Top 10 Affordable Universities in the UK for 2026-27

Indian students looking for the cheapest universities in the UK can expect lower tuition fees compared to top-ranked institutions, usually starting from the affordable end of the GBP 12,000 to GBP 40,000 ( ₹14.4 lakh to ₹48 lakh per year) range, depending on the course and intake.

In addition to tuition fees, the average cost of living in the UK for Indian students ranges between GBP 700 and GBP 1,300 per month (₹84,000 to ₹1.56 lakh). Studying in budget-friendly UK cities like Leicester, Newcastle, and Sheffield instead of London significantly reduces the overall cost of education.

Below is a detailed breakdown of average tuition fees per year in the UK, based on degree level:

(Note: All INR conversions are calculated using an exchange rate of 1 GBP = ₹120.)

Studying in the UK can be both expensive and affordable; for example, tuition fees at Teesside University are around 15,000 per year (₹18 lakh), while institutions like ICL charge GBP 35,000-40,000+ per year (₹42-48 lakh).

Below is a list of the 10 of the most affordable universities in the UK for international students, selected based on tuition fees, popularity among Indian students, and overall value for money:

Further, let's discuss the most affordable universities in the UK for Indian students in detail.

London Metropolitan University (LMU)

Program with the Lowest Tuition Fee: £5,824/₹6.99 lakh (Master's Programs)
Acceptance Rate: 84%

London Metropolitan University is located in London, England’s capital city. The average cost of living in London is around GBP 1,200 to 1,500 per month (₹14.4 to ₹18 lakh per year), mainly because accommodation alone can cost £6,000-£9,000 per year (₹7.2 to ₹10.8 lakh). 

Despite London’s high living costs, LMU remains one of the cheapest universities in the UK due to £2,000+ scholarships and tuition fee reductions that can lower the overall cost of studying.

Number of International Students: 7,000 overseas students from 155+ countries (covers EU + non‑EU international intake)

Popular and Affordable Courses: Business Management, MSc Data Analytics, MSc International Business (among 150+ courses offered).

London Metropolitan University (LMU) - Tuition Fee:

Source: https://www.londonmet.ac.uk/

University of Chester

Program with the Lowest Tuition Fee: £7,542/₹9.05 lakh (part-time MPhil/PhD/MRes programs)
Acceptance Rate: 25%

University of Chester falls among the most affordable universities in the UK, with an average monthly cost of living in Chester ranging between GBP 750 and GBP 1,000 (₹9-12 lakh per year), which is nearly GBP 400-500 per month (₹4.8-6 lakh per year) cheaper than London. 

Accommodation in Chester costs GBP 300-600 per month (₹3.6-7.2 lakh per year), and students opting for university-managed housing only spend around half of it. Students spend GBP 120-180 per month on food (₹1.44-2.16 lakh per year) and GBP 40-60 per month on local transport (₹48K-₹72K per year), keeping living costs much lower than in major UK cities like London or Birmingham.

Number of International Students: 14,900 students total, and approximately 19% are international students

Popular and Affordable Courses: Business Management, Computer Science & IT, Law, Healthcare & Nursing, and MSc Public Health

University of Chester - Tuition Fee:

Source: https://www.chester.ac.uk/

University of Bedfordshire

Program with the Lowest Tuition Fee: £11,500/₹13.8 lakh (General UG)
Acceptance Rate: 80%

The University of Bedfordshire is located in Bedford and Luton. It is one of the cheapest universities in the UK, as it can save around £300-£500 per month (₹3.6-₹6 lakh per year) on essentials compared with London.

Accommodation near Bedford ranges from £400-£1,100 per month (₹4.8-₹13.2 lakh) while the monthly food costs are around £150-£250 (₹1.8-3 lakh) and local transport about £40-£85 (₹48K-₹1.02 lakh)

Number of International Students: 20,000 total students from over 100 countries (i.e., a large international cohort) 

Popular and Affordable Courses: Health & Social Care, Nursing, Business & Management, Education

University of Bedfordshire - Tuition Fee:

Source: https://www.beds.ac.uk/about-us/our-university

Staffordshire University

Program with the Lowest Tuition Fee: £14,000/₹16.8 lakh (Law LPC)
Acceptance Rate: 57%

In Stoke-on-Trent, where Staffordshire University is based, the average monthly student living cost is about GBP 1,150-1,300 (₹13.8-15.6 lakh per year). It is 30 to 40% lower living expenses compared to cities like London, Manchester, and Birmingham.

Accommodation costs around £320-£640 monthly (₹3.8-7.7L yearly), while food expenses £150-£200 monthly (₹1.8-2.4L yearly) and local transportation costs about £50-£80 monthly (₹60K-₹96K yearly), making Staffordshire University one of the most affordable universities in the UK.

Number of International Students: 3,000 international students across campuses

Popular and Affordable Courses: Computing & Digital Technologies, Business & Law, Health & Social Care, Creative Arts

Staffordshire University - Tuition Fee:

Source: https://www.staffs.ac.uk/

Liverpool Hope University

Program with the Lowest Tuition Fee: £14,500/₹17.4 lakh (UG Programs)
Acceptance Rate: 85%

Liverpool Hope University is one of the cheapest UK universities for international students because the monthly living cost in Liverpool is GBP 750-1,050 (₹9-12.6 L yearly), which is around GBP 300-500 lower per month (₹3.6-6 lakh per year) than cities like Manchester or Birmingham.

