Looking for 10 schools with low tuition fees in UK? Studying in the United Kingdom is a dream for many international students, but the high cost of tuition can often feel discouraging.
Fortunately, several affordable universities across the UK offer quality education at a fraction of the price of top-tier institutions, while still maintaining strong academic reputations.
These schools provide budget-friendly tuition fees, a wide range of undergraduate, postgraduate, and even doctoral programs, as well as flexible start dates to accommodate international applicants.
Whether you’re planning to study arts, sciences, engineering, business, or social sciences, knowing where to apply can save you thousands of pounds while ensuring you still receive world-class teaching and resources.
10 Best Schools with Low Tuition Fees In UK
In this guide, we’ll explore the 10 best schools with low tuition fees in UK, their tuition ranges, program options, contact details, and everything you need to make an informed decision.
1) University of Chester
The University of Chester is a public university located in Chester, England. The university originated as the first purpose-built teacher training college in the UK.
It’s important, though, that you consider how much it will cost to study at University and what funding is available to help you achieve your goals.
- How they operate / intakes: Teaching-intensive, two main starts (September, January) for many courses; some subject areas offer additional start points.
- Tuition (international): Many UG programmes publish a single annual international fee; PG varies by programme. See the fee pages.
- Specific course (level & link): BSc (Hons) Computer Science (Undergraduate) – check fee on course page.
- Scholarships/notes: The University lists fees and funding guidance for international students on site.
- Doctoral programs? Yes (PGR taught/fees info available). University of Chester
- Contact: International/fees pages via the main site.
2) University of Wolverhampton
The University of Cumbria offers affordable tuition fees for international students looking to study with us. No matter your choice of course or career path, our International Team is here to support you.
- How they operate / intakes: Teaching on a semester basis, with the main September start; many courses also have January entry.
- Tuition (international): Fees vary by course; check course pages for the exact figure (generally competitive compared with big-city research elites).
- Specific course (level & link): PhD Postgraduate Research in Education (Doctoral) – shows doctoral availability and standard timelines.
- Doctoral programs? Yes (MPhil/PhD across disciplines; dedicated Doctoral College).
- Contact: Research/doctoral pages provide contacts for schools and the Doctoral College. University of Wolverhampton
3) University of Cumbria
At the University of Cumbria, we offer affordable tuition fees for international students looking to study with us. No matter your choice of course or career path, our International Team is here to support you.
- How they operate / intakes: Career-focused teaching with September and January starts on many programmes.
- Tuition (international): 2025/26 taught Master’s £14,900, Health pre-registration Master’s and MBA £16,900. PGR (MRes, DBA) fees are published separately.
- Specific course (level & link): MSc (taught) fee level reference (see PG fees table).
- Scholarships/notes: International scholarships and fee discounts are available. Get on the link here to access it.
- Doctoral programs? Yes – MRes, DBA and PhD with published 2025/26 fee tables.
- Contact: International fees/finance pages and FAQs (also note EU fee scholarship guidance for eligible continuing students).
4) University of Sunderland (Main & London Campus)
We’re proud to welcome students from over 100 countries, offering a blend of world-leading academic excellence, innovative teaching, and real-world experience. We offer a range of scholarships and discounts for students joining us in 2025.
- How they operate / intakes: Large number of applied degrees; intakes typically September and January (some April/May). London campus lists its own fee schedule.
- Tuition (international): Example: MSc International Business Management lists £17,400 (2025/26) on the course page; London Campus headline international fees in 2024/25: UG £16,000, PG £16,500–£18,000 (use as a ballpark and check 2025/26 on course pages).
- Specific course (level & link): MSc International Business Management (Postgraduate).
- Scholarships/notes: 2025 offer advertises £5,000 UG / £4,500 PG tuition reductions for eligible international students. Fee deposit/instalment rules published. Check out all the scholarships here.
- Doctoral programs? Yes (research degrees via university research pages).
