Living Cost in the UK
As far as living costs are concerned, these costs will fluctuate depending on your lifestyle, spending habits, and budget.
UK Visa and Immigration requires you to have a budget of around £1,330 per month for a period of at least 9 months to study in London. This amount is in addition to the tuition fees. This is the minimum amount you need to show to get a visa to study in London. For other places in the UK, the amount will be lesser. If you study at colleges outside London, you will require a minimum amount of around £1,020 per month up to a maximum of 9 months or £9200 as requested by
UK Visa and Immigration. The average accommodation rents are £150 per week. The UKVI also estimates that in addition to your rent, you will need approximately £104 every week for miscellaneous expenses.
Accommodation
When it comes to accommodation we are here to help. UniGuru can assist you in finding the most suitable place to live depending on your personal preference and your budget. If you are a bit budget conscious we suggest living outside of London will be the best possible option.
Listed below are several websites you can look into to get an idea of pricing and availability :
- www.gumtree.com
- www.rightmove.co.uk
- www.zoopla.co.uk
Work Rights
International students studying a full-time course at a university in the UK are allowed to work;
- Up to 20 hours a week if you are studying for a qualification at Undergraduate or Postgraduate levels.
- Up to 10 hours a week if you are studying for qualification below degree level (Foundation program)
After the end of the course and during term vacations, students will be allowed to work full time.
The current minimum wage is the UK is £9.50 and the London standard living wage is £10.55.
Work rights for Dependants
Any dependents who are over 16 years old will be able to work full time in the UK. There are no restrictions on the type of work they can do except:
- Working as a doctor or dentist in training
- Working as a professional sportsperson or coach
Finding jobs in the UK
The easiest way to find a job is to apply online via online websites such as :
- www.gumtree.com
- www.indeed.co.uk
- www.reed.co.uk
- cv-library.co.uk
Alternatively you could hand out your CV to businesses in your local area. Although, we are proud to announce at UniGuru that we are able to assist you find a job perfectly aligned with your preferences and availability.
Dependants
Certain students are permitted to bring family members to the UK as dependents.
You can bring dependents to the UK if:
- You are a government-sponsored student who is studying a full-time programme of more than six months in duration; OR
- You are a postgraduate student studying a full-time programme of nine months or more
Undergraduate students who are not government-sponsored or studying a programme of up to 6 months cannot bring dependents. There also are very specific instances in which your child may be able to apply as your dependent. Please contact us for more information on these.
You can bring the following to the UK as your dependents:
- Your spouse
- Your civil partner
- Your unmarried partner (provided you have been living together for at least 2 consecutive years)
- Your children
Child dependents must be either:
- Under 18 years old; OR
- Already hold permission to live in the UK as your dependent child
Other family members, such as your parents or siblings, cannot come to the UK as your dependents.
Can dependents study in the UK?
There are no restrictions on study for dependents. If you are a dependent who intends to study in the UK, you should note that if you are studying on a programme that requires ATAS clearance, you will need to obtain an ATAS certificate before you can begin your studies.
Are there any other conditions for the dependent visa?
Dependents have no access to public funds, which means that they cannot claim social benefits from the state, such as unemployment benefits or housing benefits.
Certain nationalities who have a visa for more than six months must register with the Police.