The total cost of studying at Liverpool Hope University can stay within GBP 15,000-18,000 per year (₹18-21.6 L).

Number of International Students: 4,985 students (including UG & PG)

Popular and Affordable Courses: Computer Science, Business, Education, Fine & Creative Arts

Liverpool Hope University - Tuition Fee:

Source: https://www.hope.ac.uk/

Leeds Beckett University

Program with the Lowest Tuition Fee: £14,750/₹17.7 lakh (Foundation for International Students in Business, Law, Health Sciences, Science, Engineering & Computing)
Acceptance Rate: 75%

The total cost of studying at Leeds Beckett University is around GBP 18,000-£22,000 per year (₹21.6-26.4 lakh), including tuition and living expenses. Well, it is one of the cheapest universities in the UK because the total cost of living per month in Leeds can be around GBP 850-1,100 (₹10.2-13.2 L yearly).

The major expenses are accommodation (about £450-£650 monthly/₹5.4-7.8 L yearly) and food (about £150-£220 monthly/₹1.8-2.64 L yearly).

Number of International Students: 24,000-26,000

Popular and Affordable Courses: Social Sciences, Engineering, Healthcare, Business

Leeds Beckett University - Tuition Fee:

Source: https://www.leedsbeckett.ac.uk/international-students

University of Cumbria

Program with the Lowest Tuition Fee: £14,900/₹17.88 lakh (BA, BSc, Fda)
Acceptance Rate: 67%

What makes Cumbria Uni stand out as a low-cost university in the UK is that monthly living expenses in Carlisle usually remain within GBP 700-950 (₹8.4-11.4L yearly). The total cost of studying at the University of Cumbria falls between GBP 17,000-20,000 yearly (₹20-24 L), including tuition and living expenses. 

Accommodation costs average GBP 350-550/ monthly (₹4.2-6.6 L yearly), while monthly food expenses are around GBP 130-180 (₹1.56-2.16 L yearly).

Number of International Students: 2% from total of 9,000-10,000 students

Popular and Affordable Courses: Business, Health, Education, Natural Sciences

University of Cumbria - Tuition Fee:

Source: https://www.cumbria.ac.uk/

Teesside University

Program with the Lowest Tuition Fee: £15,500/₹18.6 lakh (Arts and Media UG)
Acceptance Rate: 31%

Teesside University is located in Middlesbrough, and the cost of studying there should not go above GBP 18,000-£21,000 per year (₹21.6-25.2 L), including tuition and basic living expenses.

One reason why Teesside is counted among the most affordable universities in the UK is that accommodation costs only about £350-£550 monthly (₹4.2-6.6 L yearly), while other essentials like food and transportation together come to roughly £200-220 monthly (₹2.88-3.17 L yearly).

Number of International Students: 40% of students are international, from a total of 22,600 students

Popular and Affordable Courses: Business & Management, Computer Science (including Data Science & Cybersecurity), Games Design & Animation

Teesside University - Tuition Fee:

Source: https://www.tees.ac.uk/

University of Sunderland

Program with the Lowest Tuition Fee: £16,500/₹19.8 lakh (UG Programs average range)
Acceptance Rate: 64%

The total cost of living in Sunderland is around GBP 650-980 monthly (₹7.8-₹11.76 L yearly), which makes studying at the University of Sunderland one of the cheapest universities in the UK.

In Sunderland, accommodation costs £400-£600 per month (₹4.8-7.2 L), a monthly public transport pass is about £57 (₹68.4 K), and food and groceries range between £100-£140 per month (₹1.2-1.68 lakh).

Number of International Students: 6,000

Popular and Affordable Courses: Health Sciences, Business, Arts & Media, Psychology

University of Sunderland - Tuition Fee:

Source: https://online.sunderland.ac.uk/about-us

Coventry University

Program with the Lowest Tuition Fee: £16,800/₹20.16 lakh (BA (Hons)
Acceptance Rate: 32%

Coventry University is considered one of the most affordable universities in the UK because monthly living expenses in Coventry are relatively reasonable at around GBP 700-900 monthly (₹8.4-10.8 lakh per year), excluding rent.

The monthly costs for a single person in Coventry are about £758 (₹9.1 lakh), and student accommodation ranges from £450-£700 per month (₹5.4-8.4 lakh), while food and transport together usually cost around £180-£240 per month (₹2.16-2.88 L). The rent in Coventry is around 30-40% lower than in London.

Number of International Students: 11,000 to 13,000

Popular and Affordable Courses: Business, Engineering, Computer Science, Design & Media

Coventry University - Tuition Fee:

Source: https://www.coventry.ac.uk/international-students-hub/coming-to-the-uk

To get into any of the low-cost UK universities, you must have a minimum of 60-70% in high school (Class 12) and an IELTS score of at least 6.0 for UG and 6.5 for PG. The applications are generally accepted in January and September.

Below we’ve discussed these eligibility and entry requirements in detail:

Choosing an affordable university in the UK can feel overwhelming, especially when balancing tuition fees with living costs. Many students often underestimate expenses like accommodation, food, and transport, which can vary significantly by city. Planning ahead, researching cost-of-living differences, and comparing universities carefully can save both money and stress during the course of study.

Yocket Premium can make this process much easier by giving you access to verified data on tuition, living costs, and scholarships for each university. You can track application deadlines, compare universities side by side, and even connect with current students to get realistic insights.