Glasgow is located in Scotland’s western Lowlands. A port city with around 630,000 inhabitants on the banks of the River Clyde, it’s packed with Victorian art and architecture with a legacy of trade and shipbuilding.
These days, it's one of the most significant cultural and educational hubs in Europe, with three major universities and a student population of over 50,000. With so much to offer, you might think it’ll be very pricey to live here as a student, but this isn't necessarily the case. Read on to find out why.
Tuition fees and university expenses will be a large portion of your yearly budget, and your Home fee status will determine exactly how much in fees are owed. If you’re a Scottish resident, or have lived in Scotland for a minimum of three years before starting your course, then you’re in luck! Tuition fees will only cost £1,820, and the Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS) will almost definitely cover these, without the need for repayment.
Undergrad students from the rest of the UK will be charged at the standard rate of £9,250 per year. While this may sound daunting, you'll usually be able to cover this with a student loan from Student Finance. Maintenance loans are also available from Student Finance and are worth up to £9,710 annually to assist with rent, travel and other living costs.
You’ll only start to pay these loans back once you’ve graduated and are earning over a certain threshold. The amount will depend on your payment plan, but for most new students you’ll be on Plan 5 which means a threshold of £25,000.
Look out for funding opportunities through your university, such as bursaries and grants. Glasgow Caledonian University has a generous portfolio of awards worth up to £3,600 per year to eligible Home students, and the other unis, the University of Glasgow and University of Strathclyde offer a range of options. Check your eligibility and find out how much you could receive.
Glasgow has plenty of housing options at a range of student-friendly budgets. Typically, your uni will have halls of residence, which can include single and shared rooms, as well as studio flats. There’ll be shared bathroom and ensuite options, as well as catered and self-catering packages. At the University of Glasgow, weekly halls of residence prices range from £121 - £225 for self-catered residences. These are an excellent way to live close to your campus and meet people from your year group.
If you’d prefer to rent locally, either on your own or with people you already know, there are many options in and around the city. This is where you can make some real cost-saving choices compared to other places in the UK. A studio flat in the city centre costs around £1,045 per month, but you can find cheaper options of around £740 a month if you look out of the centre. A three-bedroom house averages around £1,800, working out at around £600 per person each month. Utility bills are generally cheaper in Glasgow as well, with an estimated monthly cost of around £90 per person.
Glasgow has a wide range of supermarket options, and chains like Aldi and Lidl are very popular. This means you don’t need to spend much to get good-quality produce, and you’ll be able to use weekly deals and discounts to further improve your savings.
Average priced for commonly bought groceries:
Milk (1L): £1.25
Bread Loaf: £1.27
Rice (1kg): £1.81
Eggs (12): £2.83
Cheese (1kg): £8.09
Chicken fillets (1kg): £6.93
Apples (1kg): £2.52
Potatoes (1kg): £1.05
Top tip: search for local community grocery co-operatives. There are several within the city and they offer reduced price goods in exchange for membership and occasional volunteer work.
A meal at an inexpensive restaurant in Glasgow might set you back £15, which is about the same as in Edinburgh, but £4 less than in London. Beer is priced around £5 per pint, which helps to maintain a lively pub culture encouraged by the many students who call Glasgow home.
Glasgow also has superb nightlife. With plenty of choices and loads of underground venues which don’t cost much to enter, the city is well known for its dance music culture that continues to grow. Keep an eye out for student discounts and plan ahead to buy early bird tickets to save some cash.
Getting around in Glasgow is simple and straightforward. There’s a well-connected system of buses and trains, relatively inexpensive taxis with a price of £1.37 per km. There’s also the Glasgow Subway with its fifteen stations across the city. A single ticket costs £2.50, and a monthly pass starts at £65, with student discounts available.
A train ticket to Edinburgh costs less than £15, and Glasgow has its own international airport with inexpensive flights across the UK and beyond.
Glasgow is a marvellous post-industrial city with a strong artistic and cultural heritage. As such there are many galleries and museums to see, most of which offer significant student discounts for entry fee. Cinema tickets are priced around £10 and there is a fantastic theatre and orchestra scene with world-class venues to visit.
There's both high-street and designer shopping in town, and many opportunities to watch live sports throughout the year, so check what’s coming up and budget accordingly. You’ll also want to set some money aside for course costs including textbooks and materials.
Not accounting for your tuition fees, we'd recommend a budget of around £900 per month in Glasgow. This will vary depending on your accommodation and lifestyle, so take into account your personal circumstances when budgeting.
Still considering your options? Take a look at more reasons to study in Glasgow, or check out our student guide to Scotland.