Cost of studying in the UK for Pakistani students on a study visa

The cost of studying in the UK for Pakistani students is roughly £36,000 to £51,000 for a one year master's starting in 2027, about Rs 13 to 19 million, as of October 2026. That covers tuition, the £558 study visa fee, the health surcharge and living costs. The visa needs unpaid fees plus £1,171 a month outside London (£1,529 in London) for 9 months, rising on 30 November 2026.

How much does a UK study visa cost from Pakistan?

These are the official charges for a Student visa applied for from Pakistan, checked on GOV.UK on 14 October 2026.

Why is the IHS more than one year? Under the Immigration Rules, a course of 12 months or longer gives you permission for the course plus up to 1 month before it and 4 months after it. GOV.UK charges a full year for each year of the visa and half a year (£388) for any extra period of 6 months or less, so a 17 month visa costs £1,164. A three year bachelor's costs more because the visa is longer.

The TB certificate must come from a Home Office approved clinic. GOV.UK lists IOM and AMC clinics in Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi, and IOM in Mirpur. Our guide to the TB test for a UK visa in Lahore covers booking and what to bring.

How much is UK university tuition for international students?

Each university sets its own international fee, so the only reliable figures are on its own course pages. To compare like with like, here is one subject area, a one year master's in data science or computing, at six universities, checked on 14 October 2026:

The gap is large. A Russell Group master's can cost double a modern university's, about Rs 15.2 million at Manchester against Rs 6.8 million at Sheffield Hallam. For undergraduates, BSc Computer Science costs £39,700 a year at Manchester and £33,700 a year at Leeds (fixed for the course) for 2027 entry, against £20,800 a year at Coventry and £17,975 at Greenwich for 2026/27. Greenwich and Sheffield Hallam both advertise international scholarships of up to £3,000 on these course pages, so check before you rule a university out.

How much money do you need to show for a UK study visa?

On top of tuition, the visa needs proof of living costs. You must show any course fees still unpaid for the first year plus these monthly amounts for up to 9 months:

The increase comes from the statement of changes HC 584, published on 3 September 2026. An application made before 30 November 2026 is decided under the old amounts. The money must be held for 28 days in a row, ending within 31 days of your application, in your own or a parent's account. If you have paid a deposit for university arranged accommodation, up to £1,529 of it (£1,570 from 30 November) can be offset against the living cost amount.

For the full rules on whose account counts and how the bank letter should look, see our guides to UK student visa requirements and the bank statement for a study visa.

What does student accommodation cost in the UK?

University halls are usually the simplest first year option, and most universities publish 2026/27 prices:

Two warnings. A one year master's runs about 12 months, so check whether your contract covers the summer you spend writing your dissertation. And the visa amount is a minimum, not a budget: Leeds estimates average living costs of £320 a week, or £16,640 for 52 weeks, and Manchester estimates £18,188 a year for postgraduates in 2026/27. Queen Mary tells London students they will not be able to rely on the visa maintenance figure alone.

Sample first year budget in pounds and rupees

Here is a hypothetical one year MSc starting in September 2027, at a lower fee university and at a Russell Group university, using October 2026 government fees. Living costs use 12 months at the visa rate for outside London from 30 November 2026 (£1,203 a month), which is a floor, not an estimate of your spending.

Add the TB test (PKR 14,000 to 15,000), flights and your English test. Any tuition deposit you pay before applying reduces the balance you must show, because the visa only counts unpaid fees.

Rupee figures move with the pound. At Rs 366.70, every Rs 5 rise adds about Rs 250,000 to a £50,000 plan, so keep a margin.

Can part time work help with UK costs?

Students on a full time degree level course at a university can work up to 20 hours a week in term time and full time in vacations, under the Immigration Rules. That helps with weekly expenses, but it cannot replace the funds you show for the visa, and Via Nova does not arrange jobs. Our guide to the UK Graduate visa covers work after your course.

Not sure where you stand?

The difference between Rs 13.1 million and Rs 18.6 million is often the choice of university, not the country. Send your grades, budget and target course to a Via Nova counsellor on WhatsApp at +92 316 4448062 for an honest view of which universities fit your family's money, through our UK study visa service. We never promise a visa: only UKVI decides.