Located in picturesque Cornwall, Falmouth University has loads to offer students, from beautiful scenery to fresh sea air to lots of opportunities for sports, socialising, and of course, learning. If this uni is on your list to apply to, then you’re probably wondering how far your student loan will stretch and what you can expect to pay for everything. Our guide breaks down the most common student expenses to provide a starting point for your budgeting and give you a rough idea of how much you can expect things to cost.
In line with the government’s cap, Home students will be charged £9,250 per year in tuition fees (for the 2025/26 academic year, this will be rising to £9,535). Don’t panic, though, because most students will be able to apply for a tuition fee loan from their nation’s student loan company to cover this entire amount. You’ll also be able to apply for a maintenance loan. The amount you get is determined by your household income, and you’ll be paid this in three instalments throughout the year.
All these loans might sound scary, but you won’t have to start repaying them until you’ve graduated and until you’re earning over the repayment threshold for your loan plan.
As well as the support from the government, you may also be eligible for scholarships or bursaries offered by your university. Falmouth University’s awards include ones for students with a low household income and others for students on specific courses. Check the uni’s website for more details on the awards available and the eligibility criteria.
In your first year, you’ll probably be living in university halls. There are lots of benefits to living in uni-owned halls – all your utility bills are included in your rent, and it’s a great way to meet new people. At Falmouth University, halls are priced between £138 and £185 per week for self-catered accommodation. Catered accommodation is also available at Falmouth University, for an added cost.
After your first year, you’ll probably live in private accommodation. If you’re sharing a three-bedroom house or flat with other students, you can expect to be paying around £500 each. You’ll probably have to pay utility bills on top of this, which come to about £70 per month, though this will depend on how many people you live with and the time of year.
Unless you’re in catered accommodation, you’ll have to buy all your own food. There are several different options for grocery shopping in Falmouth, so you might want to shop around to get the best deal. Average prices for some commonly bought items are:
Milk (1L): £1.72
Bread loaf: £0.75
Rice (1kg): £2.37
Eggs (12): £4.30
Cheese (1kg): £3.50
Chicken fillets (1kg): £5.00
Apples (1kg): £1.00
Potatoes (1kg): £0.50
As well as shopping around to find the best deal, you should consider getting a loyalty card to the supermarkets you use most often as these will often get you exclusive deals and discounts. The average student in the UK spends about £40 per week on groceries, which can act as a starting point for your budget.
After spending money on boring things like rent and groceries, you’ll want to go out and stop worrying about money! Fortunately, a meal at an inexpensive restaurant will only set you back around £15, and if you want to splash out and take a date to a mid-range restaurant for a three-course meal, you can expect the bill for you both to come to about £65.
If you’re going out drinking, then the average price of a pint of beer is below £5, which is obviously good news! And for when you’re coming home and craving a burger and fries, a combo meal from a fast food restaurant is priced at around 7.
As Falmouth is a relatively small town, you’re unlikely to need public transport regularly. If you do want to use the bus, though, a one-way ticket costs about £3, but a monthly travel pass costs £40, which is excellent value if you’re using the bust most days.
Taxis in Falmouth are on the expensive side, but because of the location, there’s another form of transportation available… boats! There are several different boat services heading up the River Fal, which is certainly an interesting way to get to uni each day.
As well as these regular expenses, you’ll have to be prepared for one-off expenses. These could be anything from a new outfit to a society membership to course books or materials. These expenses could be very small, or could be quite a lot, depending on the course you’re studying and your lifestyle. Make sure to factor in these sorts of things when you’re planning your budget.
Overall, based on the average price of rent, groceries and going out, we’d recommend a student budget of about £1,100 per month in Falmouth. This is only intended as a guide, and you’ll have to adjust this figure to account for your rent costs and your lifestyle.