and Dining Cost (GBP)	Cost of utilities (GBP)	Transportation Cost (GBP)
Kingston upon Hull	£593.81	£452.99	£200.2	£184.84	£69.56
Nottingham	£676.69	£765.71	£366.35	£138.90	£82.75
Derby	£688.66	£516.67	£353.42	£245.97	£78.61
Leeds	£716.25	£841.67	£317.21	£252.40	£128.44
Manchester	£730.02	£923.33	£370.66	£230.74	£135.33
Birmingham	£696.1	£450 (on average)	£178.85	£169.90	£190.4

Tips to Save the Money for International Students

Apart from identifying the low-fee universities in UK, you can use the following tips to save money. Especially for international students, these tips will be helpful to study in UK. 

• Seek affordable accommodation: It is important to find accommodation within the budget and with good facilities and amenities. If the affordable accommodation is farther away from the university, you can still choose it. It’s worthwhile to pay low-rent than to commute to the university in less time. Your school’s student support office and online student forums can be the best place to scout locations. Choose the location with better transportation and ensure safety. 
• Eat meals at home rather than restaurants: Make sure you have enough money left in your bank account after paying for books and other utilities since eating out is expensive. If you’re living on campus, you may get packaged meals. You can compare the options and decide which is budget-friendly. It is better to eat well-cooked meals than to eat out in terms of health and finances. Going out for meals once or twice a month does not have a significant effect on your wallet, but eating out daily will create a bad effect on your monthly expenses. 
• Use Student Discounts:  Using student discounts will be a smart financial strategy for international students. A lot of establishments provide exclusive discounts and offers to students with a valid student ID or proof of enrollment. These student discounts cover the expenses such as clothing, food, entertainment, technology, school supplies, etc.

Also Check: Cheapest universities in the world

Conclusion

We have provided the list of “cheapest universities in UK” with essential details. International students can use the provided information to decide a suitable low-cost university. Make sure to choose an affordable UK city and use the given tips to save money. For further assitance do not hesitate to contact Kanan International.

FAQ

1. What are some of the top affordable universities in London ?

As an international student, you can choose either of the affordable universities in London provided below, 

• University of East London
• London Metropolitan University
• University of Greenwich
• Middlesex University
• University of Westminster

2. Which disciplines or fields of study are commonly offered at low fee universities in the UK?

Some of the commonly offered disciplines or fields of study at low fee universities in UK are, Business and Management, Computer science and information technology, Economics, Arts and Humanities.

3. What are some of the most affordable universities in UK ?

Some of the most affordable universities in UK for international students are University of Cumbria, Coventry University, Teesside University, Leeds Beckett University, University of Chester, University of Bolton, University of West London, London Metropolitan University, Staffordshire University, University of Bedfordshire. 

4. How much money is required to study in the UK in rupees?

Indian students who wish to study at reputed UK universities, approximately, need to pay at least INR 91,8316.19 per year.

5. How much percentage is required to study in UK without IELTS?

The applicants who scored more than 65%, in their 10th and 12th standard may study in UK without IELTS.

6. Which is the cheapest city in the UK for Indian students?

According to NatWest Research 2021, Sheffield is one of the cheapest cities in the UK for Indian students with around 60% green space in the city. 

7. What are the top affordable universities in London for International students?

The top 5 affordable universities in London are,

• University of East London
• London Metropolitan University
• University of Greenwich
• Middlesex University
• University of Westminster