Be a Savvy Student
As they say – if you look after the pennies, the pounds will look after themselves.
Are you interested in studying in the UK? Many UK universities offer healthy scholarships for international students, especially for postgraduate study. Masters degrees tend to be one-year programmes in the UK, so you may already be onto a winner. It is well worth doing your research to compare the tuition fees and scholarships at each institution.
Some universities award scholarships on academic merit and have a limited number available however others offer guaranteed scholarships - contact the international office to find out the details if it’s not clear on the website. Edge Hill University, which is a campus university near Liverpool, offers a scholarship of £3,800 on a tuition fee of £12,750, so can make a real impact on the cost of study.
There are, of course, many other things to think about when comparing the cost of doing a degree overseas. As they say – if you look after the pennies, the pounds will look after themselves. The cost of living tends to be cheaper in the north of the UK; there are several websites which rank cities in order of cost and provide a guide to help you plan your daily budget in advance. It is also important to look at accommodation costs and options at your shortlisted universities as this can differ substantially.
Some universities will meet you at the airport and transfer you to the university – not only is this a great welcome but it may be free. The international office runs an orientation week and social events throughout the year and these are a great way to make friends and snap up a free meal. Look out for the Fresher’s Fair, which is held during the first week of term, a one-stop shop for all the clubs, societies and activities on offer and usually a great place to pick up some freebies!
The UK has a good train network, and you can quickly and affordably travel between cities if you plan in advance. For example, it takes only 2-3 hours to travel from northern cities to London, so an easy weekend trip. Budget airlines operate from most local airports so you can often hop to another European city for £50. The key is to sign up for notifications from the airlines and catch those deals.
As a UK student, you can buy an NUS Extra card for £12 which offers heaps of discounts on eating out, entertainment, fashion, finance and more – well worth it.
So be a savvy student – there are lots of ways to save money on your studies from application to graduation.
