UK University Accommodation Costs
Top Ten Cheapest British Universities for Accommodation
Accommodation forms a large part of the cost of going to university. Find out which are the cheapest and also the most expensive UK universities and colleges to live at.
Being a student can be expensive. There are the costs of tuition, the costs of course materials, the costs of travel and, most significant of all, the costs of accommodation, food and entertainment. Until now, comparing the relative costs of accommodation in UK universities has meant contacting each one. However, a recent survey by The Independent newspaper has taken the hard work out of this part of the process of deciding which university to attend.
The survey examined the cost of accommodation at British universities and colleges and concluded that Bradford University offered the cheapest accommodation (students paid an average of £40.51 per week), while the most expensive was the British Academy of Music in London (an average of £147).
The Regional Picture
Overall, the North of England, Wales and Northern Ireland were the cheapest places to live whist studying with London and the South East of England being the most expensive.
The Ten Cheapest Universities
- Bradford University
- University of Bolton
- University of Glamorgan
- University of Wales, Bangor
- University of Sunderland
- University of Wales, Lampeter
- University of Abertay, Dundee
- University of Northampton
- University of Cumbria
- Swansea Institute of Higher Education
The Ten Most Expensive Universities
- Royal Academy of Music
- Imperial College London
- Oxford University
- Buckingham University
- University College London
- School of Pharmacy, University of London
- Royal Agricultural College
- London School of Economics
- University of the Arts, London
- City University
The Caveats
The figures reported in the survey are those paid by students per week and may, in some cases, not tell the whole story. Some universities and colleges, for example, include food in the accommodation package, whilst for others food has to be paid for as an extra. Some will only require the accommodation to be paid for during term times, others require payment for longer period or, in some cases, for the full 52-week year.
It is also important to think about transport costs to and from university. If the accommodation being offered is within walking distance, it may make more sense to pay a little more to avoid the cost (and inconvenience) of having to travel to your place of study. This can sometimes be the case in London where halls of residence are in outlying areas, but the university is close to the city centre.
Concluding Comments
The cost of accommodation is an important consideration to be taken account of when deciding where to go to university or college, however, it should not dictate where you go. The paramount consideration is the programme of study, what you want from your time in higher education and how well the institution will support you in your studies. You should also consider the level of fees and the availability of any bursaries which may help you pay your bills. Accommodation is only part of the package, albeit an important one.
