Finance and Funding

How Much Will It Cost Me?

When you are thinking about studying overseas, it is important that you understand all the costs involved and budget accordingly. It is essential to budget for your studies prior to leaving your home country, and arrange all your funding for BOTH your tuition fees and your living costs. To help you budget we have included some information on the cost of study, but please remember these are only a guide and the costs will vary depending on the individual students. You can also use the International Student Calculator to help plan and manage your budget when studying in the UK.

International Student Fees for 2013/14

 Undergraduate Arts-based Programmes  £12,000
 Undergraduate Science-based Programmes  £15,000
 Undergraduate Clinical Medicine  £26,500
 Postgraduate Arts-based Programmes  £12,000
 Postgraduate Science-based Programmes  £15,000
 Graduate Business School MSc & LLM Programmes  £13,500
 Graduate Business School MBA Programmes  £15,000

Please be advised that some programmes have different tuition fees from those listed above and that some programmes also have additional costs. We recommend that you check our Tuition Fees pages as well as the course descriptions carefully as these are updated. Please note that students from EU member states pay the same fees as Home students.

Determining Your Fee Status

When we receive your application for admission, you will provide information that will help us determine your fee status. Should we require further information, we would contact you. If you currently live overseas and you do not hold a UK or EU passport, it is likely that you will be classified as an International Fees student. UKCISA, the UK Council for International Student Affairs, formerly known as UKCOSA, can provide detailed guidance on the following areas: Immigration; Fees and Student Support; Finance and Funding; Welfare, Health and Tax benefits; Council Tax. UKCISA is happy to advise students about the fee regulations and case law that apply to them, and to provide a second opinion following an institution's assessment of a student's fee status. The UKCISA Guidance Note for Scotland can be found at www.ukcisa.org.uk/student/information_sheets.php#tuition_fees. 

UKCISA can be contacted as follows:

9-17 St Albans Place, London, N1 0NX
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7288 4330
Fax: +44 (0) 20 7288 4360
Web: http://www.ukcisa.org.uk/

The Student Advice Line is +44 (0) 20 7107 9922 and is open Monday to Friday from 1pm to 4pm.

Deposits

Postgraduate students applying to any Masters programme within the Business School at the University of Aberdeen are required to pay a non-refundable deposit. On registration the student will pay the standard fee minus the deposit already paid. The requirement to pay the deposit will be stated as a condition on your offer letter. As part of your offer letter, you will find included a ‘Deposit Agreement Form’. You must sign and then return it along with the deposit. You must meet all academic and English language conditions and pay the deposit in order to be cleared for admission and to receive your Certificate of Acceptance.

Minimum Cost of Living

In addition to tuition fees, students will require approximately £650 - £800 per months to cover additional costs. Students requiring a visa will need to prove to the UKBA that they have enough money to cover the cost of living. For more information on this please visit our visa page. The following table gives you an overview over the average cost of living (based on accommodation prices for a single study bedroom in 2011-2012). Other costs include entertainment, clothing, phone, local travel, and laundry. These costs are estimated and actual expenses will vary depending on your lifestyle and spending habits.
 

 1. University Halls of Residence (Self-catered)
 (38, 40 & 50 week leases available)		  £ Monthly

 a. Accommodation (incl. heating & electricity)
 b. Food
 c. Other Costs

  £276 - £532 
 £120
 £140
 TOTAL  £536 - £792
 2. University Halls of Residence (Catered)
 (38 week lease; meals provided for 36 weeks)		  
 a. Accommodation (incl. breakfast, dinner, heating & electricity)
 b. Additional Food (lunches)
 c. Other Costs		  £548 - £628    
 £60
 £140
 TOTAL  £748 - £828
 3. Private Flats  
 a. Accommodation
 b. Food
 c. Energy Bills
 d. Other Costs		  £280 - £380
 £120
 £44
 £140
 TOTAL  £588 - £688

Money Advice Centre - Making Your Budget Stretch Further

The University has an independent Money Advice Centre, run in conjunction with the Students' Association. The Centre provides free and independent advice to students, including:

  • confidential one-to-one advice
  • advice on constructing a personal budget
  • personalised budget form (on any student PC)
  • guidance on loans, banking, mortgages etc
  • seminars on budgeting and money management

Working in the UK

International students who will be studying for more than 6 months are permitted to work for 20 hours per week during term-time, though this may be increased during the holiday periods. The University’s Joblink service can help you find part-time work as well as offering other employment advice. Please note that this must not be relied upon as a means to fund your studies. Students coming to study for one semester only (less than 6 months) are usually not granted permission to work.

Extending your stay in the UK

 

There are specific requirements under Tier 4 for students wishing to extend their stay in the UK for the purposes of employment. You should always seek advice from one of our International Student Advisers based in The Hub before submitting a visa extension application in the UK or applying to change status, as this may not always be possible. It is important to make your appointment about 3 months in advance of your visa expiry date.

Further information and application forms are available from the Home Office's website at www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/workingintheuk/

Opening a UK Bank Account

If you are planning to open a UK bank account you may wish to refer to the
International Students Guide to Opening a UK Bank Account created by the British Bankers' Association. The guide will help to answer many of your questions ranging from "How do I choose which bank is best for me?" to "What is the best way to bring money with me into the UK?"