Things to consider

It’s difficult to put an exact figure on the price of going to university, as everyone’s expenditure will be different depending on:

  • where and what they study
  • whether they live at home, halls of residence or private accommodation
  • their travel arrangements
  • their lifestyle

Location

Where will they study ?

Where you study in the UK will have an impact on how much you pay in tuition fees, accommodation and cost of living each year.

Two of the biggest expenses for any student are fees and rent.

Students from Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland pay £4,630 [1] in fees, compared with at least £9,000 in England, Wales and Scotland. Student rents in Northern Ireland are the cheapest in the UK. [2]

As a guide we estimate you should allow for a sum in the region of £7,000-£9,000 to cover your expenses at Ulster University for one academic year.

Loans, Grants and Scholarships

Students shouldn’t rule out university study based on finance

There are loans available to cover tuition fees and help towards the cost of living.

  • Tuition Fee Loans

    Fees do not have to be paid up-front. Students can avail of a tuition fee loan from Student Finance NI which will cover the cost of fees until graduation.

    Students start paying these back when they have graduated and are earning more than the salary threshold for repayment (this is dependent on which type of tuition fee loan they apply for).

  • Maintenance Loans & Grants

    Northern Ireland students can apply for help with day-to-day costs whilst studying.

    Maintenance loan

    Varying maintenance loan amounts are available depending on study destination and living arrangements. You can apply for a maintenance loan on its own or alongside any other available finance, including a tuition fee loan. The maintenance loan must be paid back.

    Maintenance grant

    Available for those in households earning below a certain income and does not need to be paid back if terms and conditions are met.

  • Scholarships & Bursaries

    University scholarships and bursaries are available for both undergraduate and postgraduate students as extra financial help.

    Each university has their own criteria and awards.

    Students must meet the criteria and the money does not need to be paid back.

    Information is normally available via individual university websites.

    Find out more about what is available at Ulster University.

    Bursaries

    Bursaries are usually awarded to students based on their personal circumstances or if they come from a low-income family.

    Bursaries can help students who may face more barriers to attending full-time education, enabling them to access university.

    Scholarships

    Scholarships are usually reward students who are outstanding in their subject, sport or music.

    They generally need to be applied for and are often competitive.

  • Support Funds

    All higher education providers offer a hardship fund for students experiencing significant financial problems, and to support those coming to university in challenging circumstances.

    Conditions apply so you should contact your university directly for advice.

    Ulster University has a discretionary fund to support both UK/Home and International students.

    This discretionary fund can provide financial assistance for priority groups.

  • Department of Health funded courses

    Some courses (including Nursing and other Allied Health Profession courses) are funded by the Department of Health for those who have been resident in Northern Ireland for three years prior to the start of the course, and students from the Republic of Ireland.

    These are very popular courses and students need to undertake additional assessment such as interviews.

NI University Fees

Students from NI and the Republic of Ireland

Full-time undergraduate fees for Home (NI) and the Republic of Ireland students are determined by the Department of the Economy and are normally increased annually.

Northern Ireland Universities charge you up to £4,630 a year for tuition (based on 2022/23 entry fees). Students don’t have to pay this up front.

They can apply online to Student Finance NI for a loan of up to £4,630 to help cover this fee.

Students from England, Scotland and Wales

Tuition fees for students from England, Scotland and Wales are £9,250 (based on 2021/22 entry fees).