Affordable Universities in the UK for International Students 2025-26

The United Kingdom is a dream destination for students all around the globe. The main reasons for being a target for many students are the quality of education, top-ranked universities, cultural diversity, and high-quality education facilities.

The main problem is that the cost of higher studies in the UK is very high. If you are looking for some affordable universities for you and your friends, you are at the right place. In this article, I'll mention some affordable universities for international students without extra disturbance to the bank account and high-quality education.

Benefits of Studying in the UK

There are lots of benefits of study in the UK for Pakistani Students. Some of the benefits are mentioned here:

Low tuition fee: Many universities in the UK charge affordable tuition fees for international students, starting from £ 10,000.

Scholarships: International students have many scholarship options, such as the Chevening Scholarship, Rhodes Scholarship, and Gates Scholarship.

Part-time jobs: In the UK, students can work part-time while studying. Students are allowed to work 20 hours weekly to cover their study and living expenses.

Quality education: The UK has one of the best education systems in the world, and many of its universities are among the top 100.

Health benefits: Students can utilize the best healthcare hospitals and facilities globally.

Part-time jobs: In the UK, part-time jobs are allowed for international students. Students are allowed 20 working hours weekly to cover their studies and other expenses easily.

Quality teaching: Top quality teaching staff with all modern and research facilities. Teachers with innovative techniques and methods to teach students.

English-taught programs: The UK is an English-speaking country. All types of courses are available in English for international students.

Diverse culture: The foreign population in the UK is 14-15%. International students can live, study, and work with different types of people to enhance their abilities.

World-recognized degree: The UK degrees are accepted and recognized worldwide. After getting degrees from the UK, students can work anywhere in the world.

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Top Affordable Universities for International Students

1. University of Chester
2. University of Stirling
3. University of Suffolk
4. University of Staffordshire
5. Leeds Beckett University
6. University of Cumbria
7. University of Bolton
8. Coventry University
9. Teesside University
10. Buckinghamshire New University

1. University of Chester

The University of Chester is a research-based public university established in 1839 in Chester City. This university is one of the best for international students because of its student support and environment. It is also very affordable. The average tuition fee ranges from £14450 to £19000.

This university offers bachelor's, master's, and PhD in business, management, law, physics, biology, finance, economics, computer science, engineering, etc. It also offers different scholarship options for international students. More than 14,000 students, including 3000 international students are enrolled in this university.

Over 300 courses are available for undergraduate and postgraduate studies for international students. The university also requires IELTS with a B2 level. The student acceptance rate is 80-90%.

2. University of Stirling

Stirling University is a public research-based university located near Glasgow and Edinburgh. It was founded in 1967 in Stirling City. The university offers bachelor's, master's, and PhD in natural sciences, business and management, arts and humanities, management and social sciences, medicine and life sciences, etc.

The University of Stirling is the top university in the UK for sports and also among the top five in the world. This university offers its students more than 50 sports programs.

The university's tuition fee is reasonable for international students, ranging from £12000 to £17000 per year. This university has more than 17000 students enrolled, including over 5000 international students from 120+ different countries. This university also requires IELTS from its students, with a minimum of 6.0 bands or above. The university's acceptance rate for international students is 20-25%. There are different scholarship options available for international students. 

3. University of Suffolk

The University of Suffolk is a research-based public university founded in 2007 in Ipswich City. It has more than 20,000 students, including 90 different countries from around the world. This university is also budget-friendly for international students. The average tuition fee ranges from £15000 to £18000.

There are different scholarship offers available for international students while studying here. This university has over 12000 students, including over 10% international students. The university's acceptance rate is very good, over 85% for international students. This university offers undergraduate and postgraduate programs in the fields of architecture, biomedical science, education, English, computing, critical writing, fine arts, etc.

The IELTS also requires a minimum of 6.5 or above bands. This university also accepts the TOEFL test with a score of 82 or above. The minimum required CGPA is 2.5 for getting admission here.

4. University of Staffordshire

The University of Staffordshire is a public research university established in 1971. It offers bachelor's, master's, and PhD programs in engineering and technology, arts and humanities, business and management, social sciences and management, medicine and life sciences, etc. Overall, this university offers 250-plus courses for undergraduate and postgraduate programs.

The average tuition fee is £12000 to £19000 per year. More than 20,000 students are enrolled in the university, including many international students from 75 different countries. The university's acceptance rate is over 80%. Different scholarship options are also available for students.

IELTS is also required for English proficiency with a minimum of 6.0 or above bands. TOEFL is also accepted with scores of 87 or above. The minimum required CGPA is 2.7 to get admitted to the university.

