Student Life in London: NEVER Sacrifice Fun with These Budget Tips

Study in London, the cultural capital of England, as a cosmopolitan city with  a diverse range of people and cultures, where more than 300 languages are spoken! London is a historical city with numerous bygone monuments such as Buckingham Palace and Tower Bridge, where you can take a blast to the past. A contemporary city that has everything you need to live in today's modern society, with an awesome transport system. As much as London is a vibrant and classical city, it is also an expensive one that can burn a hole in your pocket if you don’t pay attention to your spending—so NOT the vibe when it comes to student life in London.

Even though it is expensive, it is worth every penny. Let me show you just how to budget and have fun as a student in London-town.

Just think of all the adventures waiting to happen….✨

Why study in London? 

Despite the cost, London is still the top choice for study for many international students—not just because of the awesome city that it is, but because of the well-revered universities and worldwide recognition of its degrees. No wonder student life in London is poppin’! London universities offer a wide range of courses, and as a student, you will learn and meet many different people from diverse cultures, eat diverse food, and have the opportunity to attend diverse events.   

As well as being a wonderful study location with top universities, London is a perfect location to travel and explore Europe. With numerous low-cost airlines flying all over Europe, you could catch a flight to Spain for as little as 40 pounds or even less, depending on the season.

All of this and more make it 100% worth your study abroad investment, even if it is a little more than you might spend elsewhere. So that’s why—study in London, mate!

Ways to enjoy student life in London on a dime

Strategy #1: Understand the cost of living in London

To be able to budget in London, you first need to understand how much it costs to live here. Pretty much, you can’t beat it if you don’t quite understand it. Here’s a roundup of rough prices for 2018… 

• One-way bus ride £1.50 
• London Underground Day Travel card- £13.60 off-peak and £22.90 anytime 
• Big Mac Medium Meal- £4.69 
• Monthly Gym Membership- £30 
• 1 Litre bottle of water- £1.00 
• Adult Cinema Ticket- £9 
• Loaf of Bread- £1.05 
• 1 Litre of Milk- £0.93 

The closer you get to Central London (which is Zone 1 on the public transport system), the more expensive rent, restaurants, and even cinema tickets can get. Be aware that some prices can change depending on where you are in London. 

This should give you a rough idea of London prices. Hopefully, this does not put you off, but instead helps you to budget better (or more realistically) and to better understand the cost of living in London as a student.

Anytime is a great time in London for a cuppa tea and biscuits ☕️

Strategy #2: Attend low-cost universities in London 

London is known around the world for being the home of top institutions and great courses, which is why thousands of international students come to London to study each year. Don’t let high costs stop you from studying in this great city. You may even want to consider if enrolling in a university in London directly would be cheaper than doing a year or summer abroad through your own school. 

The best part? Some of these more affordable options also double as the best universities in London for international students. Heck yeah!

If this is something you’re seriously considering, then the next question is, where should I study? Let me introduce you to some low-cost universities. Check out our low-cost universities list in London below:

University of West London 

• The University of West London has two campuses. Both campuses have local parks and green spaces and are both commutable to central London in less than 30 minutes. London Heathrow is also accessible in 25 minutes. 
• Cost per academic year: £11,500 
• Location: Ealing and Brentford

London Metropolitan University

• London Metropolitan University is a vibrant and diverse University with two campuses within the heart of London. 
• Cost per academic year: £11,800 
• Location: Holloway Road and Aldgate East  

Coventry Uni London Campus

• Coventry University opened up a London campus in 2010 to attract more international students who want to study in London at lower costs. 
• Cost per semester: £ 12,238 
• Location: Shoreditch/Liverpool Street  

University of Law 

• The University of Law is one of the UK’s longest-established specialists in law education. 
• Cost per semester: £13,000 
• Location: Bloomsbury and Moorgate, as well as other locations outside of London 

You’ll have so much fun on your study abroad! Just don’t forget to call your family every once in a while (probably not from the telephone booths though….)

Strategy #3:" class="wysiwyg-hashtag">#3: Find free stuff to do around the city

Your study abroad in London bucket list doesn’t have to only include expensive drinks in Bethnal Green or tickets to see Harry Potter and the Cursed Child at the National Theatre. Here are fun things to do in London that are FREE. 

• Look at the spectacular views from the Sky Garden rooftop. Sky Garden is London’s highest public garden. It is a famous enlarged glass dome that is at the top of a 3-storey building that includes beautiful landscapes, an observation deck, and an open-air terrace. Remember to book your slot before going!
• Visit the British Museum. If you love history, then the British Museum will definitely tickle your fancy. It is full of artifacts from all over the world, from Egypt to Korea. 
• Get artsy at Tate Modern. Tate Modern is an international modern and contemporary art gallery that is wonderful to go to. The permanent collections are free to view, and the café has great views of the River Thames. 
• Take a stroll around Greenwich Park. On a sunny day, Greenwich Park is a beautiful place to wander, and at the top of the hill, you can see the beautiful views of London. The park has a picturesque teahouse, a café, a deer park, tennis courts, and a boating lake. 
• Have a laugh at the Top Secret Comedy Club. The Top Secret Comedy Club is a highly regarded top comedy club that often has free shows. So if you feel like hearing some improvisation and having a giggle, this may be a great place to visit. 
• Go to a live music gig. Hootananny Brixton is a venue that plays ska, reggae, roots, and folk music. Entry is free Sunday to Wednesday. Remember to check what times free entry applies to!
• Check out Shoreditch or Camden’s street art. Shoreditch and Camden have a lot of creative and eye-appealing street art that you can look at and even take pictures of. If you love street art, then this will definitely be of interest to you.

