List of the Cheapest University in UK in 2025

Why Choose the UK for Higher Education?

As we mentioned above, the UK is home to some of the top universities in the world. Four universities are in the top ten in the global university rankings, and that’s just the top 10. Additionally, the UK is known for having one of the highest-quality educations, and students from around the world are welcomed.

Below are a few reasons why Students globally have chosen UK University and why you should too:

1. Universities in the UK are known for providing the highest-quality education and research facilities. Research from these universities is highly regarded as world-leading. To give you a better understanding, there were around 200,000 citable publications alone in 2020.
2. A degree from UK universities is highly regarded around the world, which can make students highly employable.
3. UK universities focus on building industry connections to help its students get practical and industry learning, which in turn improves student’s employability chances. What is more interesting is that because of this, some students in UKget job offers well before completing their education.

Also Read: University Rankings In Uk

Factors to Consider When Looking for an Affordable University

When looking for the Cheapest University in UK, there should be general factors or criteria that you should follow. Some basic ones include your financial situation, financial aid options available in your preferred university, and the overall cost of living in UK or in the location of your preferred university.Below are a few other factors that you should consider while looking for a good university:

1. Overall Expense: The primary factor you should consider is overall expense. Research the cost of tuition and fees of different universities and then compare it with your budget. Make sure you include other living expenses like utility, accommodation, and more.
2. Financial Aid & Scholarship: The next major factor is scholarship and financial aid as this can help you save money in UK. So make sure when you choose a university, you compare the various scholarships and financial aids available.
3. Payment Options: If you want to make your finances more manageable, check if the university has instalment options or not.

Top 10 Cheapest Universities in the UK

If you are a non-EU international student, then studying in the UK can get quite expensive. However, you can choose one of the cheap universities in the UK that are just as good as some of the expensive and top ones. There, you will get not only high-quality education but also strong academic programs that can do wonders for your career. Below are some of the Cheapest University in UK for you:

1. Staffordshire University

If you are looking for a university that has a strong focus on career-focused education, then Staffordshire is a great option for you. Staffordshire has a dedicated science department which has been ranked in the top 10 in the UK. What further cements its credibility is that Staffordshire has been ranked in the UK's top 100 universities. So this affordable university in UK is worth taking a look at.

Average Fees: £9,535 to £11,440 (INR 9.6 - 11 Lakhs) per year

Eligibility Criteria: You need 65% of your Higher Secondary Certificate or equivalent. Along with high scores in your English language proficiency.

QS Ranking: 155 in the Northern Europe University Rankings. 

2. University of Chester

Next on our list of cheap university in the UK is the University of Chester. This public university was first established to train teachers. However, it later became the University of Chester, which went on to be a member of the Cathedrals Group.

Average Fees: Starts from £14,450 (INR 14.5 Lakhs) per year

Eligibility Criteria: You need a minimum of 65-70% in your 12th and high scores in your English language proficiency.

QS Ranking: 1501+ in the QS World University Rankings 2025

3. Coventry University

Coventry University is one of the biggest universities in Warwick and also one of the cheapest university in UK. It was first established in 1992, and the university has a total student population of 27000 across its two main campuses. It is known for its exceptional research in various subjects like Allied Health Professions, Computer Science, and Informatics.

Average Fees: £16,800 to £20,050 (INR 16.9 - 20 Lakhs) per year

Eligibility Criteria: You need to have at least 65%in your 12th or Higher Secondary Certificate. And at least 6.0 in your IELTS or 79 in TOEFL iBT.

QS Ranking: 531 in the QS World University Rankings 2025

4. Leeds Beckett University

If you are looking for an affordable university in UK that not only provides high-quality education but also great career prospects, then Leeds Beckett University is a great option. Leeds Beckett is known for partnering up with some of the top companies and organizations to provide its students with great job offers and highest paying jobs in UK. It is worth considering because the university has been placed in the 75th position in Complete University Guide 2025.;

Average Fees: £16,350 to £17,850 (INR 16.4 – 17.9 Lakhs) per year

Eligibility Criteria: To get into the UG program, you need to have at least 60% in your 12th and 70% in your English subject. For PG courses, you need to have a bachelor's degree with a 2.5 GPA. You also need high scores on English language proficiency tests.

QS Ranking: 1001-1200 band in the QS World University Rankings 2025

5. University of Cumbria

The University of Cumbria was established in 2007 and focuses on providing a distributed learning network. Students can access its teaching at its campus as well as at remote colleges around the world. Even though it was established quite recently in a UK city, the university has a great track record in interdisciplinary research.

Average Fees: Starting from £9,250 (INR 9.3 Lakhs) per year

Eligibility Criteria: To get into the University of Cumbria, you need an IELTS score of 6.0. and 50% plus in your 10th and 12th.

QS Ranking: 601 in the QS World University Rankings 2025

6. Teesside University

Finding a cheap university in the UK doesn't mean you will have to settle for one of the lower-level colleges. Teesside University is one great example of a university that is both affordable and one of the best. Teesside University has been in the UK's top 10 in the International Student Barometer. And what's more? It is also one of the first and only modern universities that was named in Times Higher Education University of the Year.

Average Fees: Starting from £17,000 (INR 17 Lakhs) per year

Eligibility Criteria: To be eligible for getting into Teesside University, you need to have a minimum of 65% in your 12th for UG and for PG, you need to have a four-year bachelor's degree with a minimum of 55%.

