Total Cost of UK Study Visa from India 2026 — 1-Year Masters Budget

Cost guide · UK Student Visa

A 1-year UK Masters from India costs INR 37-58 lakh depending on city and university tier.

Visa fee GBP 558, IHS GBP 776/year, maintenance GBP 1,529 (London) or GBP 1,171 (Outer London) per month — all verified against gov.uk before publication.

The UK 1-year Masters is among the most popular Indian study-abroad pathways — short duration, recognised globally, English-language by default. But it''s also among the highest-priced when you include the full visa, IHS, tuition, and London living costs together. This is the realistic, line-by-line breakdown for an Indian Masters student in 2026.

The headline numbers

GBP 558

Student visa fee

From outside the UK · gov.uk

GBP 776/yr

IHS healthcare surcharge

Student rate · gov.uk

GBP 1,529

Inner London maintenance

Per month · 9 months max

GBP 1,171

Outer London / rest of UK

Per month · 9 months max

Realistic total exposure for a 1-year UK Masters:

London university: INR 40-58 lakh
Outer London / Rest of UK (Manchester, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Birmingham, Leeds, Bristol, Cardiff, Sheffield, etc.): INR 32-44 lakh

The maintenance funds requirement is not a cost — these funds remain yours. But they must be liquid and documented in an eligible account for at least 28 consecutive days ending no more than 31 days before the visa application. This is the famous "28-day rule" that catches many Indian applicants in refusals.

Phase 1 — Pre-application costs

Before you can submit a UK Student Route application

IELTS or equivalent (1 attempt)Standard registration fee: INR 17,500
Realistic IELTS budget (2-3 attempts typical)To reach 6.5+ no band below 6.0: INR 35,000-55,000
Programme application feesMost UK Masters apply direct; UCAS PG fee GBP 22-31: INR 0-2,500 each
Apostille via MEA DelhiFor academic certificates: INR 1,500-3,000
Police clearance certificateFrom local Indian passport office: INR 500
Academic transcripts + certified copiesPer institution: INR 2,000-5,000

Indicative based on common Indian-applicant document costs in 2026.

Pre-application total: typically INR 50,000-80,000.

Phase 2 — Visa application stage (after CAS)

UK Home Office fees, current 2026

Student Route visa fee (Standard)From outside the UK: GBP 558
Student Route visa fee (Priority — 5-day decision)Optional service: + GBP 500
Student Route visa fee (Super Priority — next-day)Optional service: + GBP 1,000
Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS)For 1-year Masters = GBP 776: GBP 776 / year
TB test (mandatory from India)From an approved UKVI panel clinic: INR 3,500-4,500
Biometrics + photographsAt VFS UK centre: INR 1,000-1,500
VFS service feePer applicant: INR 1,500-2,500

GOV.UK Student visa page (verified May 2026) — figures change; verify current rates before applying.

Verified from GOV.UK · Student visa · checked 2026-05

Verified from GOV.UK · IHS rates · checked 2026-05

Standard visa stage total: approximately GBP 1,340 + INR 7,000 / total INR ~1.5 lakh.

Phase 3 — Tuition by university tier

Typical 1-year Masters tuition for non-UK students, 2025-26

Russell Group (Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial, UCL, LSE, KCL)Top-tier programmes: GBP 25,000-45,000
Russell Group business / finance / management MastersMBA goes higher: GBP 30,000-55,000
Mid-tier universities (Leeds, Liverpool, Cardiff, Glasgow)Most international Masters: GBP 17,000-28,000
Newer universities / post-1992More accessible price points: GBP 14,000-22,000

University published prospectuses 2025-26; rates per university.

Phase 4 — Living costs by city

GBP 1,500+

Inner London / month

Zones 1-2

GBP 1,200+

Outer London / month

Zones 3-6

GBP 1,100+

Edinburgh, Oxford, Cambridge

GBP 800+

Smaller cities

Cardiff, Liverpool, Sheffield

For a 12-month Masters (course year + transition):

Inner London: GBP 18,000-26,400 / INR 19-28 lakh
Outer London: GBP 14,400-20,400 / INR 15-21 lakh
Edinburgh, Oxford, Cambridge, Bristol: GBP 13,200-18,000 / INR 14-19 lakh
Manchester, Leeds, Birmingham: GBP 10,800-15,600 / INR 11-16 lakh
Smaller cities: GBP 9,600-13,200 / INR 10-14 lakh