As you can see, whether you are a creative genius, a history buff, or an outdoor lover, there are lots of fun, free things to do around London. 

Free activities include strolling down the famous Camden markets. Pro tip: come with an empty stomach… you WILL want to eat everything!

Strategy #4: Live like the locals do—and we don’t mean drink your arse off! 

Living like a local instead of a long-term tourist will benefit you in the long run and lower your cost of living in London as a student. Here are some tips to help you do just that.   

Using public transit over Uber when you study in London for international students for day-to-day life will help you save some of those coins. As a student, you are entitled to a Student Oyster Card, which will give you a discount on public transport in London. You can top up your Oyster card at various shops and stations, but an easier option would be to download the Oyster app on your phone and top up wherever you are. 

Another way to live like a local is to buy food from local markets or low-cost grocery shops such as Lidl, Aldi, Morrison’s, Iceland, and Asda. This way, you will save a lot of money, and you do not want to fall into the trap of shopping at expensive grocery shops. 

 Londoners generally do not use the official TFL (Transport for London) website to plan a journey; it’s used more for updates on services. It is great to use as an idea for a route, but it tends to give longer routes. This means you may end up spending more money by using multiple modes of transport unless you have a day, week, or month travelcard. Using a very popular app, such as Citymapper, which is highly praised, can help you save money. It will help you in navigating urban public transport in London, whether you’re using the train, tube, bus, Uber cabs, or even getting on your bike.  

Strategy #5: Find cheap study abroad programs in London

One strategy for reducing your overall costs for studying in London is to pay less in program fees, overhead, or services! Here are some top-notch, yet affordable (dare we say cheap?), study abroad programs in London. Pro tip: Shorter-term programs, like summer study abroad programs in London, tend to be cheaper!

IES Abroad

• IES educates students to become global leaders through premier study abroad and internship programs. You have the option of studying at City University, Queen Mary, or SOAS, all of which are in great locations in London. 
• Time of year the program runs: Fall, Spring, & Summer 
• Cost: $4,600+
• More info: Read IES Abroad Reviews 

WorldStrides Study Abroad

• WorldStrides' mission is to provide high-quality education abroad opportunities to U.S. and Canadian university students at an affordable price. You have the options of studying at the University of Roehampton, University of Westminster, Queen Mary, King's College London, and Kingston University, which are awesome locations..
• Time of year the program runs: Fall, Spring, & Summer 
• Cost: $4,450+
• More info: Read WorldStrides Study Abroad Reviews 

CISabroad

• CISabroad provides education programs that broaden academic perspectives and promote global awareness. You have the options of studying at the University of Westminster and Roehampton University, which are wonderful locations to be in. Figuring out how to study in London for international students is much easier with CIS!
• Time of year the program runs: Fall, Spring, & Summer
• Cost: $4,490+
• More info: Read CISabroad Reviews 

The endless views are always a free experience you can enjoy. ✨

Strategy #6:" class="wysiwyg-hashtag">#6: Everything else you need to rock the budget student life in London

Cut down on how often you drink your favorite Starbucks drink to maybe once a week. You will soon see how much this will lower your cost of living as a student in London. 

Making your own lunch or dinner is always healthier and cheaper than buying takeout. Buying meals can be expensive in London and it all adds. Making your own meals will definitely lower your cost of living in London as a student.  

Take advantage of the hopper fare. As of February 2018, in London, you can get onto as many buses as you like within an hour and only pay for one bus ride, even if you use the train or tram in between these rides. 

If you are really in a pickle, take a loan from the bank of Mum and Dad. They are the best bank to take out some money from without the extra pressure of interest and fees. This means you can live more comfortably and relax about your finances. 

Use budget apps to manage your money and help you track how much you are spending. There are some great apps such as Ontrees, Mint, and Wally. All of these apps allow you to track your income and expenses directly by syncing the information to your UK bank account. It allows you to see how much you are spending directly on your smartphone using colour blocks and also allows you to set alerts. This is a great way to budget and manage your money. 

The most important thing is to budget for those fun things you would like to do. Budgeting doesn’t mean completely cutting out the things you would love to do or enjoy, but it means budgeting for them so you have enough money for everything. 

London on a budget, baby! 

London is an awesome city to live and study in as a student, but we also know that it is super expensive. This should not stop you from choosing to study abroad in London. As you can see, there are many ways to budget so that you do not have to sacrifice fun and excitement. Go ahead and make that decision to study abroad in London. 

Find study abroad programs in London now