- Contact: International fees/payment pages. University of Sunderland
5) University of Bedfordshire
This school is amazing, you not only access scholarships, you will develop skills in teamwork, negotiation, leadership and complex problem-solving, enhancing your professional prospects. Upon completion, you will be ready to make a significant impact in any organisation.
- How they operate / intakes: Multiple campuses (e.g., Luton, Bedford). Main entries for September and January across many subjects.
- Tuition (international): Fees vary by course; official fee schedule and pages link from International. Example: MBA (HRM) standard fee £15,400 (2025/26).
- Specific course (level & link): MBA (HRM) (Postgraduate).
- Scholarships/notes: International fees & scholarships contact hub lists phones/emails and opening hours.
- Doctoral programs? Yes (Master’s by Research/PhD/MPhil; fees on postgraduate pages).
- Contact: International team: international@beds.ac.uk. Click here for contact.
6) London Metropolitan University
Prompt Payment Discount will be applied to eligible students with overseas fee status starting a degree with us in the 2025/26 academic year. This discount includes a tuition fee reduction for the duration of your undergraduate and postgraduate studies. Please note that there are different arrangements in place if you are studying a full-time postgraduate course with a two-year duration.
- How they operate / intakes: City-based teaching with September and many January starts; clear fee/payment policies each year.
- Tuition (international): University publishes fee summaries and payment/scholarship details; confirm exact international fee on the specific course page for 2025/26.
- Specific course (level & link): Doctor of Philosophy (MPhil/PhD) (Doctoral) – shows research route availability.
- Scholarships/notes: Prompt Payment Discount for eligible overseas students (2025/26).
- Doctoral programs? Yes (PhD, professional doctorates; research regs published). Link.
- Contact: Course/finance pages list contacts; research degree pages include requirements and guidance. London Metropolitan University
7) University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI)
The University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI) is a unique institution that blends academic excellence with a deep connection to the local landscape and communities.
Through its network of colleges and research centers, UHI offers flexible and innovative undergraduate and postgraduate programs tailored to the needs of both local and international students.
- How they operate / intakes: Federated campuses across Scotland; flexible delivery; September and January starts in many areas.
- Tuition (international): Typical recent ranges for Bachelor’s ~£13,020–£14,310 and Master’s ~£9,090–£13,428 (always verify on the course page for the current cycle).
- Specific course (level & link): Choose degree via UHI course finder (fees shown per programme).
- Doctoral programs? Limited/partnered research options exist—check individual institute pages.
- Contact: Via your chosen UHI college (listed on programme pages). Global Scholarships
8) University of West London (UWL)
They offer a range of support to international students:
Up to 100 International Ambassador Scholarships are awarded each year to students in their first year of undergraduate or postgraduate study
A range of scholarships and bursaries for EU students
An Alumni Bursary for those who have completed an undergraduate degree at UWL
- How they operate / intakes: Professional focus; many September and January entries; fees shown on each course page (UK & International).
- Tuition (international): Figures are course-specific; UWL advises checking the course page. An upfront payment bursary of of up to £3,500 is advertised for eligible international students.
- Specific course (level & link): Select a low-cost business/computing course and verify the current fee on the page.
- Doctoral programs? Research degrees are available via UWL Graduate School (see course pages).
- Contact: International fees/funding section. University of West London
9) Teesside University
- How they operate / intakes: Industry-aligned degrees; intakes commonly in September and January; some pathways via International Study Centre.
- Tuition (international): UG headline for 2025 shown on the International fees page .
- Specific course (level & link): Choose UG Computing/Business with a clearly listed international fee on the course page.
- Doctoral programs? Yes (PhD/MPhil in multiple fields).
- Contact: International fees page links to support/contacts. Main website here.
10) University of Bolton
Studying in the UK is one of the most significant financial investments you will make in your lifetime. Therefore, we strive to offer you the best value for your money by providing some of the lowest course fees and living costs of any University, by being based in the friendly town of Bolton, Greater Manchester.
- How they operate / intakes: Teaching-focused; intakes typically in September and January; clear policies and fee statements.
