How Much Does a UK Master's Degree Cost for International Students?
Published by Abrodio
Last reviewed:
International master’s tuition fees in the UK vary widely by university, course and subject — laboratory, clinical and business courses tend to cost more. Tuition is only part of the cost: you also budget for accommodation, living costs, travel, the visa fee and the Immigration Health Surcharge. Fees shown on Abrodio are indicative and can change, so always confirm the current figure on the official university page before you apply or pay.
Key points
- There is no single UK fee — it depends on the university, the specific course and the subject.
- Specialist courses (business, laboratory, clinical) are often more expensive than classroom-based ones.
- Tuition is separate from accommodation, living costs, travel, the visa fee and the health surcharge.
- Scholarships and discounts usually have eligibility conditions; deposits and payment schedules differ.
- Confirm the current fee on the official university page before applying or paying any deposit.
What drives the fee
- University and course — each university sets its own fee per course; two similar-sounding courses can differ.
- Subject and delivery — business, laboratory and clinical courses often cost more than classroom-based ones.
- Duration — a one-year master’s and a two-year master’s have very different total costs even at the same yearly fee.
- Location — living costs (especially London) differ hugely and sit on top of tuition.
Indicative examples (a small illustrative sample, not an average or ranking)
The figures below were checked against each university’s current official international-fees page on 27 July 2026. They are indicative and can change — always confirm the exact fee for your specific course and intake on the official page before you apply or pay. This is a small illustrative sample of two universities; it is not a UK-wide average, a ranking, or a complete picture.
| University | Course | Campus | Int. fee (basis) | Duration | Intake / year | Official source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nottingham Trent University | Taught master’s (fee varies by subject) | Nottingham | £17,200–£25,000 / yr | 1 year (typical) | Sept 2026 / Jan 2027 | NTU international fees |
| Teesside University | Taught master’s (MSc / MA), standard | Middlesbrough | £17,000 / yr | 1 year | 2026–27 | Teesside international fees |
| Teesside University | Taught master’s — Advanced Practice / Applied route | Middlesbrough | £10,000 / yr (£20,000 total) | 2 years | 2026–27 | Teesside international fees |
Fees reviewed 27 July 2026 against the official pages linked above. NTU publishes a September 2026 taught-master’s range of £17,200–£25,000 depending on subject; Teesside lists a standard one-year taught-master’s fee of £17,000 and a two-year Advanced Practice route at £10,000 per year (£20,000 total). Your exact course fee is on its own course page — for example, browse NTU and Teesside courses on Abrodio Courses.
Costs beyond tuition
Tuition is only one line in your budget. Plan for the following as separate costs, and check the official figures on GOV.UK. Under current GOV.UK guidance the Immigration Health Surcharge is £776 per year for students, but the total you pay depends on the length of your visa and includes part-year charging rules, so you must calculate and confirm your own amount on GOV.UK before applying. The Student visa application fee is separate; check its current amount on GOV.UK too — we do not quote a visa-fee figure here because it changes.
Budgeting checklist
- Tuition fee (per year × course length)
- Tuition deposit (often required to accept an offer)
- Accommodation (halls or private; deposit + rent)
- Living costs (food, transport, phone, bills)
- Travel (flights, visa travel, arrival costs)
- Visa-related costs (application fee, biometrics)
- Immigration Health Surcharge (per year of the visa)
- Study materials (books, equipment, software)
- Emergency buffer (unexpected costs, currency changes)
Compare real courses and their indicative fees on Abrodio Courses and Universities. If a fee on Abrodio looks out of date, please report it, and you can ask others about real budgets in the Community.
Important
Financial notice. The figures below are indicative examples checked against each university’s official international-fees page (reviewed 27 July 2026) and are shown to illustrate range — not a UK-wide average or a ranking. Fees, deposits, scholarships and other costs change and vary by course and intake.
Always confirm the current tuition fee, deposit and payment terms directly with the university, and check visa and health-surcharge costs on GOV.UK, before you apply or pay anything.
Official sources and further reading
- International tuition fees (taught Masters, September 2026 entry)Nottingham Trent University · reviewed 27 July 2026
- Fees and funding — International (postgraduate taught, 2026–27)Teesside University · reviewed 27 July 2026
- Pay for UK healthcare as part of your immigration application (Immigration Health Surcharge)GOV.UK · reviewed 27 July 2026