Thinking about studying in South West England and want to know what to expect? This guide will be particularly handy indeed...
Updated: 16 Mar 2025
Whatever your degree course aspirations, lifestyle preferences or budget, you’ll find something to suit you in South West England. It has a wide selection of university locations, from large cosmopolitan cities like Bristol and Bath, all the way down to the beachside hotspots of Falmouth.
With rolling hills and lowland valleys, moorland and forest, vast plains and rugged Atlantic coastline, the South West also has an amazing variety of landscapes.
All this is at your fingertips when you choose to study here – if you’re keen to find out more, then our guide is a great place to begin.
There are so many things to experience as a student in South West England, and one of the main benefits is that you’ll find variety in almost any place you look. Whether you travel around the whole region or stay within your city, there’s always something new to see.
A good place to start is with your taste buds. Regional food is a great way to introduce yourself to local history and culture, and the South West has this in abundance. Visit the caves of Cheddar Gorge and try some original Cheddar cheese, sample a pint of proper scrumpy cider in a Bristol brewhouse, head to the coast for some classic fish and chips or further south for a Cornish cream tea and a traditional pasty.
South West England is home to some of the most breathtaking scenery in the British Isles. There are 46 Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) in the UK, and 15 of them are in the South West. From Gloucester’s Cotswold Hills to the spectacular Cornish coast path, there’s many reasons to plan a weekend getaway.
The region’s larger cities each offer distinct cultural experiences and are well worth a visit. Bath and Bristol are less than 15 minutes apart by train, and yet have a completely different vibe. Bath has a strong architectural identity, with great restaurants and comedy scene, while Bristol is a fertile environment for underground music and post-industrial street culture.
Nearby Gloucester is the gateway to Wales, famous for horse racing, rugby and its impressive cathedral. Exeter, Plymouth and Falmouth each provide different flavours of coastal life, with loads of places to go sailing, swimming and surfing.
NEXT: Check out our guide to the top ten things to do in South West England
There are many options for evening entertainment on a student budget in South West England. Regardless of your uni, you’ll likely have a student bar and a few good pubs and clubs in the local vicinity. With so many students in one place, the demand for nightlife is high, and you can often find student nights organised throughout the week as well as the weekend.
Exeter is well known for its student nightlife. You can start your night at The Lemon Grove student bar, then head out to Cavern for some live music, or Move for some dancing. Wednesday night is a popular student night at Timepiece, or TP as it is locally known. Popular with sports societies, there is also a sports bar called The Hole in the Wall attached to the main club.
Bath has a strong selection of pubs and bars, as well as some late-night clubs which interestingly are all underground due to council regulation surrounding Bath’s UNESCO city status. Bristol offers the most live music in the South West, with a fantastic local music scene, plenty of jazz events and legendary late night dance music in clubs such as Motion and Thekla, which is a club in the hold of a cargo ship floating in the harbour!
There are thirteen unis in South West England, and they all offer low-cost and highly convenient housing for first-year students in halls of residence buildings. Rooms are typically self-catered with a range of options including different room sizes and shared bathroom or ensuite facilities. On average, rooms cost between £110 to £180 per week depending on these options.
Larger unis offer catered accommodation which usually includes breakfast and dinner during the week, and breakfast and lunch at the weekends. The cost is a bit higher, typically £165 to £210 per week, although the time saved can be significant and it’s also a great way to socialise with the other students living in your halls.
Renting privately in South West England varies quite a bit between cities. Bath and Bristol are both priced at the higher end of the scale, with a studio flat in the centre costing £1,100 to £1,300 on average. Gloucester has the best rates in the region, with a studio flat costing an average of just £700 per month and a three-bedroom house coming in at just £910, which is only £305 per person per month.
Wherever you choose to live, if you’re willing to live outside of the city centre (which may sometimes be closer to your campus) you can expect the rent prices to drop.
South West England is a large region which is primarily navigated by rail and bus. Great Western Railway and South Western Railway are the two major companies which connect the South West to the rest of the country, and these are usually the fastest and cheapest means to travel between cities.
As a student, you’ll be able to buy a Railcard for £30 per year for the duration of your studies, and this will allow you to save 1/3 on train tickets anywhere in the country, including the London Underground. The Railcard usually pays for itself within a month or two, and is especially valuable for long journeys which you’ll likely be taking if you plan to fully explore South West England.
Locally, a one-way bus ticket will typically cost between £2.50 and £3.00. If you’re using the service daily, then a good way to save money is to get a monthly pass. Student discounted rates can usually be applied here, and you’ll benefit from unlimited travel.
If you’re studying in places like Falmouth University or the Royal Agricultural University, you might find that public transport services are less regular. Since these towns aren’t as big, and generally have less fast-moving traffic than larger cities, you might find that cycling is a faster and more effective way of commuting to uni. Once you’ve got a bike, it doesn’t cost a penny and you’ll be lowering your impact on the environment too.
Besides tuition fees and accommodation, groceries and eating out will usually take up a decent chunk of your monthly budget. In a recent nationwide student survey, it was shown that the average monthly expenditure on groceries came out at £101, which is around £24 per week.
Additionally, most students eat out two or three times per week, and an inexpensive meal will usually cost between £11 to £13, so as a rule of thumb you can budget £35 to £40 per week for this.
There are many places where you can bulk-buy items at lower overall rate, and getting into habits such as meal prepping is a great way to organise your time and resources to your advantage.
The cost of a pint of beer varies throughout South West England. Bath has the priciest pint, at an average of £4.80, and Gloucester is the cheapest at just £3. You’ll often find tasty local ales at lower prices than imported beer, so be sure to give it a try.
NEXT: Read more about the cost of living as a student in South West England
The West Country is well known for cider making. From sour Scrumpy to sweet sparkling Perry, there are hundreds of varieties to choose between, so treat yourself to a tasting session at a local cider brewery.
There are thirteen major universities in South West England...
Some of these institutions have large student populations and offer a comprehensive range of courses and subject areas. Others are much smaller in size and have a highly specialised portfolio of qualifications.
It’s worth attending open days to check out university campuses and facilities in person, and you’ll be able to speak with tutors and current students to get a good idea of what to expect from the student experience.