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Housing and Living Costs In Wales

Find out if you have the financial resources necessary to make your study abroad dream a reality. Browse and compare costs of living in the different student cities across Wales.

Oct 3, 2020
Living Costs In Wales

Studying in Wales is often seen as an affordable adventure, with living costs being 4x lower than some places in England!

Living costs in Wales are lower than in most of the rest of the UK. Cardiff, the capital of Wales, has the second-lowest monthly rent of all the UK's university cities. The city itself came fourth in the 2021 NatWest Student Living Index for monthly rental costs in UK university cities, and sixteenth in terms of overall living costs. 

Other universities in Wales also offer other incentives for international students, for example, Aberystwyth University offers free accommodation for the first year of studies for international students!

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Accommodation

Most first-year international students like to live in university-run halls of residence. These might be on-campus, or in a “student village” a short distance away from campus.

All accommodation at the universities we work with have single rooms, so you won’t have to share with anyone else! Some rooms are ensuite and others have a shared bathroom. You do, though, typically share a kitchen with about 6-10 other people. You also might find social areas in some accommodation blocks. Most universities in Wales are self-catered, meaning you get to cook your own food. But there are some universities that still have catered (meal-plans) accommodation available. 

After your first year, you tend to move off-campus to live with friends you’ve made during your time in university accommodation. There is still some university accommodation available for students in their second and third year of study, however. 

The pricing of university accommodation is weekly. It’s a fixed fee, and it includes:

  • Room
  • Internet
  • Utilities

You can expect to pay between:

  • £75-190 per week for university-managed accommodation (not including the Aberystwyth accommodation scholarship)
  • £80-90 per week for Off-Campus private accommodation. 

Prices change depending on location, and whether the room is an en-suite or a studio apartment. 

Other costs of studying in Wales

Students studying in Wales can buy or loan their own textbooks. All core textbooks will be available from the university library. 

It’s important to note that, when applying for your visa to study in the UK, you’ll need to pay a health surcharge, which is around £470 per year of study. This gives you access to the National Health Service, which is free to use. In Wales, this fee also covers free prescriptions.

The Which? student budget calculator is a useful tool to use when calculating how much things cost. For example, the cost of studying in Swansea is roughly £820 a month (not including fees). Meanwhile, studying in London could cost you more than £1200 a month.


Learn more about studying in Wales:

Overview

Choosing Wales as your study abroad destination means more than a top-quality education. Get an overview of Wales and why you should study abroad there.

Welsh Language & Culture

Wales is a country steeped in heritage. Find out more about what the country offers in terms of language, culture, and more! 

Tuition Fees in Wales

Tuition fees for higher education programs in Wales can vary. Many international and domestic students pay different tuition fees, depending on where they are from. In this section, you'll find all the information on how this works in Wales.

Entry Requirements for Welsh Universities

Learn more about the national application portal for Welsh universities. This section covers what you'll need to do when applying as an undergraduate and postgraduate.

Scholarships

Don't let international student tuition fees stop you from studying abroad in Wales. Find out more about some of the scholarships available to international students here! 

Student Visas for the UK

Do you need a visa to enter Wales to study? Learn more about the student visa process, and what you need to enter the country, depending on your citizenship. Don't worry! We've gathered the information you'll need to make it happen.

Student Life in Wales

Wondering what it's like to study abroad in Wales? Discover what student life looks like outside of the classroom.

Programs in Wales

Ready to browse higher education courses in Wales? Use our search engine to find and compare top programs in Wales today!

Keystone Team

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The Keystone Team is comprised of experienced educators and advisors dedicated to providing valuable resources and advice to students all over the world.