
Home to some of the oldest and most prestigious universities in the world, England has a long standing record when it comes to the excellence of its education.
Add to that the benefit of being able to improve skills in one of the most important global languages, English, and it’s not difficult to see why the UK is a dream destination for many ambitious students.
But higher education in England can come with quite the price tag. So in this blog post we’ll be breaking down exactly how much a student exchange to England really costs.
Especially if you are looking to take your English language skills to the next level. Plus lots of tips on how to make England student exchange costs more affordable.
Key Financial Factors For A Student Exchange in England
Accommodation
For accommodation in self catered student halls you can expect to pay up to £900 per month. Cheaper private accommodation options with a room in a shared house can usually be found.
However you would need to pay for bills on top of that, which will be around £150 per month for the basics. But it’s not just gas, electricity and internet. There can be hidden costs like council tax, TV licensing and contents insurance that you may need to factor in.
Another accommodation option for student exchange experiences in England is to organise a homestay with an English host family.
This is especially true if you want to learn how to speak English like a local. Lingoo homestays give you constant access to conversational language practice and what’s more, you can even stay with a qualified English teacher.
Average costs for a homestay with an English family are £125 per night, and there won’t be any hidden extra bills that crop up. Hosts can also provide discounts for long term stays.
Daily Expenses
When it comes to food costs for student exchanges, you should expect to budget around £150-250 per month for groceries that you can cook yourself in your accommodation.
And around the same again per month for socialising such as dining out and going to cafes or bars. On average a restaurant meal in the UK costs around £15 and a takeaway coffee £4.
You should budget £20 per month for mobile phone data. Many gyms offer student memberships for around £15-20 per month if that is something you are interested in.
If you are thinking of staying in a homestay with an English host family, the good news is that they are either half or full-board. So your groceries costs will be virtually non-existent and you would only need a small student activities budget.
A standard cinema ticket in the UK, for example, is £8 per person. And gig tickets range from £5 to £45, depending on the venue and acts.
Travel Expenses
If your student exchange program is London based, for £25 you’ll be able to get a Student Oyster Card and save 30% on public transport costs. Discounts are available in all other UK cities too. An annual pass is usually around £500, but you can also get single term passes.
If you are planning a long term stay and plan on visiting other cities, a 16-25 National Railcard could keep your student exchange costs down. It currently costs £30 but you’ll save 30% on rail fares throughout Great Britain for a whole year.
There’s also the National Express Young Persons Coachcard which can make travel even cheaper. It costs £15 per year and gives a third off all standard fares – peak times included.
Don’t forget to factor in your airfare cost and return. Plus any trips home that you plan to make. This can obviously vary considerably depending on where you are travelling from.
Visas and Healthcare
The application fee for a UK international student visa is £490. Alongside your student visa fee you will also need to pay an Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS). The current cost of this is £776 per year and this gives you access to the National Health Service (NHS).
Miscellaneous Costs
Textbooks are additional costs to consider. While some may be available in university libraries, students often need to purchase or rent them. You should budget around £15 - £40 per month for books and study supplies.
If a student exchange to England is part of the curriculum for your course, tuition fees for the study experience are normally already included in the costs you pay to your home university. Even so, it is still worth double checking there is nothing additional to pay.
Practical Tips for Budgeting a Student Exchange
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For cheap student exchanges choose a city with lower living costs away from London.
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Set a budget and track your spending daily, that way you’ll be more likely to stick to it.
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Choose discounted food and learn how to cook from scratch if you can’t already.
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Buy used items where you can, especially textbooks and expensive items.
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Always check whether a company has a student discount code you can use.
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Find free events around the area you are staying such as music festivals.
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Travel during off season, book well in advance (3 months) or get last minute discounts.
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Get a part time job, you could be allowed to work up to 20 hours per week.
Lingoo Student Language Exchange
For those wanting to take the stress out of student exchange costs and take advantage of a total immersion method to learning English, Lingoo is waiting for you.
Our online platform has hundreds of registered, approved homestay families across England ready to host you and provide a relaxed, fun, yet intensive approach to language learning.
There’s no middleman, no hidden charges, just an affordable upfront cost. And because of our flexible approach, if you go home for the holidays you won’t need to pay while you're away.
We’re confident you’ll find a host that shares your interests, and even your diet or religion.
And because you’re able to chat before you travel, you avoid that awkward moment when you first ring the doorbell and wonder who will answer – because you already know each other.
Click here to set up your language learner profile for free and find your perfect host family.