London – UK’s bustling capital – is more than just a center for business and culture. It’s also a central hub for education for local and international students. In fact, around half of the total percentage of students worldwide in the country are currently based in London, one of the cities ideal for both local and out-of-resident learners to study.
While the city has a high cost of living compared to most UK regions, it does offer affordable education as long as you know where to look. The capital is home to many cheap yet renowned universities, and in this article, we will be looking at the low-cost institutions in London for overseas learners.
Affordable Schools in London for International Students
1. University of East London
The University of East London, or UEL, is a public institution founded in 1892 as the West Ham Technical Institute. Like many UK universities at the time, it was eventually awarded university status a century later. For UK and EU students, tuition costs £9,250 a year while international students’ tuition starts from £14,820. Its low-cost education attracts many international undergraduate students even from abroad.
UEL is currently divided into three campuses, with the Stratford campus playing home to the School of Education and Communities, the School of Health Sport and Bioscience, and the School of Psychology. On the other hand, the University Square Stratford houses the School of Law and Social Science and the Institute of the Performing Arts. The campus library and student rooms are based on the Docklands campus.
Its 40,000-student population has a sprawling international community from more than 160 countries. To date, almost a third of the enrollees come from abroad.
2. Middlesex University London
Middlesex University London, or MDX, is named after the historic boundary of Middlesex despite being located in northwestern London. It first operated in 1878 as a teacher training college known as St. Katharine’s College. In 1992, it merged with other smaller institutions to form the MDX it is known today. It is currently divided into three faculties—Arts and Creative Industries, Professional and Social Sciences, and Science and Technology.
Under these facilities, it offers internationally acknowledged courses. The international community has recognized its effort to deliver exceptional education, and the school has been included as one of the leading universities in Europe. Its prestige is also well-known to international students, as almost half of its total population comes from outside the UK, and it has opened international branches in Dubai, Malta, and Mauritius.
Currently, undergraduate and postgraduate students from the United Kingdom pay a total of £9,250 annually. However, the average yearly cost of an undergraduate degree for international students is £16,600, with significant course-specific differences.
3. University of Greenwich
The University of Greenwich is a public institution with campuses in London and Kent. It was founded as Wool Polytechnic in 1890 and renamed Thames Polytechnic in 1970. In 1992, it merged with the Thames College of Healthcare Studies to become the current school today.
This well-known institution has campuses across London, including the former Old Royal Navy College, which is home to the Greenwich Business School and the Faculty of Liberal Arts and Science. The Faculty of Education, Health and Human Sciences, on the other hand, is situated in Avery Hill. The last is the Medway Campus, which is home to the Faculty of Engineering and Science.
4. University of Westminster
The University of Westminster, one of the most affordable schools in London, was founded as the Royal Polytechnic Institution in 1838. It was the first polytechnic to operate in the capital until it became a full-fledged university in 1992. It currently has a main campus along Regent St., home to law, social science, and humanities faculties. Media and arts students are based at the Harrow campus, while architecture, business, and policy studies students are at Marylebone.
This university’s tuition cost is usually the same price for all degrees for UK students. However, international students pay twice the average amount, depending on their chosen degree. For instance, its Computer Science program costs £9,250 per academic year for local learners, but out-of-country students must pay £17,000 annually.
5. London South Bank University
London South Bank University is a public institution in Elephant and Castle, London. Formerly, the Borough Polytechnic Institute is one of the many UK schools that attained university status in 1992. LSBU has a main campus in South Bank, a satellite branch in Havering, and seven academic schools. This value-for-money school offers numerous study programs, including applied science, business, engineering, law, and health science.
This institution is ranked as one of the UK’s finest, thus giving it a high degree of popularity abroad. Complimented by cheap tuition, it has seen an influx of international students, representing a third of its student population. International students have tuition fees that are higher than those of local students. For instance, their undergraduate programs start at £14,900, while postgraduate degrees like MA, MSc, and PgDip cost starting £15,500.
FAQs: Studying in London
What Are the General Requirements to Study in London?
Applicants need a GPA of at least 2.75 – although the higher, the better. Other requirements include academic transcripts and proof of English proficiency. Depending on the university or program, additional documents may be required. These may consist of letters of recommendation, curriculum vitae, and portfolio (for arts and design students) or publications (for science students). For competitive programs, prospective students may be required to submit an essay or will be invited for an interview.
What Are the Accepted English Proficiency Exams in London Universities?
There are many English proficiency test providers, and universities in London accept most of them. London Metropolitan University, for example, accepts IELTS or TOEFL iBT. Meanwhile, the University of East London accepts several English proficiency exams: IELTS, TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, Cambridge IGCSE, and Oxford ELLT. Before taking any English proficiency test, it is highly recommended that you check with your chosen institution about what test providers they accept, their minimum score, and deadlines.
There’s no question that London has many prestigious universities you can enroll in to get the best education for your future. However, the affordable schools in this city don’t fall behind when providing excellent programs in various fields. So, if you think you can’t afford the pricier ones, you can choose among the institutions we listed in this article and start your educational journey as soon as possible!
We hope you make use of this article once you plan to apply to one in the UK’s capital. If you are unsure of what study program to take, you can always check out our Study in the UK Page and look at the list of Available Programs in the UK for International Students!
