Costs for Your LLM Year in the UK

Studying abroad requires a lot of preparation, and the costs for your LLM year in the UK will be a big part of that! Here’s a list of costs to help you plan:

Visa costs

All international students outside of Europe will have to apply for and obtain a Tier 4 (General) visa from the UK Border Agency before they commence their postgraduate studies in the UK. Tier 4 application fees with the UK Border Agency for a main applicant applying by post in the UK currently stand at £439; £839 for those applying in person inside the UK; or £322 for those applying from outside the UK. Check out the agency’s website for further information on costs and how to apply for a UK study visa. 

Tuition fees

Home and EU students in the UK will pay around the same amount in tuition fees per year for a postgraduate course: around £9,000 to over £13,000 for a full-time course. Overseas students have to pay more than this in the majority of cases; from around £11,000 to over £19,000 for a full-time LLM degree. But don’t worry! There are funding sources available to support coverage of these costs.

English Language Test costs

All international students will need to provide evidence that they can meet the English language requirements for their LLM course. Law schools will specify the qualification applicants will need in order to do this; typically from providers such as IELTS (academic), Pearson (PTE Academic) or TOEFL. Fees will vary by country and could equate to anything from around $150 to over $250. Examination resits will cost extra.

Accommodation

Location choice for you LLM course in the UK can have a considerable impact on how much you will pay for your accommodation.

In London you can expect to pay between £110 and £180 per week for a place to live, with some private student halls costing even more. The rent for some residences will include the cost for some utility bills (usually water, gas and electricity, and in some cases broadband internet too). You won’t have to pay Council Tax as a postgraduate student.

Transport

Postgraduate students in the UK will have the benefit of discounted travel both in the city they study and across the country. Monthly student travel cards can cost up to around £90  (in London the Student Oyster card, which allows travel on all forms of transport at any time of the day, gives 30% discount on travel cards).

Other things to think about

Fresh vegetables, meat, confectionary and alcohol are classed as more expensive food items in the UK, but if you budget accordingly then it’s possible to keep a healthy, varied diet.

A student card will also merit discount for various other things in the UK, such as gym and sport club memberships, tickets to events, the cinema or the theatre, and clothing in a number of high street shops. You will find the price for a lot of these things will be more in the South of the country.