International students Financial cost of living in the UK

Before you leave home, one of the most important steps is to create a budget for your entire study period.

Find out exactly what's included in any scholarship or financial support you'll receive before arriving in the UK.  This will help you plan your budget effectively.

While Glasgow might be cheaper for everyday living compared to other major UK cities, accommodation costs here could be higher than what you're used to at home.  Be sure to plan your budget carefully, considering all your potential expenses during your studies.  You will not be able to access any public funds.  University funds to support international students are limited and distributed on a case-by-case basis in emergencies only.

If you're thinking of bringing your partner or children, carefully consider if you can financially support them.  Refer to the 'Students with partner or child dependants' section for more information.

While most international students can work part-time, don't expect this income to be sufficient to fully support you throughout your studies.

The costs listed here and on our breakdown page only cover your personal living expenses and don't include additional study-related costs like field trips, equipment, textbooks, or personal protective equipment.

Glasgow's cost of living can be high, as mentioned earlier.  When budgeting, factor in your lifestyle and desired standard of living.

Consider ongoing costs like accommodation, food, energy, travel, and entertainment. Additionally, factor in one-off costs for study materials and graduation.

We've provided an approximate breakdown to assist you with financial planning.  While budgeting more is encouraged, budgeting less is not recommended.  Don't rely on projected earnings during your stay, as employment isn't guaranteed.

Thinking about bringing your family to the UK?  This information will help you decide if it's the right move for everyone.

Several factors influence whether you can bring your family: your course level, start date, and any financial sponsorship you receive.

Beyond practicalities like schooling, UK law requires specific arrangements for child safety under 18, including suitable care and accommodation.

Adding dependants will significantly increase your living costs.  Consider if bringing your family is financially feasible.  You may need to choose between studying while they stay home or finding alternative arrangements.

Visit our guidance for more practical information about bringing your family to the UK.

Plan your tuition fee payment!  The University requires at least one-third of your fees paid upfront before you can register for your course.

Cash is not accepted for tuition or accommodation fees.  You'll need a valid debit or credit card to make or set up payments.

For your convenience, the University has partnered with Convera.  This service allows international students, parents, and sponsors to pay tuition and other educational costs easily and affordably in their home currency.

Benefits to you:

  • payment by bank transfer or online e-wallet
  • convenient payment methods including UnionPay, AliPay, Geoswift, Trustly, etc.
  • mobile-friendly interface for a seamless payment experience
  • multi-language platform
  • no transaction charges from the University of Strathclyde or Convera
  • favourable exchange rates compared to most banks
  • online payment tracking service
  • customer support service to help with every step

Pay in your currency

Consider how you will get your money to the UK.  The safest option is likely to have a family member transfer funds to your UK bank account after you open it.

Be aware of cash restrictions when entering the UK.  You must declare cash of 10,000GBP or more to UK customs before you travel or as soon as you arrive in the UK.  Find more details on the UK Goverment website.

The University cannot accept cash for tuition or accommodation fees.  Ensure you have a valid debit or credit card to make or set up payments.

International students with a valid Student visa are entitled to work 20 hours per week during term time (10 hours for pre-sessional students), and unlimited hours during vacations.  Please visit our Working during studies webpage for full details.

Student visa holders can also work unlimited hours during the period before their official course start date (as noted on their CAS) and on formal completion of their studies until the expiry of their visa.

Students who have permission to be in the UK on a Standard Visitor visa are not permitted to undertake any paid or unpaid work, or participate in a work placement.

EEA Nationals who have been granted Settled or Pre-Settled Status on the EU Settlement Scheme can work unlimited hours in the UK.

If you choose to reside outside of walking distance from the University campus, planning your commute is essential.  Due to limited availability of affordable city-centre accommodation, utilising public transport is likely your most viable option.

We recommend using the Traveline website to plan your journeys in advance, or download the Traveline Scotland app for on-the-go route planning.

Save money on your commute! Take advantage of the free and discounted travel options available to students:

Discounted OVO Bikes (powered by Nextbike) membership

As part of Strathclyde’s commitment to sustainable travel and supporting good health and wellbeing, all students and staff at Strathclyde are now eligible for a discounted membership to the Glasgow OVO Bikes network.

For just £20 a year, you can get unlimited rides of up to 60 minutes on the standard bikes. These can be used for journeys between any of the 100+ stations across the city.

You can find out more about the scheme on the Glasgow OVO Bikes network from Strathclyde's Sustainability team.

Bus travel

The bus is one of the safest, healthiest, and greenest ways to travel. Most bus operators provide discounted student tickets. The main operators in Glasgow are:

Under 22s Free Bus Travel

From 31 January 2022, if you are aged 5 to 21 years old and will be living in Scotland for more than 6 months of the year, you can travel by bus for free. You will require a new valid National Entitlement Card (NEC) or Young Scot National Entitlement Card (Young Scot NEC). Previously issued cards will not allow access to the scheme.

You can apply for a new or replacement card on the Get Your NEC website.

A full guide to the scheme, with FAQs and instructions on how to apply, can be found on the Young Persons' Free Bus Travel Scheme website.

Train

The University is serviced by several convenient train stations such as Glasgow Queen Street Station, Glasgow Central Station, Argyle Street Station, and High Street Station. Scotrail is the main train operator in Scotland.

If you will be frequently travelling by train, you can apply for a Railcard to help save some money on tickets. If you are aged between 16 to 25 or are a mature student (over 25) studying full-time, you can save 1/3 on your train tickets with the 16 to 25 Railcard. There are also other Railcards available that may be better suited to you.

You can browse the available options and purchase your Railcard on the official Railcard website.

The Council Tax is set by local authorities to help pay for certain services they provide. Find out more about liability and exemption.