A chance to stay and work in the UK after graduation. Home to renowned landmarks like the British Parliament, Roman Baths, and Stonehenge. Top-ranked universities. The prestige of a UK degree. It’s not surprising that students submitted 28,700 applications for sponsored-study visas in January 2025, according to the latest Home Office data.
Studying there is expensive, though, but not if you’re studying at cheap universities in the UK.
You might not have heard of these universities, but they are uncompromising in their quality. Source: AFP
International students can pay up to 38,000 pounds (US$50,436) per year for undergraduate programmes and 30,000 pounds (US$39,818) per year for postgraduate ones. This does not include the money students would likely have to spend on housing, food, and travel.
Fortunately, there are cheap universities in the UK for those looking for a more affordable option.
While they might not be well-known like King’s College London or the University of Manchester, students are guaranteed to enjoy a quality international education without breaking the bank.
8 really cheap universities in the UK for international students, from most expensive to most affordable
1. University of Cumbria
While a relatively new university, having been formed in 2007 by a merger of St Martin’s College, Cumbria Institute of the Arts and University of Central Lancashire’s Cumbria sites, students at the University of Cumbria don’t have to worry about falling behind their other peers — 92% of graduates enter employment or further study within 15 months of completing their studies.
From Health and Education to Arts, Business, Engineering, Science and Environment, education here is comprehensive and affordable. Generally, you can expect to pay around 14,900 pounds (US$19,776) annually for an undergraduate programme in the 2025-2026 academic year.
However, note that those pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Social Work and pre-registration Health programmes (Diagnostic Radiography, Midwifery, Nursing, Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy) are required to pay 16,900 pounds (US$22,431).
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2. Plymouth Marjon University
Located in Britain’s Ocean City, Plymouth Marjon University is a gem in plain sight. Ranked #3 in England for student satisfaction (The Complete University Guide 2025) and in the top three universities in the country for social inclusion (Good University Guide 2024), it’s clear that students who make their way here will find themselves happy with their choice.
Plymouth Marjon offers a range of undergraduate programmes from the fields of arts and humanities, business, criminology, education in communities and with children, health and wellbeing, and sports, PE and training.
For the 2025-2026 academic term, the tuition fee for undergraduate programmes costs 14,600 pounds (US$19,378).
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3. University of Chester
The best thing about studying at the University of Chester, aside from it being one of the really cheap universities in the UK, is that the city is your playground.
The university has a number of specialist sites spread across the city of Chester, like Bache Hall, home to Chester Medical School’s research facilities and is is adjacent to the Countess of Chester Hospital, or Gateway House, home to the university’s Creative Writing and Journalism courses and adjacent to Storyhouse theatre and Chester Picturehouse.
Undergraduate programmes here include Adult Nursing, Bioveterinary Science, Events Management and Marketing, Policing, Law and Investigation, among many others.
For the 2025-26 academic term, the tuition fee for their undergraduate programmes starts at 14,450 pounds (US$19,179) per year.
4. Liverpool Hope University
Any international student can find a place at Liverpool Hope University. Located in one of the top three friendliest cities in the UK, Liverpool’s pool of world-famous architecture, great museums, and non-stop activity means students here have a life within and outside of the university’s halls.
In academia, the university received a silver rating in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) 2023. Its Computer Science and Information Systems programme is ranked in the top 10 in The Guardian University Guide 2024, while the History programme is ranked within the top 20.
Liverpool Hope’s tuition fees for their 2025-2026 undergraduate programmes cost around 14,500 pounds (US$19,245) per year, and if you have completed a full-time undergraduate course at Liverpool Hope within the last three years, you will be charged home fees for postgraduate study. This will range between 7,700 to 13,750 pounds (US$10,220 to US$18,250) for most postgraduate degrees.
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5. Bishop Grosseteste University
Located in the cultural hotspot of Lincoln, Bishop Grosseteste University is currently ranked first for Student Satisfaction in the Complete University Guide 2025. Even better, in eight of the last 10 years, the university has been at the top nationally for employability and further study one year after graduation, proving its academic excellence.
Here, you’ll find bachelor’s degrees in various subjects, including Business, Criminology, Sociology, and Special Educational Needs, Disability & Inclusion (SENDI), alongside various minors, like Early Childhood Studies, Sport, and Theology, Philosophy & Ethics.
Undergraduate programmes cost 13,600 pounds (US$18,051) for the 2025-26 academic year.
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6. York St John University
If you’re about doing good in the world, then York St John University is where you’ll find your people. Here, students engage directly with the community across many levels, from prison partnerships to working with disabled athletes and from military rehabilitation to free creative courses for mental health service users.
The university offers 90 undergraduate programmes, covering subjects from Drama and Theatre, International Business, Media Production, Psychology, and more.
Tuition for the 2025-2026 academic year costs 12,100 pounds (US$16,060) annually.
7. Wrexham University
Ranked first in Wales and joint second in the UK for Student Satisfaction (Complete University Guide, 2025), Wrexham University is certain that it can easily be your second home away from home. Plus, it’s
conveniently situated on the Wales-England border, allowing easy access to the nearby cities of Chester, Liverpool, and Manchester to the East, Snowdonia to the West, and stunning beaches along the beautiful coastline to the North.
Within Wrexham, you’ll find plenty of undergraduate offerings, like programmes in Animal Science, Education, Nursing & Allied Health, Sports, and more. And if you need any reassurance about your post-graduation prospects, just know that the university was ranked second in the UK and first in Wales for Student Support in the Daily Mail University League Table 2024.
Your bachelor’s degree at Wrexham for the 2025-2026 academic year costs 11,750 pounds (US$15,595) per year.
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8. Queen Margaret University
Eager to pursue a career in business, nursing, or performing arts on a campus near the centre of Scotland’s capital? Queen Margaret University (QMU) might just be the place for you. Less than six minutes from Edinburgh city centre, QMU is within walking distance of Musselburgh town centre with easy access to East Lothian’s beautiful coast and countryside.
As for their programmes, QMU has various undergraduate offerings in the industries mentioned above and many others, like health sciences, education, and social sciences. Faculty members are also actively involved in research activities.
QMU’s tuition fees for their 2025-26 undergraduate programmes start at 9,250 pounds (US$12,277) per year.
Disclaimer: This article was last updated on May 6, 2025.
