What a UK degree actually costs an Indian student
The UK remains one of the most popular study destinations for Indian students, and also one of the more expensive, once every mandatory cost beyond tuition is counted.
Last verified: 1 September 2026. Tuition, IHS rates, and maintenance fund requirements are set by UK institutions and UK Visas and Immigration respectively, and are revised periodically — confirm current figures before applying.
Tuition, by course type
| Course type | Typical annual tuition (INR) |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate, most subjects | ₹15-25 lakh |
| Undergraduate, medicine/dentistry | ₹25-40 lakh |
| Postgraduate taught (most Master's programs) | ₹18-30 lakh |
| MBA at a top-ranked business school | ₹30-50 lakh (often for a shorter 1-year program) |
Living costs
Living costs vary substantially between London and outside London, and the UK Home Office itself distinguishes between the two for visa maintenance-fund purposes:
| Location | Approximate annual living cost (INR) |
|---|---|
| London | ₹14-18 lakh |
| Outside London | ₹10-13 lakh |
The Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS)
The IHS gives international students access to the NHS for the duration of their visa, and is paid upfront, for the entire visa period, not annually — a two-year course means paying roughly two years of IHS in one lump sum at the visa application stage. This is a substantial one-time cost that's easy to underestimate when budgeting only for tuition and monthly living costs.
Maintenance funds required for the visa
UK Visas and Immigration requires proof of funds to cover living costs for a defined number of months of your course (capped at a maximum), calculated at a fixed monthly rate that's higher for London-based courses than for courses elsewhere in the UK. This money must typically be held in your account for a minimum consecutive period before applying, not simply shown as a one-day balance.
What's easy to miss
- IHS as a lump sum, not a monthly cost — budget for it as an upfront visa expense, separate from your ongoing living-cost budget
- Course deposit, often required to confirm your place before the visa stage, which is separate from and additional to the first tuition installment
- Return airfare and initial setup costs (accommodation deposit, winter clothing) in your first month, which are real but easy to leave out of a tuition-plus-living-costs estimate
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