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5. Leeds Beckett University

Leeds Beckett University is a very affordable university for international students in the city of Leeds. The average tuition fee ranges from £12000 to £14000 per year. It's a public university founded in 1824. The university has over 22,000 students, including 14,000 international students from 140 different countries.

This university offers courses for bachelor’s, master’s, and PhD in computer science, economics, mathematics, environmental and social sciences, biology, art and design, and psychology, among other fields. IELTS is also required for English proficiency, with a minimum of 6.0 bands. The university also accepts PTE 54+ and TOEFL 79+ exams. The university's acceptance rate is good, around 70-75% for international students. This university offers over 200 undergraduate and postgraduate programs.

6. University of Cumbria

The University of Cumbria is a public university established in 2007. It is famous for art, literature, mountaineering pioneers, and conversations. The average tuition fee is £14900 - £17800 per year, which is very affordable for international students.

This university has over 10,000 students, including many international students from different countries around the world. The university's acceptance rate is very good, around 70% for international students. IELTS is also required, with a minimum of 6.0 band. Scholarship offers are also available while students are studying at the university.

There are 160 plus courses available for undergraduate and postgraduate studies in the fields of sociology, political science, computer science, engineering, philosophy, law, MBA, chemistry, business, economics, and biochemistry, among others.

7. University of Bolton

The University of Bolton is a public university in Bolton, Greater Manchester. Founded in 1982, it offers more than 260 undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in engineering, architecture, nursing, business, history, archaeology, law, political science, etc.

The university's tuition fee is £15,950 per year for bachelor's, master's, and PhD programs. International students can also apply for different scholarships while studying at the university. The university's acceptance rate is very good, over 75% for international students.

This university also requires IELTS with a minimum of 6.0 bands. The TOEFL test is also accepted with 72 or above marks. The minimum required GPA is 2.0. This university has more than 10,000 students, including many international students.

8. Coventry University

Coventry University is ranked one of the best in the country because of its modern facilities and focus on employability. Its roots go back to 1843, in 1992 Coventry University gained its university status. The average tuition fee is £16800 to £20050 per year.

This university offers 350-plus undergraduate and postgraduate programs in the fields of natural and social sciences, engineering and technology, arts and humanities, management and business, medicine and life sciences, etc. It has 38,000 students, including over 13,000 international students from 150 different countries.

The minimum required GPA is 2.5 or above to get admitted here. This university accepts IELTS, PTE, and TOEFL for English proficiency: IELTS 6.0 or above bands, PTE 59 plus, and POEFL 89 plus scores. The university's acceptance rate for international students is 60-65%.

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9. Buckinghamshire New University

Buckinghamshire New University was founded in 1891 and gained university status in 2007. It's a public research university with four different campuses. This university is famous for nursing, aviation, and medicine. It has over 21000 students across all the campuses. This university offers 190-plus courses in the fields of business and management, medicine and life sciences, engineering and technology, management and social sciences, etc.

The average tuition fee is £12500 to £14000. This university is very affordable because of its low fees and living costs around the city. To get admission to the university, you must have a CGPA of 2.0. The IELTS is also required, with a minimum score of 6.0 or above. The university's acceptance rate is very good, around 95% for international students.

Students can avail different scholarships while they are studying at the university.

10. Teesside University

Teesside University started operating in 1930 and gained university status in 1992. This university is famous for its affordability, student-centered approach, and modern education facilities. The average tuition fee is £12500 to £19000.

This university has 22000 enrolments, including 1800+ international students. It offers 500-plus courses for undergraduate and postgraduate studies in the fields of engineering and technology, art and design, business and management, natural sciences, medicine, and life sciences, among others.

Students can benefit from different scholarships while studying at Teesside University. The university's acceptance rate is 75-80%. IELTS is required with a minimum of 6.0 bands. The minimum required CGPA for a bachelor's is 3.0 and for a master's, 2.0 or above.

FAQs

Q1) How much does it cost to live in the UK as a student?

Answer: The average monthly living cost in the UK for international students is £900 to £1200. This cost may vary slightly depending on the city and facilities students use.

Q2) Are there scholarships for international students in the UK?

Answer: Yes, there are many scholarship options for international students studying at UK universities. Some of the scholarships are Commonwealth scholarships, Chevening scholarships, university scholarships, and external scholarships.

Q3) Which UK university has the lowest fees?

Answer: Some of the universities with the lowest tuition fees are:

• Teesside University
• Leeds Beckett University
• University of Staffordshire

Q4) Can international students work while studying in the UK?

Answer: Yes, international students are allowed to work part-time jobs while studying. Students can work 20 hours weekly to cover their study and living expenses.