The cost of studying in the UK for international students

Application Fees for Overseas Students Planning to Study in the UK

As an international student living overseas, you or your parent/guardian can apply to a British boarding school through several different routes. Typically, the application fee for a UK boarding school is around £200 – £250 per school. It is common for international students to apply to up to five boarding schools to ensure they gain an offer to study at one or more of their choices.

However, applying directly via the OBAS Group website will mean you’re not only guided through the application process by our team of experts – for free, but you’ll also save money. Our application fees are normally much less than those charged by the school itself and other educational agencies.

Costs for International Student Visas

As an overseas student you’ll need to apply for a visa to study in the UK, unless you’re from the European Economic Area (EEA) or a Swiss national. There are several visa types that international students can apply for, these range from £100 for a standard visitor visa to £363 for a student visa. The exact type of visa you require will depend on your circumstances.

If you want to know more about the types of visas that allow students to study in the UK, and find out which one you need, read our visa guide here.

Travel Costs for International Students

After accepting an offer to your preferred school and arranging for your visa, you’ll have to prepare for your travel costs. Based on the three terms available, an international student will need up to three return flights per year. However, most students fly home twice per year- Christmas & Summer holidays. Flight costs to the UK differ depending on the country you’re flying from. According to Skyscanner.com, a one-way economy ticket booked in advance for one adult costs around:

• China – London = £400
• Vietnam – London = £350
• Kenya – London = £300
• Russia – London = £100

It’s also advisable to purchase travel insurance that covers your journey to the UK and the time you spend studying here. The insurance should cover any medical treatment required if you’re not eligible for NHS treatment, protect your personal belongings and any delays or cancellations with your flights. The cost of travel insurance can vary greatly depending on the duration of your stay in the UK, the value of your belongings and where you’re travelling from. We suggest that you obtain quotes yourself to get the most accurate price.

UK Guardianship for International Students

Students studying in UK boarding schools are between the ages of 6 to 18, which means that they will be legally required to have a UK guardian – before they travel and commence their studies. The guardian should be an individual that is near the school and can act as their emergency contact.

If you don’t have any arrangements for a UK guardian, please contact us to find out more about our UK guardianship services. Depending on the requirements, guardianship can cost between £400 to £1000 per academic term.

UK Boarding School Fees for International Students

The main cost of studying in the UK for international students is the fees. Fees differ from one school to another. According to the 2023 annual census by the Independent School Council (ISC), the overall average boarding fee for ISC member schools is £13,000 per term. This is an increase of around 5.2% compared to 2022.

As of January 2021, international students are no longer able to study at state boarding schools in the UK. Places are reserved for students that are UK nationals or those who hold BN(O) status.

Extracurricular costs for UK boarding schools

Although this isn’t specific to international students, you’ll need to budget for some additional expenses whilst studying in the UK. You’re likely to need funds for certain extracurricular activities, like school trips or private music lessons, which might not be included in the school’s tuition fees. The cost of these will vary between schools and the extracurricular activities you choose to do. A one-hour musical instrument lesson in the UK could cost from £15 upwards. School trips may start from £100 but could be over £1000 if travelling abroad.

It is recommended that boarding students have a weekly or monthly allowance, for younger pupils this may be controlled by the school’s boarding staff. The allowance should be enough to cover reasonable non-school related purchases, like casual clothes, games, magazines, snacks and anything else the student is accustomed to. Due to varying costs of goods and services around the world, we’d recommend a minimum monthly allowance of £100.00 – but be prepared to adjust this once the student has started at the school.

Uniform costs for UK boarding schools

Almost all British independent schools have a uniform that is compulsory for their students. The uniform will normally consist of day-to-day school wear and a form of sports kit. We’d suggest budgeting around £500 for your first set of uniform, then £250 each year – to replace items that have become too small or have worn out.