Living, as a student, is incredibly fun. You are about to embark on the biggest adventure of your life. However, the sudden rise in tuition fees coupled with the high cost of living can make this adventure seem a little scary. The prospect of financial hardship is daunting, and many prospective students are now ‘turned off’ by the thought of facing a barrage of money problems in what should be the most fun time of their lives.
Of course, the cost of student living is not cheap, but it is not nearly as scary as one may envision. The key is to ensure that you are sensible when you are embarking on your great university adventure. It is imperative that you follow the advice of this guide to ensure that you have a great time during your student years.
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Fees and Loans
Typically, you will have to pay just over £10,000 per year to attend university. The breakdown of this, is as follows:
£8,354 for tuition fees
£709 for travel
£1,070 for books, equipment
This varies by institution and as such these fees have the potential to higher, or lower, depending on where you reside in the country and what university you choose to attend.
Typically, you can expect to pay over £13,000 per year in student living costs. Take a look at this breakdown:
£12,056 for living costs
£4,834 for rent
£1,956 for food
£316 for household goods
£42 for insurance
£2,074 for personal items
£1,524 for travel
£1,310 for leisure
So, all in all, you may have to pay some £23,000 per academic year to be a student. While this number seems high, you will have to put a lot of thought into your academic career before you decide to embark on a life of university education. The costs here are realistic, and while they may seem scary, accurately depict the true cost of university education in the UK.
Student Accommodation
Student accommodation lures many prospective students in universities. The thought of being independent of your parents has a lot of appeal. However, student halls of residence that are located within the university campus are notoriously expensive, and to be honest, you don’t get a lot for your money.
While many students opt to stay within student accommodation within their first year, many people seek alternative living arrangements in their second and third years in a bid to save money. Of course, moving into student halls of residence provides you with the opportunity to make new friends and experience the ‘student lifestyle’. Once you have a close circle of friends following your first year, it is time to move on into your student accommodation. A quick Google search will provide you with lots of information on how to find appropriate accommodation. For example, if you search for student accommodation in Gillingham, you will find (you guessed it!) student accommodation in Gillingham. The internet is a valuable resource, utilise it!
Why This Matters
Many prospective students don’t tend to compile a costing before they go to university, and more often than not, they find themselves in dire financial hardship. Be a smart student and price up the cost of your education before you commit to your educational choices.
