Study Abroad
Cost of studying in the UK for Nepali students: tuition ranges, GBP 1,529/1,171 monthly funds, 28-day rule, GBP 558 visa fee, IHS, TB test and living costs.
"How much money do we really need for the UK?" This is usually the first question Nepali parents ask us, and the honest answer has several parts: tuition, the money UKVI wants to see in the bank, the visa fee, the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS), the TB test and your actual day-to-day living costs. This guide breaks down the cost of studying in the UK for Nepali students using GOV.UK, the British Council's Study UK site and UCAS. Fees and costs change often, so check every figure on gov.uk and your university's website before you pay or apply.
Where we show Nepali rupee amounts, they are approximate, using about NPR 204 per GBP (Nepal Rastra Bank selling rate, 2 November 2026), rounded. Your bank's rate on the day will be different.
For the full visa process (CAS, documents, English and the VFS appointment), read our UK student visa from Nepal guide. This article focuses on the money.
UK universities set their own fees for international students, so prices vary widely by university, subject and city. Official guides give these ranges:
Undergraduate (bachelor's): the British Council says international fees range from about GBP 11,400 to GBP 38,000 a year, and UCAS puts the average at about GBP 22,000 a year. Most bachelor's degrees take three years in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and four in Scotland.
Postgraduate (master's): the British Council gives a range of about GBP 9,000 to GBP 30,000, and UCAS gives an average of about GBP 17,109 a year. Many taught master's courses take just one year, which keeps the total cost down compared with a two-year master's in other countries.
Subject matters: humanities, business and social sciences usually cost the least. Laboratory, engineering and clinical courses cost the most, and medicine can go well above these ranges.
Always use the exact fee on your offer letter. Fees can also rise each year of a multi-year course, so ask the university whether the fee is fixed for your whole degree.
Most UK universities ask international students to pay a tuition deposit before they issue the Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS). Each university sets its own deposit amount and refund policy, so read the terms before you pay, especially the rules if your visa is refused.
Any money you have already paid towards tuition should be shown on your CAS. This matters because UKVI only asks you to show the unpaid part of your first-year fees. A larger deposit means a smaller bank balance to show, but it also means more money at risk if plans change. Before paying anything, check that the university is on the Home Office register of licensed student sponsors; our post on the Buckinghamshire New University sponsor licence suspension shows why.
Nepal is not on the UK's "differential evidence" list, so Nepali applicants must submit proof of funds with the Student visa application. GOV.UK says you need:
Course fees: enough to pay for one academic year (up to 9 months) of your course, as shown on your CAS, minus anything already paid.
Living costs in London: GBP 1,529 per month, for up to 9 months, which is GBP 13,761 (about NPR 28.1 lakh). London means the City of London and the 32 London boroughs.
Living costs outside London: GBP 1,171 per month, for up to 9 months, which is GBP 10,539 (about NPR 21.5 lakh).
Coming change: the Home Office has laid rules raising these amounts to GBP 1,570 (London) and GBP 1,203 (outside London) per month for applications made on or after 30 November 2026, which would mean GBP 14,130 or GBP 10,827 for 9 months. If you apply in December or later, plan for the higher figure.
The 28-day rule: the money must be in the account for at least 28 days in a row, and the end of that 28-day period must be within 31 days of the date you apply. GOV.UK's example: if you apply on 1 January, you must show the funds for a 28-day period ending no earlier than 1 December. If the balance falls below the required amount for even one day, the evidence can fail.
Worked example (illustrative only): a master's student outside London with an annual fee of GBP 16,000 who has paid a GBP 4,000 deposit would need to show GBP 12,000 (unpaid fees) plus GBP 10,539 (living costs), so GBP 22,539 in total, about NPR 46 lakh. Your own figure depends on your fee, deposit, city and application date.
Student visa fee: GBP 558 when you apply from outside the UK (about NPR 1.14 lakh). Each family member who is allowed to join you pays the same fee. A priority service may be offered for an extra fee.
Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS): GBP 776 per year for students, paid when you apply. It gives you access to the NHS. The IHS is based on the length of your visa, not just your course, and visas usually run a few months past the course end date. For any extra period of six months or less, you pay half the yearly amount. As our own illustration, a one-year master's with a visa of about 16 months would usually mean an IHS of around GBP 1,164 (about NPR 2.37 lakh), and a three-year bachelor's with a visa of about three years and four months would mean around GBP 2,716. Use the official IHS calculator on gov.uk to get your exact figure.
TB test in Nepal: Nepal is on the list of countries where applicants coming for more than six months need a tuberculosis test from a Home Office-approved clinic. The approved clinics in Nepal are in Kathmandu (the IOM/Migration Health Assessment Center in Lazimpat and Norvic International Hospital in Thapathali) and in Damak, Jhapa. Clinic fees have been listed at around USD 60 (IOM) and NPR 7,800 (Norvic) for applicants aged 11 and over; confirm with the clinic before you book.