Phase 5 — Pre-departure and arrival costs

One-time costs around departure

Economy one-way flight India to UKVaries by season and origin city: INR 40,000-80,000
Excess baggage / shippingBeyond standard allowance: INR 5,000-15,000
Initial accommodation (if not in halls)Airbnb / hostel for 1-2 weeks: GBP 600-1,500
Initial setup (bedding, kitchen basics)Even in halls: GBP 200-500
Winter clothingIf not already owned: INR 15,000-30,000
Currency conversion lossesOn INR-to-GBP transfers: 1-3% above spot

Realistic 1-year totals — 4 scenarios

Scenario A

Russell Group London (UCL / KCL / LSE)

Pre-application: INR 70,000
Visa stage standard: INR 1.5 lakh
Tuition (non-business): GBP 30,000 / INR 31.5 lakh
Living (12 months Inner London): GBP 22,000 / INR 23 lakh
Pre-departure / arrival: INR 2 lakh
Total: INR 58-62 lakh

Scenario B

Russell Group non-London (Manchester / Edinburgh / Bristol)

Pre-application: INR 70,000
Visa stage: INR 1.5 lakh
Tuition: GBP 25,000 / INR 26 lakh
Living (12 months mid-cost city): GBP 15,000 / INR 16 lakh
Pre-departure / arrival: INR 1.5 lakh
Total: INR 45-48 lakh

Scenario C

Mid-tier UK university (Leeds / Cardiff / Liverpool)

Pre-application: INR 70,000
Visa stage: INR 1.5 lakh
Tuition: GBP 20,000 / INR 21 lakh
Living (smaller city): GBP 12,000 / INR 12.6 lakh
Pre-departure / arrival: INR 1.5 lakh
Total: INR 37-40 lakh

Scenario D

Top UK MBA (LBS / Oxford Saïd / Cambridge Judge)

Pre-application: INR 1.2 lakh (GMAT + apps)
Visa stage: INR 1.5 lakh
Tuition (top MBA): GBP 60-110k / INR 63-115 lakh
Living: GBP 22,000 / INR 23 lakh
Pre-departure / arrival: INR 2 lakh
Total: INR 92-145 lakh

The 28-day maintenance funds rule

Maintenance funds — Inner London courses

GBP 1,529 / month

Source: GOV.UK Student visa · Money you need (verified 2026-05)

Maintenance funds — Outer London / rest of UK

GBP 1,171 / month

Source: GOV.UK Student visa · Money you need (verified 2026-05)

UKVI requires you to demonstrate maintenance funds held for at least 28 consecutive days ending no more than 31 days before the application date:

Inner London: GBP 1,529 per month × 9 months max = GBP 13,761 (approximately INR 14.6 lakh).
Outer London / Rest of UK: GBP 1,171 per month × 9 months max = GBP 10,539 (approximately INR 11.1 lakh).

Plus any unpaid tuition for the first academic year.

Verified from GOV.UK · Student visa · Money you need · checked 2026-05

Hidden costs people don''t plan for

IHS price increases
The IHS rate for students was increased to GBP 776/year in early 2024. Future increases are possible. Paid upfront for the entire visa duration.
Accommodation deposits
University halls require a deposit of GBP 250-500 plus first instalment of rent. Private rentals often require 6 weeks rent as deposit plus first month rent.
The Graduate Route (if you stay on)
The 2-year post-study work visa is GBP 880 + GBP 1,560 IHS per year = GBP 3,120 for 2 years (approximately INR 4-5 lakh) after your Masters. Note: Lifeset does not process Graduate Route — outside our PTA scope.
Travel back to India during the year
Most Indian Masters students return home at least once — Christmas or summer break. Plan for one round-trip at INR 70,000-1,20,000.
Currency volatility
INR/GBP rate movements over the 12-18 months can shift your total cost by 5-10%.

How Lifeset can help

We handle UK Student Route applications end-to-end for Indian applicants:

University and programme selection matched to your profile and budget.
CAS coordination with UK universities.
Maintenance funds strategy — 28-day rule compliance.
Visa file preparation — SOP, TB test, biometrics, VFS UK submission.
Honest budget planning based on target university tier and city.

We are a PTA-licensed visa consultancy at SCO 06, Bhupindra Road, Patiala 147004, Punjab — Licence No. 849/DC/PTA/PLA/LC-3/2024.

Total Cost of UK Study Visa from India in 2026: 1-Year Masters Realistic Budget