How much does it cost to study and live in London as a Bangladeshi student?

Bangladeshi student working in London flat, laptop and books visible, view of London skyline and study materials showing cost planning

Visa application fee: £524 (Student visa, outside the UK).
Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS): £776 per study year (paid upfront for the length of your visa).
UKVI maintenance funds (to show in your bank statement): £1,483 per month (up to 9 months) for London = £13,347 required if you haven’t been in the UK for 12+ months.
Typical London living cost (student estimates): ~£1,326–£2,279 per month (accommodation is the most significant part).
Average student accommodation (London): around £1,141/month (KCL average), though ranges vary widely by area and room type.
Bus fare (adult pay-as-you-go): £1.75 per journey; 18+ Student Oyster gives 30% off season tickets (not PAYG).
Council Tax: full-time student households are exempt.

1) Tuition fees you should plan for

London tuition fees vary a lot by university and course (STEM and Medicine cost more). Use these as realistic ranges:

Undergraduate (international): typically £11,400–£38,000+ per year across the UK; London’s
Top universities often sit in the upper half of that range.
Examples: UCL lists many UG programmes well above £25k; Cambridge/Imperial fee bands also show ~£25k–£40k+ depending on course (Medicine is highest). Always check your exact programme page.

Tip: Some London universities allow tuition in instalments each term. Verify your course page before you budget.

2) Visa & healthcare costs (one-off/upfront)

Student visa fee: £524 (outside UK application).
IHS: £776 per year of your visa. A 1-year master’s typically pays £776; a 16-month course may be charged as 1.5 years.
Maintenance funds to show: if applying from Bangladesh and you haven’t been lawfully in the UK for 12+ months, you must show £1,483 × up to 9 months = £13,347 for London (held for the required period, usually 28 days)

3) Monthly living costs in London University benchmarks

King’s College London (2025–26): £1,326–£2,279 per month total living cost; their average breakdown lists accommodation ~£1,141/month.
Imperial College estimate: “average range” ~£1,719–£1,837/month; lower range exists if you live frugally.
Transport (save with student schemes)

Bus (PAYG): £1.75 per ride; daily cap £5.25; weekly bus cap £24.70.
18+ Student Oyster photocard: 30% off Travelcard/Bus & Tram Pass season tickets (not pay-as-you-go). Combine with a 16–25 Railcard to get 1/3 off off-peak caps on Tube/Elizabeth line/National Rail in London

Accommodation

Reality in London: purpose-built halls/private studios can be high. A solid planning figure is £900–£1,400+/month depending on room type/zone; KCL’s average of £1,141 is a good mid-point.
Some university guides quote £200–£450/week (~£867–£1,950/month) for London halls, depending on facilities and location, useful for upper/lower bounds.

Example monthly budgets (London)

Budget style	Accommodation	Food & groceries	Transport	Phone & Internet	Other**	Total / month
Lean (house-share in Zones 3–5)	£900	£220	£70–£120*	£25–£35	£120	~£1,335–£1,395
Typical (ensuite hall / Zone 2–3)	£1,141	£250–£300	£120–£160*	£30–£40	£150–£200	~£1,691–£1,841
Comfort (studio / central)	£1,500–£2,000	£350	£160–£220*	£40–£50	£250+	~£2,300–£2,870+

*with 18+ Student Oyster Travelcard discounts;
**books, clothing, leisure, one-off items.
(Transport fares and discount rules from TfL; total ranges align with university estimates.)

4) One-time setup & hidden costs to plan

Deposit for housing: usually 4–6 weeks’ rent for private rentals. (Ranges vary; check your specific contract.)
Bedding/kitchen items: £100–£200 (first month).
Laptop & study materials: varies by course.
Council Tax: £0 if everyone in the property is a full-time student; otherwise, non-students pay, and you may get a discount.

5) Part-time work: what’s allowed

On a Student visa at degree level or above, you can usually work up to 20 hours per week in term-time and full-time in official vacations (check your BRP/eVisa and your uni rules).
Government evaluation shows many international students work around 16–20 hours/week during term. Plan realistically; jobs can take time to find.

6) Sample first-year cash flow (Master’s, 12 months in London)

Visa fee: £524.
IHS (1 year): £776.
Maintenance funds to show: £13,347 (not a fee, but must be available in your bank for the application).
Living costs (12 months): budget £16,000–£24,000 depending on lifestyle (consistent with KCL/Imperial ranges).
Tuition: check your exact course, but many London master’s programmes fall ~£23,000–£40,000+.

7) Smart savings for Bangladeshi students

Live a bit further out (Zones 3–5) and use a discounted Travelcard via the 18+ Student Oyster; add a 16–25 Railcard to trim off-peak caps.
Choose bills-included housing (many student halls include utilities) to avoid surprises.
Cook halal at home (easy availability in East London areas like Whitechapel, Stepney, Ilford) and limit frequent dining out.
Buy used textbooks / use the library; student discounts are everywhere (railcards, apps, ISIC).

8) Key differences between “visa funds” and “real spending”

Visa maintenance fund is a proof requirement (e.g., £13,347 for London). Your actual spending may be lower or higher based on rent and lifestyle, but you must still show the required funds for your visa.

9) Final budgeting checklist

Check your exact tuition on the programme page.
Add visa fee + IHS.
Ensure bank balance for maintenance funds.
Plan housing at £900–£1,400+ unless sharing more cheaply.
Add transport (Travelcard) and essentials using KCL/Imperial monthly ranges to sanity-check.

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