Value for money as a student

Fees and other costs

To get a sense of value for money it’s important to know what universities and colleges can charge in tuition fees and the other costs.

Fees

Universities and colleges can charge fees between a lower basic amount and a higher amount. What they charge depends on different factors (see the tables below).

Broadly, they can charge fees between:

£6,000 and £9,250 for each year of full-time study
£4,500 and £6,935 for part-time students
£7,200 and £11,100 for students doing accelerated degrees.

See what fees universities and colleges can charge

	Basic fee amount (£) 2020-21		Higher fee amount (£) 2020-21
	Providers without a TEF award	Providers with a TEF award	Providers without a TEF award	Providers with a TEF award
Full-time students	6,000	6,165	9,000	9,250
Part-time students*	4,500	4,625	6,750	6,935
Erasmus+/ study year abroad	900	920	1,350	1,385
Sandwich placement year	1,200	1,230	1,800	1,850

Accelerated degrees

	Basic fee amount (£) 2020-21		Higher fee amount (£) 2020-21
	Providers without a TEF award	Providers with a TEF award	Providers without a TEF award	Providers with a TEF award
Full-time students	7,200	7,400	10,800	11,100
Erasmus+/ study year abroad	1,080	1,105	1,620	1,660
Sandwich placement year	1,440	1,475	2,160	2,200

* Current fee regulations prohibit any institution from charging a part-time student more than £6,935 in an academic year, or £6,750 for providers without a TEF award, regardless of how many credits are taken or the intensity of study.

Other costs

Under consumer protection law, universities and colleges must give students clear, accurate and timely information about their course.

In the Competition and Markets Authority's view, this should include the total costs of a course, including fees and extra fees such as field trips, lab equipment or studio/bench fees.

Read more about consumer rights for students

How do universities and colleges spend fees?

Any university or college which is registered with the OfS must be transparent about how they deliver value for money.

One way they can do this is by publishing clear information about how they ensure value for money. This might mean that they publish information on their income and expenditure.

Where universities and colleges charge fees at the higher level, they must also develop an 'access and participation plan', which we approve. These plans explain how the university or college will use the extra income to improve equal opportunities.

Published 07 January 2020

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Value for money as a student

Fees and other costs

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