English test: if your university or course needs a test, budget for IELTS, PTE or another accepted test, plus any preparation classes.
Flights and first weeks: budget for your flight from Kathmandu and a cushion for the first month, such as a rent deposit, bedding, a phone SIM and transport, before your first part-time pay arrives.
The UKVI amounts are a visa requirement, not a promise that this is all you will spend. The British Council estimates that a student without dependants spends around GBP 1,300 to GBP 1,400 a month in London and GBP 900 to GBP 1,300 a month in the rest of the UK. Its average monthly figures include:
Accommodation: student halls with bills included average about GBP 848 in London and GBP 664 elsewhere; a room in a shared private house is about GBP 750 in London and GBP 554 elsewhere, before bills.
Bills: about GBP 140 a month in London and GBP 80 elsewhere if your rent does not include them.
Groceries: about GBP 155 in London and GBP 116 elsewhere.
Transport: about GBP 103 for a monthly student Oyster card (Zones 1 to 2) in London and GBP 54 elsewhere.
Phone: a SIM-only plan is about GBP 18 a month.
Rent is the biggest variable. Cities outside London and the South East are generally cheaper, which is one reason many Nepali students choose universities outside London.
Your own or your parents' savings: money in a bank account in your name or your parents' names can be used. If it is your parents' money, you also need a letter of consent from them and proof of relationship, such as your birth certificate.
Education loan: a loan from a regulated lender can count. The loan letter must be addressed to you, be dated within six months of your application, show the amount and confirm the money will be available before your course starts. Nepali banks prepare these letters regularly; our education loan in Nepal guide was written for Australia, but most of the paperwork is similar for the UK.
Official sponsorship or scholarship: a letter from the government, university or organisation paying your costs.
What does not count: overdrafts, shares, crypto and pensions are not accepted, and UKVI may check statements directly with your bank. Avoid large unexplained deposits just before the 28-day period starts, and keep the money untouched until your visa is decided. You will also need a No Objection Letter (NOC) from Nepal before you can transfer fees abroad.
Choose your city carefully: the same degree can cost far less to live on outside London.
Look at one-year master's courses: fewer months of rent, and only one year of tuition.
Apply early for scholarships: many universities offer international merit scholarships or fee discounts, often with early deadlines. The UK Government's Chevening scholarship is open to Nepali citizens for one-year master's courses; applications for 2027-28 closed on 6 October 2026, so watch for the next cycle.
Work within the rules: most full-time degree students can work up to 20 hours a week in term time. Our guide to part-time work in the UK for Nepali students explains the limits, wages and tax. Never count on part-time income to meet the visa funds requirement.
Use student discounts: a student railcard and student Oyster card, discount apps and cooking at home add up over a year.
Think beyond the degree: budget for the UK Graduate visa if you plan to stay and work afterwards, because it has its own fee and IHS.
If you are still comparing destinations, our guide to universities in New Zealand for Nepali students covers another popular option.
Your unpaid first-year tuition (as shown on your CAS) plus GBP 1,529 a month in London or GBP 1,171 a month outside London, for up to 9 months. For applications made on or after 30 November 2026, the monthly amounts are due to rise to GBP 1,570 and GBP 1,203.
At least 28 consecutive days, with the end of that period no more than 31 days before you apply.
The visa fee is GBP 558 from outside the UK. The IHS is GBP 776 for each year of your visa, with half that amount for any extra period of six months or less.
Yes, if it is from a regulated lender and the loan letter meets UKVI's rules: in your name, dated within six months of your application, showing the amount and confirming the money will be available before your course starts.
Usually, yes. Both the UKVI living-cost amount and typical rents are lower outside London.
Everest Global Education helps Nepali students build a realistic UK study budget before they apply. We compare course fees and scholarships, check that your university is a licensed sponsor, calculate the funds and IHS for your exact course, review your bank and loan documents against the 28-day rule, and offer IELTS and PTE preparation, all checked against current GOV.UK guidance.
Kathmandu: Putalisadak, Opposite of MIT College
Pokhara: Pushpa Ratna Bhawan, Siddharthachowk-4, Pokhara 33700
Beni: New Road, Beni Bazar, Myagdi
Dhangadhi: Boradadi Road, Dhangadhi 10900
Janakpur: Girija Path, Murli Chowk, Janakpur
Perth (Australia): 102 James St, Northbridge WA 6003, Australia
Sydney (Australia): Level 1/483 Princes Highway, Rockdale NSW 2216, Australia
Share your academic transcripts, English score, preferred course and family budget, and we will help you work out the total cost and the funds you need to show before you apply.
Submit an enquiry at https://everestglobaledu.com/enquiry and our team will contact you by phone or email.
Everest Global Education
Phone: +61 8 6157 0080
Email: info@everestglobal.com
Website: https://everestglobaledu.com/
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