QS Ranking: 449 in the QS World University Rankings 2025

7. Leeds Trinity University

Leeds Trinity University is a cheap university in the UK that offers high-quality education. Leeds is one of the smaller universities that offer specialized programs and is known for having great Journalism courses. What makes this UK University much more amazing is that the university is considered one of the safest in Leeds and has ranked at the top for its student satisfaction in Yorkshire and the Humber.

Average Fees: £12,000 to £14,500 (INR 12.3 – 14.6 Lakhs) per year

Eligibility Criteria: As an undergraduate applicant, you need to have 65% in your 12th and 50% if you are applying for PG courses. You also need to demonstrate your English language proficiency through IELTS, PTE, or TOEFL iBT.

QS Ranking: 82 in the QS World University Rankings 2025

8. The University of Bolton

Another on our list of affordable university in UK is the University of Bolton. The University of Bolton is known for providing some unique degrees like Visual Effects for Film and TV. Here, you will not only find vocational courses but some of the more traditional academic courses as well.

Average Fees: Starting from £15,950 (INR 16 lakhs) per year

Eligibility Criteria: To get into the University of Bolton, you need to have a minimum of 60% in your High School Certification. You also need to fulfil the English Language Requirements, 6.0 in IELTS and 80 above in TOEFL iBT.

Ranking: 111 in the UK by The Complete University Guide 2025

9. London Metropolitan University

London Metropolitan University is another great option if you want to develop your practical skills. What makes this an amazing university is that you will not only get great research facilities and education, but you won't have to break the bank to live here. Here, your cost of living will be significantly less than that of others, and you can easily find affordable student accommodation in London that is closer to the university.

Average Fees: £9,250 to £11,100 (INR 9.3 – 11.2 Lakhs) per year

Eligibility Criteria: Much like others on our list, here you will also need to have a minimum of 60% in your 10th and 12th for UG programs and 55% plus in PG courses. Additionally, you will have to meet the university's standard English language entry requirement.

QS Ranking: 1001-1200 in the UK by The Complete University Guide 2025

10. York St John University

Last but not least on our list of cheapest university in UK is the York St John University. This university has an employment rate of 93% and a total of £2.5 million has been used in the development of the Arts Centre to provide exceptional sound performance and exhibition facilities.

Average Fees: £8,600 to £11,800 (INR 8.6 – 11.8 Lakhs) per year

Eligibility Criteria: To get into York St John University as an international student, you need to have 60% or higher in your High School Certificate and an overall score of 6.0 in IELTS with no score below 5.5.

Ranking: 101 out of 130 in the Complete University Guide 2025. 

Also Read:Moving To The Uk

How to Apply to Affordable Universities in the UK

The application process for applying to affordable university in UK is the same as any other university in UK city. To understand the application process in more detail, you can check it out below:

1. Research Cheap University in the UK- Start by finding out which universities are most affordable and provide some amazing programs for UG and PG.

Additional tip: Look for colleges that are away from main UK city.

2. Check the Application Process: You can use the UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service) website to find your preferred programs. All you have to do is check the application deadline and required documents for your chosen university and write a strong personal statement.

3. Check Financial Aid and Scholarships: Remember that finding the cheapest university in UK won’t be of much help if you have to support everything yourself. Most universities provide scholarship opportunities, private grants and loans, and discounts that can help you lower your overall living expenses significantly.

4. Visa and Immigration: Once you have chosen a university and program you wish to pursue, you can start applying for student Visa, you can start by checking the Visa requirements and make sure to start your visa application process early.

5. Find Affordable Student Accommodation: Once everything is done, you can start looking for affordable student accommodation in UK. You can either choose from shared apartments or go for university-provided student halls.

Conclusion

There are some amazing and cheapest university in UK that are not only affordable but also provide high-quality education and career opportunities. Above, we have listed a total of 10 affordable universities that will make your dream of studying in the UK come true without breaking the bank.

Additionally, if you want assistance with getting admission to these universities and finding cheap yet amazing student accommodation in UK, you can seek help from our experts at GraddingHomes.com.

FAQs

1. Which Is the Cheapest University in the UK for International Students?

Some of the cheapest universities in the UK are University of Cumbria, Leeds Beckett University, and Liverpool Hope University. These universities are not only cheap, but they offer one of the best quality education as well.

2. Can I Study in The UK for Free?

Yes, you can study in UK for free with the help of grants and scholarships which will significantly reduce your cost of living in UK. However, you will have to fund your living expenses yourself.

3. How Much Does It Cost to Study in a Cheap UK University?

The cost to study at a cheaper university in the UK can be anywhere from £9,000 to £15,000 (INR 9 – 15 Lakhs) per year, with the living expenses being around £14,000 to £22,000 (INR 14 – 22 Lakhs) per year depending on the city you live in.

4. What Are the Additional Costs Apart from Tuition Fees?

Apart from tuition fees, studying in UK involves additional costs like accommodation, course-specific fees, health insurance, and living expenses like food, utility and more.

5. How Can I Get a Scholarship for Studying in The UK?

You can get a scholarship in the UK by researching various options like the Chevening Scholarship, GREAT Scholarships, and Commonwealth Scholarship. You can also get help from university-specific scholarships, which are based on your academic requirements.