Wolverhampton is a historic market town with a population of around 260,000 known for its rich cultural diversity, friendly and welcoming population and its top-tier university. Wolverhampton is a thriving arts and entertainment centre and is popular with both UK and international students, so there are many opportunities to meet new people and try new things. In this article, we break down the various aspects of student life here and explain how to enjoy them on an affordable budget.
The University of Wolverhampton offers a wide selection of degree courses, most of which will be priced at £9,250 per year for undergraduate level (this will be rising to £9,535 from the 2025/26 academic year). Tuition fees are usually payable in full at the start of the year and represent a large portion of your student budget.
Fortunately, there’s a convenient solution if you’re from the UK. Your home nation will have a student loans company which can offer a tuition fee loan to cover the full amount, paid directly to the uni each year. Even better, you won’t need to start paying it back until you graduate and earn over the repayment threshold for your loan plan. Additionally, there’s a maintenance loan available which can be worth up to around £10,000 per year based on your combined household income and is paid to you in three instalments throughout the year to offset accommodation, grocery, and transport costs.
Scholarships and bursaries are another great way to subsidise your uni costs, and the University of Wolverhampton has several programmes available. Check out the fees and funding pages on their website for full information. Financial awards are redeemable as tuition fee reductions, annual financial stipends, and having access to specialist equipment and facilities. The University of Wolverhampton’s financial services team can also help you apply to external funding schemes from national organisations and sponsors.
Other than tuition fees, accommodation will be one of your biggest university expenses and there are a few ways of going about it. The University of Wolverhampton has several halls of residence located close to campus, where first-year students can live in comfort and convenience for a relatively low cost. Rooms are self-catered and organised into apartments of between three and eight students. Prices start at only £96 per week and increase to £114 for rooms with an en-suite bathroom. This is remarkably low, especially when you consider that the rent includes all utilities bills, Wi-Fi, and contents insurance.
In second year, you’ll move out of halls and find a place of your own. If you’d prefer to live alone, then you can typically find a studio flat in the centre of Wolverhampton for £662 per month. The average price drops to £575 when you move outside of the city centre, so it’s worth considering if your commute is straightforward and you want to save 25% of your rent bill. You can also save money by sharing a flat with some of your new uni mates. A three-bedroom apartment in the centre of town costs £1,300 per month on average, which is around £430 per person per month. Fortunately, Wolverhampton has lower than average energy prices, although you’ll still need to budget around £70-£80 per month for utilities bills.
Wolverhampton is a large city and is well serviced by domestic supermarket chains such as Asda, Tesco and Sainsburys, as well as low-cost international stores like Aldi and Lidl.
Commonly purchased items are priced as follows:
Milk (1L): £1.10
Bread Loaf: £1.14
Rice (1kg): £1.50
Eggs (12): £2.69
Cheese (1kg): £7.60
Chicken fillets (1kg): £7.67
Apples (1kg): £2.12
Potatoes (1kg): £1.20
Prices in Wolverhampton are roughly comparable to its close neighbour, Birmingham. Students typically budget £40 per week for grocery shopping, so use this as a guide and you’ll stay within a reasonable budget.
Wolverhampton provides a versatile range of evening entertainment. There are loads of pubs, bars, and clubs - many of the student favourites - which you will undoubtedly get to know during your time here. Eating out is very affordable, with a meal at an inexpensive restaurant costing just £14, and a three-course meal for two people at a mid-rage restaurant costing around £45.
The average cost of a pint in Wolverhampton is £4.50 for a domestic beer, meaning that you can more easily go out for a post-class drink without breaking the bank! The University of Wolverhampton has several students’ union-run bars where you’ll probably find the best deals and cheapest drinks. Additionally, they’ll put on weekly events such as pub quizzes and themed parties, which are always a good place to start your night before heading out into town.
The best way to get around Wolverhampton is by bus or rail. The West Midlands Network is the service that connects all public transport in the West Midlands, and includes Wolverhampton, Birmingham, Dudley, Sandwell, Coventry, Walsall, and Solihull, and prices for a one-way ticket start at £2.50 which is pretty reasonable considering the size of this network.
However, you might find that a monthly pass is the best choice for you, especially if you’ll be using the service daily. A monthly student pass starts at £60 which is around £2 per day for unlimited travel by bus, rail, or tram. This is especially good if you fancy exploring the West Midlands and makes it cheap and easy to organise a day trip to see somewhere new.
Taxis are around 10% cheaper in Wolverhampton than in nearby Birmingham too, at less than £1 per km. Whether you’re coming home from a big night out or running late, you can afford to call a cab without spending too much cash.
Wolverhampton has a lot to offer, and it is worth saving some extra budget for new activities and events. Wolverhampton is a keen sporting city with a cricket team and a football team, Wolverhampton Wanderers, who play regular Premier League fixtures. It’s one of the oldest football teams in the world and was one of the original founding members of the English Football League in 1888. It’s well worth getting a ticket to a home game to hear the crowd roar, and experience nearly 150 years of sporting heritage.
Keep a little budget free for unforeseen uni expenses too. You never know when you’ll need extra cash for reading materials, stationery, new software, or regular old printing and photocopying credits. It pays to be prepared, and this way you’ll be ready for anything.
Depending on your accommodation situation and lifestyle, we'd recommend budgeting around £900 per month as a student in Wolverhampton. This a rough guide only, so please take into account whether you have any subscriptions you have to pay for, or whether you like going out often!