- Tuition (international): University indicates most international fees from £15,950 (2024 baseline); individual 2025/26 course pages show exact figures (e.g., MSc International Management £17,500 for 2025/26).
- Specific course (level & link): MSc International Management (Postgraduate).
- Doctoral programs? Yes (PhD across faculties; policy/fee docs available).
- Contact: Tuition/fees pages and course enquiries via the university site. University of Greater Manchester
School fees vary by course (why they differ)
- Subject weighting: Lab-heavy, studio-based, and clinical programmes (Engineering, Nursing, Health, Art & Design) often carry higher fees than classroom-based courses (Business, Education, Social Sciences).
- Level: Taught Master’s can be similar to, or above, UG; MBAs and specialist Health programmes often sit at the higher end. (See Cumbria’s 2025/26 PG bands: MA/MSc £14,900; MBA/Health £16,900.)
- Campus/Location add-ons: A few universities publish London-campus pricing separately (e.g., Sunderland London).
- Research vs taught: Research degrees (MRes/PhD/DBA) have their own bands and multi-year structures (e.g., Cumbria MRes/DBA/PhD 2025/26 tables).
Doctoral programs & “season of opening” (intakes)
- Doctoral availability: All 10 institutions above offer research routes or professional doctorates (examples: Wolverhampton PhD hub; London Met PhD pages; Cumbria PGR fee table evidences active research programmes; Bedfordshire lists MRes/PhD/MPhil
- Season of opening/start months: The UK academic year typically begins in September (Autumn/Term 1). Many affordable universities also run a January intake for selected courses, and a few offer May or June starts (check your course page). The fee and international pages for each school above reference the academic year 2025/26 and link to course-level starts.
Quick-scan comparison (by affordability signals)
| University | Typical international fee signals (2025/26) | Notable “saver” signals |
| Cumbria | PG bands: £14,900 (MA/MSc); £16,900 (MBA/Health); PGR fee tables published. | Regular international scholarships/discounts. |
| Sunderland | Course pages show examples like £17,400 (MSc IBM 25/26); London campus UG 24/25 £16,000 (check updates). | Country-based UG £5,000 / PG £4,500 reductions; deposit instalment options. |
| Bedfordshire | Example MBA £15,400 (25/26); detailed fee schedule online. | Clear international contact lines; scholarships page. |
| London Met | Fee summary doc + prompt payment discount; confirm exact course fee. | Discount for upfront payment (2025/26). |
| Wolverhampton | Competitive course-by-course fees; strong PhD routes with September starts. | Broad doctoral offer; regional cost of living advantage. |
| UHI | Indicative ranges for Bachelor’s ~£13–14.3k; Master’s ~£9–13.4k (verify per course). | Multi-campus options; some of the lower Scottish international fees. |
| UWL | Fees shown per course page. | Up to £3,500 bursary for eligible international students paying upfront. |
| Chester | Single international UG fee model on many courses; PG varies. | Smaller city; clear fee pages. |
| Teesside | International UG headline shown; check course pages for precision. | Strong applied focus; lower living costs vs London. |
| Bolton | Many programmes “from £15,950” (24), with 25/26 examples like £17,500 (MSc IM). | Teaching-led campus; cost-effective region. |
Important: UK domestic fee caps (e.g., £9,535 for 2025/26) don’t apply to international students; your fee is set by the university and shown on your course page.
Final application tips (so you don’t overpay)
- Compare at the course level (not just the university level). The course page is the source of truth for your exact 2025/26 fee and start dates. (All schools above link or point you there.)
- Ask about discounts: Up-front payment or early-bird reductions are common (e.g., London Met; UWL bursary; Sunderland country bursaries).
- Plan for deposits & instalments: Many schools require a non-refundable deposit or first instalment before issuing the CAS (e.g., Leeds Trinity policy for 50% before registration; Sunderland deposit rules).
- Double-check doctoral costs: Research degrees publish separate fee tables (e.g., Cumbria), with different timelines and milestone fees.
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