How Much Does it Cost to Study in the UK from Nigeria?
The cost of studying in the UK from Nigeria depends on many factors. In the first place, it depends on your mode of study. Many people now study online. Studying online is by far cheaper than studying offline.
When you study online, you do not think of travelling costs. The reason is that you study from the comfort of your home or anywhere that is convenient to you. All that you need is internet service. The only cost that you may then incur in your study online is the tuition fees, which you can easily pay online, too.
Another advantage of studying online is the avoidance of accommodation. All these reduce the cost of going to the UK to study. Fortunately, many universities in the UK offer online courses that any Nigerian student can easily study from the comfort of his home in Nigeria.
Whatever happens, if you must go to the UK to study, you must think of the following costs:
- Cost of travelling to the UK from Nigeria
- Tuition fees to pay
- Cost of living in the UK
Cost of Study in the UK from Nigeria
1. Travelling Cost
Before you can study in the UK from Nigeria, you must go there. Therefore, you must include the cost of your travelling to the UK in your plan. In the first place, a visa application is likely going to cost you about £400. The UK will require you to pay an International Health Surcharge of about £480. It is now that you can think of paying for a flight to the UK from Nigeria.
2. Cost of Tuition in UK Universities
In your plan to go to the UK to study from Nigeria, you must research tuition fees in most UK universities to estimate how much you will likely pay for tuition. In my research, I discovered that tuition fees in well-known UK Universities depend on the University where you are going to do your study, the course you intend to read and how long it will take you to graduate.
The location of the university also contributes to the fees that you pay. On average, any undergraduate course that you intend to read in any of the UK universities will cost about £15,000 yearly. If you are going for a Postgraduate Diploma Course, you will need about £16,000 per year. Doctorate courses cost about £16,000 every year.
3. Cost of Living in the UK
Another thing that you must include in your plan is your living expenses while in the UK. In the UK, be ready to spend £150—£200 on feeding alone every month. If you are going to use a mobile phone, you should be ready to pay about £20 monthly charge.
Those who have lived in the UK estimated their utility bills to be about £35 monthly. Well, if you are ready to groove in the UK, you should equally be ready to pay about £80 for monthly entertainment. To be on the safe side, put aside £40 monthly under miscellaneous.
On-Campus Accommodation Costs in UK Universities
As an international student from Nigeria, you may likely stay on campus instead of off campus. It all depends on the one that is cheaper for you. Another thing that you should consider in choosing your accommodation is your level of education.
If you are a fresher in 100 levels, residing on campus may be better for you. This will help you so much in your studies. However, if you are going to the UK for Postgraduate studies, you can choose to be anywhere depending on the cost. In any case, note that UK University’s on campus accommodation costs somewhere between £350 and £550 per month
Scholarship in the UK Universities
In all, how much does it cost to study in the UK from Nigeria? The foregoing shows that it costs so much to study in the UK from Nigeria. However, the UK offers different scholarships to international students that Nigerian students can take advantage of. Thus, a Nigerian student can reduce the cost of his education in the UK through these scholarships.
See: DNUOF Scholarship Program
Cheapest Universities in the UK for Nigerian Students
Another thing that a Nigerian student who wants to study in the UK can do to reduce the cost of his study is to aim at the cheapest universities in the UK for international students. The cost of study in the UK is not fixed. Different universities in the UK charge different tuition fees.
Nevertheless, any Nigerian student can target those universities in the UK that charge less tuition fees. Some of the universities in the UK that have the cheapest tuition fees include:
- Leeds Beckett University
- University of Buckingham
- Ulster University and
- The University of Sunderland
Working in the UK while Studying
One good thing about studying in the UK is the fact that the UK allows its international students to work while studying. When you are in the midst of the academic session, UK universities will allow you to work for as long as twenty hours a week.
It depends on you. As long as can balance your time of study with your time of work, you are good to go. When schools are on vacation, the UK will allow you to work full-time.
In this way, your real cost of going to the UK to study from Nigeria is your initial cost of travelling to the UK and starting your study. During your study session, you can always work to augment your tuition fee payment. Luck being on your side, you can be fortunate to get a permanent job after your studies.
Tips for Nigerian Students to Save Money in the UK
The truth is that studying in the UK from Nigeria is costly. Therefore, any Nigerian student who wants to study in the UK from Nigeria must try to save money at all costs to reduce his cost of study. The following tips can help you do that.
1. Go for Free Food
Some good people in the UK give high-quality food for free. Olio and FreeCycle all give free food to people. Therefore, to reduce your cost of studying in the UK, take advantage of this magnanimity.
2. Sell Used Items Online
Unlike America, the UK allows its international students to sell items online. A Nigerian student studying in the UK can take advantage of this opportunity to sell online and make money in the process.
3. Take Rail Journeys
Travelling in the UK by train is by far cheaper than travelling by car not to talk of travelling by flight. To reduce the cost of studying in the UK, a Nigerian student can do this.
4. Cook your Food
You cannot compare cooking your food to buying food from food vendors.
5. Buy second-hand Goods
Buying second-hand goods will drastically reduce your cost of studying in the UK. In the UK, you can always see used textbooks to buy in places like Abe Books and Book Depository. You can also see good used clothes to buy that will reduce your cost of study in the UK
6. Take Advantage of Charity Shops
In the UK, shops like the British Heart Foundation and Shelter are charity shops that any Nigerian student can take advantage of.
Conclusion
Speaking generally, going to the UK to study from Nigeria is costly but there are various ways of reducing that cost. Plan well and follow the tips for saving money while in the UK. Working, while studying, can also help you to reduce your cost of study in the UK.