Looking at the East Midlands as your destination of choice for uni? Want to know what you can expect when studying there? It's all in our student guide!
Updated: 15 Jul 2026
The East Midlands is very much in the heartland of England, incorporating the counties of Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire and Rutland.
Occupying the eastern half of the Midlands, it is the home of the mythical Robin Hood, the birthplace of factory production and the sport of football, not to mention Stilton cheese, pork pies and Bakewell tarts. A once heavily forested region, the East Midlands now offers scenic countryside alongside city living and is home to around five million people.
Nine of the UK’s universities populate the region, each offering a diverse range of degree courses and a fantastic student experience to match. If you’re thinking about studying in this remarkable region, read our guide to find out what to expect and how best to enjoy your time here.
Each East Midlands uni town provides a decent range of extra-curricular activities, with many museums, theatres and art galleries available to visit for free. The region is steeped in history, with iconic buildings such as Warwick Castle and the towering gothic spires of Lincoln Cathedral, which amazingly was the first building to be taller than the Pyramids upon its completion in 1311.
Other attractions in the region include Alton Towers Theme Park, where you can find a day of thrills and high-speed action. If you’re feeling thirsty then head over to Nottingham for a pint at Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem, a pub which claims to be the oldest in England, dating back to 1189.
NEXT: Check out our guide to the top ten things to do in the East Midlands
The East Midlands is a multicultural region, and in each of its large cities there is a diversity of options for evening entertainment, as well as an excellent choice of local and international cuisines.
The Midlands are well known as the home of many traditional English foods, including a variety of cheeses, meat dishes, puddings and pies. You can get a good quality inexpensive meal in most East Midlands cities for around £12 to £15, and a three-course dinner for two will set you back around £45 to £50.
Most universities have their own Students’ Union bar, which is a great place to start a night out. Drinks are cheap, and the atmosphere is designed for student parties. Typically, there are plenty of student nights running throughout the week, offering reduced prices for entry and drinks compared to the weekend.
The eight major universities in the East Midlands accommodate first year students in halls of residence buildings, which usually offer a convenient term-length contract for a single self-catered room located a short distance away from the main university campus.
Living in halls is a great option for your first year, since the contract normally includes all your utilities bills, insurance, internet and building security in one easy package. Plus, you’ll be living in an extremely social environment which makes finding friends from outside your course much easier.
Rooms usually are available in a range of options from shared bathroom to ensuite, and sometimes studio apartments. Prices vary accordingly, but generally range between £120 to £250 per week for a single room, and up to £300 for a studio flat.
Fortunately for those who would prefer to rent privately, the East Midland has one of the most affordable rental markets in the country. The city with the best value is Derby, which costs only £600 per month on average for an entire studio apartment in the city centre, and around £1,200 for a three-bedroom house. Northampton is the most expensive, at £800 per month for a city-centre studio flat, however even this is less than what you’d expect to pay in London.
After rent and tuition fees, additional student expenses include many other things such as groceries, transport, entertainment and university equipment.
Grocery costs are relatively consistent across the East Midlands and are generally pretty low compared with the rest of the country. This is because larger cities tend to have lower prices for basic ingredients and, luckily for students in the region, most East Midlands uni locations are in medium to large cities.
There is a wide range of low-cost supermarkets around, and further savings can be made by using a loyalty card to collect points which can be exchanged for items. Regular weekly markets are also a good place to get fresh ingredients for bargain prices, especially at the end of the day.
Public transport in the region is quite good value, and you can use your student status to get a further 1/3 discount on a monthly pass, enabling you to get around town conveniently and cost-effectively.
A visit to your local cinema will typically cost around £10, so you don’t need to spend much have an afternoon’s entertainment. It’s worth keeping a small fund for unforeseen expenditures such as extra reading material, course equipment or printing and photocopying credits. You never know when you’ll need them most and it’s wise to be prepared.
NEXT: Read more about the cost of living as a student in the East Midlands
The East Midlands is home to the Peak District, one of the UK’s finest and most pristine natural landscapes including over 500 square miles of rugged moorland, rolling hills and valleys, waterfalls and almost endless hiking trails.
The East Midlands has nine major universities.
Each institution has its own strengths, so give some consideration to the course you’re interested in and the style of learning environment which you think would suit you best. It can be useful to book an open day visit and see things for yourself.
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