What to expect and how to prepare
As an international student at NTU, it's really important that you are well-prepared and budget carefully because it isn’t just your fees you will need to pay. You will have immediate costs when you arrive, and daily, weekly and monthly expenses too.
This video offers advice on how to prepare for studying at NTU.
How much does it cost to be an international student at NTU?
What follows is an approximate guide to how much it costs to be a student at NTU in Nottingham. Please note, if you're studying at London Campus these costs will be higher (see more information below).
You need to bring enough money to cover your living costs at least equivalent to the £1,136 per month required for Student visa application purposes (£1,483 for London). This figure increased on 2 January 2025.
In addition to the National Student Money Survey that we refer to on this page, you may also find the following sources useful for comparing university costs and planning finances:
You'll find your course fee published on the course web page that you are interested in.
You can also check our fees summary page NTU international student fees for September 2025 (and January 2026 postgraduate) entry.
Nottingham is based in the East Midlands, which has been identified as one of the cheapest regions to study in the UK in the National Student Money Survey 2024.
As an international student at NTU, it's really important that you are well-prepared and budget carefully. It isn’t just your fees you will need to pay, you will have immediate costs when you arrive, and daily, weekly and monthly expenses too. Further information and details of these costs are given below.
The average monthly cost of being a student in Nottingham depends very much on your own lifestyle. Here is a an approximate guide to what you can expect to pay monthly as a student here using insights from the National Student Money Survey 2024.
- Groceries: £144 - £200
- Socialising (e.g. eating out with friends, takeaway food): £66
- Travel: £69
- Household bills (often included in the price of accommodation): £79
- Clothes and shopping: £48
- Mobile phone contract: £24
- Health and wellbeing (e.g gym membership): £26
- Course materials: £24
In order to settle in and get prepared for the year ahead, there are some initial costs that you may have to pay when you first arrive at NTU. We've listed some examples of what expenses you may need to prepare for in addition your monthly costs:
- Kitchen items: £60+
- Toiletries: £30
- NTU Cycle hire (includes a £60 refundable deposit): £109
- Contents insurance: £70
- NCT Bus pass for the academic year: £259
- Social events: £25
Accommodation is the biggest expense for most students. The monthly cost of accommodation can depend on a number of things such as:
- the number of people you live with;
- the amount of space you have;
- any private facilities (such as an en-suite shower room);
- the location of the property;
- whether or not bills are included.
We advise an approximate average monthly amount of between £580 - £1,250. You can find the full range of fees on our accommodation webpages.
NTU London Campus is located in the vibrant Whitechapel district. With excellent public transport, you’ll be just a short walk, tube or bus ride from the popular destinations of Brick Lane and Spitalfields Market, and famous landmarks including Tower of London, Tower Bridge and The Gherkin.
As an international student at NTU, it's really important that you are well-prepared and budget carefully. It isn’t just your fees you will need to pay, you will have immediate costs when you arrive, and daily, weekly and monthly expenses too. Further information and details of these approximate costs are listed below:
Living costs in London (British Council)
I live in a private house which costs £500 per month with bills included. Walking to the University on most days helps me to get some exercise, and also saves me transportation costs. I learned how to cook and quickly worked out how many ingredients I need to buy each week. I spend about £200 per month on food shopping and eating out. I rarely order takeaways. Working part-time provides me with a regular income, which helps me immensely on improving my quality of life. Student discounts are very useful as they are applicable to transport, stores and shopping websites.
Mook Mou, China, MA Tesol 2023
4 steps to creating your student budget
Here are 4 simple steps to creating your budget and you can download our budget worksheet on the link below:
- What income do you have?
- What expenses do you have? Remember to include small costs as these will add up.
- Calculate your budget by subtracting your expenses from your income.
- Remember to track your spending each week or month and update your budget throughout the term.
Some things may be cheaper if you pay for them in one payment rather than by instalments. This can include things like a bus pass or an annual gym membership. Work out what the difference in cost is, whether it's worth paying up front, and whether you're sure you even need it.
I live in Gill Street North, which is one of NTU's halls of residence. I live in a studio and pay around £200* a week. My accommodation is 5 minutes away from the campus, and 10 minutes away from the city centre. So I mostly don't need any transportation, which has saved me money. I spend on average £150 on groceries per month, and luckily the supermarket is walking distance from me. Since I’m studying in the Art and Design school, I need to get materials and print quite often, which costs me on average £60 per month. My phone bill is around £12 per month, and any other expenses, such as shopping, entertainment, and eating out are around £150 per month.
*£230 for 2024 entry
Hana Ragaii, Egypt, MA Graphic Communication 2023
Top tips on student discounts
There are many ways to save money while you’re here. You can use your NTU student card for discounts in shops, restaurants and on transport - see the student discount links below.
When you arrive at NTU, our International Student Support Service can provide guidance on where to shop for food and household items. They can also advise you on setting up a budget.
UNiDAYS
UNiDAYS is a discount website that is available for free to students worldwide.
Visit the UNiDAYS websiteTOTUM
TOTUM offers more discounts through their card and app and is recommended by the National Union of Students.
Visit the Totum websiteNCTX
Nottingham’s bus routes and trams offer discounted student travel. See more on the NCTX website.
Visit the NCTX website16-25 Railcard from Trainline
A 16-25 Railcard is a discount card that makes train travel cheaper for students.
Visit the Trainline websiteFinancial evidence for Student visa
You'll need to prepare the following financial evidence if you're applying for a Student visa:
- Enough money to cover the outstanding tuition fees for the first or current year of your course (this is shown on your CAS).
- Another £1,136 per month for your living costs. If you are studying in London the requirement is £1,483 per month. This figure increased on 2 January 2025.
This needs to be saved in a bank account in your name or your parents' name for at least 28 days before you apply for your visa.
Working in the UK
Working part-time on a Student visa?
- You need to ensure your part-time work fits around your studies so you don't miss any lectures, seminars or scheduled course sessions.
- You should not depend on income from a part-time job to support you. The UK has a minimum wage of £10.42 per hour so you could expect to earn similar.
Our employability and student support teams can offer more advice on working in the UK.
Advice on part-time work and careers
NTU's Employability team offer students a range of services, including:
- practical workshops and support for making job applications (for example how to write a CV and develop good interview skills);
- providing access to hundreds of part-time jobs and opportunities for work experience and work placements available to you;
- giving careers advice no matter what stage you are at in your career.
They even broadcast an employability podcast which is a great listen.
Planning your fee payments
We are not able to offer financial support to help students pay tuition fees.
If you need to check your course fees, please see our international fees information.
We offer guidance on our website on how and when to pay your fees and please note that you can pay your fees in two separate instalments to help you manage your money.
When you are student at NTU, you can also get advice on financial matters such as budgeting from our International Student Support team.