Top 10 Low-Cost Universities in London for International Students 2024

Are you looking for affordable low tuition and cheapest universities in London for international students with a cheap budget? Do you want to go and study, or is studying in London a dream but finance seems to be a cost?

Aside from UK Scholarships, you can study in London almost for free.

How?

International students can study in London at little or no cost just by enrolling in any of the affordable and cheap universities. This will aid you to study at low tuition, especially for international students.

After our article on the 10 Universities in the UK with the Lowest Acceptance Rates, we discovered that students who search for this also want to how they can subsidize the cost of going to a London university and study almost for free.

In this guide, we have come up with a list based on research on the cheapest universities in London for international students.

Each of the average annual tuition of these schools is included to help you make a choice.

Without further ado, let’s get you started!!!

Studying in London: What is it Like?

It is without a doubt that London is one of the most satisfactory places for foreign students to study. In 2018, Quacquarelli Symonds (QS University Ranking) renamed it the best student city.

Even with its great scenery and high cost of living, many students still flock to the country every year. Currently, London has over 125,000 international students in the UK who are based in London.

The reason for this great number is not far-fetched, London is home to some of the greatest world-class institutions in the world. Universities in London have a track record of high academic excellence in all fields of study.

Asides from academics, London is a center for business and culture. Undoubtedly, London gives international students one of the best studies abroad experiences.

And the good news is there are a lot of cheap universities in London for international students who want to study in London at an affordable cost.

Read Also: 39 Best Law Schools in UK and Ranking

What Courses Can I Study in London?

Basically, almost all courses are offered in London. With the availability of so many universities IN London, there are a lot of programs open for students.

However, London universities have some courses or fields in which more of their expertise lies. Here are some of the recommended courses to study in London;

• Law
• Business
• Nursing
• Medicine
• Engineering

What are the Admission Requirements for International Students to Study in London?

One of the first steps in preparing to study in any of the cheapest universities in London for international students is to get the admission requirements right. Your admission requirements make you either the perfect student or one who needs to try other alternatives

Although each university has their requirements, some General requirements for studying in London include;

• Curriculum vitae
• GPA of at least 2.75 
• Academic transcripts 
• Letters of recommendation
• Proof of English proficiency.
• Compilation of work (for arts & design students) or publications (for science students)
• Essays or interviews may be needed to gain admission to certain competitive programs.

For undergraduate programs, all applicants need to complete an application form at the preferred Universities and Colleges Admissions Services (UCAS) website. 

Once you have the form filled, you need to take and submit a General Certificate of Education.

In addition to that, you must have a good passing mark for an English language proficiency test. Depending on the university, they may require TOEFL or IELTS.

For graduate studies, the admission requirement is university and course dependent. 

So preferably, you should look up this information on your interested program on the university’s website.

How Much Does It Cost To Study at London Universities?

Studying in London can be pretty expensive if you do not study in low tuition universities, especially for international students.

For international students, the average annual tuition fee can range from $14,720 to $25,000.  Of course, this excludes lodging, which is an additional $1,300 to $1,600 per month. 

Can I Study In English at London Universities?

Yes, London is an English-speaking country, therefore all London schools teach their programs in English.  That’s basically why you need to submit proof of English proficiency which could be;

• TOEFL
• IELTS-2
• Pearson PTE
• Cambridge IGCSE
• Trinity College London

List of the Top 10 Cheapest Universities in London for International Students

Based on research and systematic analysis, we have put together a list of the most affordable and low tuition universities international students can study in London.

#1. Coventry University London

• Founded: 1992
• Location: Coventry district
• Minimum Annual Tuition: $15,723 (£12,924)

Coventry University is a public university that began as Coventry School of Design. However, it became a full-fledged university in 1992.

Coventry district is one of the cheap universities in London that attract international students. It has a branch in London that concentrates on undergraduate and postgraduate business courses. 

Regardless of its low tuition fees, the university still offers scholarships of £1,500 to £2,500 per eligible student.

#2. Middlesex University London

• Founded: 1878
• Location: 
• Minimum Annual Tuition: $16,302 (£13,400)

Middlesex University London is one of the most affordable tuition-free universities in London for international students. MDX as its popularly known as is a public research institution which we can trace its ancestry back to St. Katharine’s College. 

It came about as a consolidation of several smaller institutions. Currently, MDX has 3 faculties; the Faculty of Arts and Creative Industries, the Faculty of Professional and Social Sciences, and the Faculty of Science and Technology.

Furthermore, it runs satellite campuses in Dubai, Mauritius, and Malta aside from its popular London campus.

In addition to its affordable tuition cost, MDX offers a quality education at its best. Also, it is the only modern London university that was included in the 2018 World Rankings.

#3. University of London

• Founded: 1836
• Location: Bloomsbury, Central London
• Minimum Annual Tuition: $16,961 (£13,942)

Here’s another federal research university in our list of cheapest universities in London for international students.

The University of London has over 178,000 students. In fact, it is considered the university with the most number of students in London. Also, it has 17 member institutions under its shelter.

This graciously includes King’s College London, the London School of Economics and Political Science, St. George’s University of London, and the University College London.

Despite its rank as an elite university, the University of London is considered one of the most affordable and cheap universities for international students.

#4. University of East London (UEL)

• Founded: 1892
• Location: Borough of Newham
• Minimum Annual Tuition: $14,720 (£12,100)

Next on our list of cheap universities in London for international students is the University of East London (UEL). At the onset, the University of East London was first founded as the West Ham Institute, however, its name was changed when it became an authorized university 100 years later.

This public university has 3 campuses in Stratford and Docklands where it offers undergraduate and postgraduate degree programs via its eight schools. Regarding its unparalleled quality education, studying at UEL is considerably cheap for international students.

According to the 2019 statistics, UEL hosts about 14,000 students with international students representing 135 countries.

#5. University of West London (UWL)

• Founded: 1860
• Location: Ealing, Brentford, and Reading
• Minimum Annual Tuition:  $15,207 (£12,500)

Following its Eastern brother is the University of West London which was first launched as the Lady Byron School. It was renamed the Ealing College of Higher Education and thereafter the University of West London in 1992.

UWL has 8 schools through which it offers courses in Claude Littner Business School, the London College of Music, and the London Geller College of Hospitality and Tourism.

Also, some courses are offered in the School of Law and Criminology, the College of Nursing, Midwifery, and Healthcare, the School of Human and Social Sciences, the London School of Film, Media, and Design, and the School of Computing and Engineering.

Read Also: 25 Cheapest Universities in Australia

#6. London Metropolitan University (LMU)

• Founded: 
• Location: Borough of Islington
• Minimum Annual Tuition: $15,450 (£12,700)

LMU is one of the cheapest universities in London open to international students. This college originated as a union between the University of North London and the London Guildhall University.

LMU offers courses via its several campuses and six schools namely the School of Social Professions, the Guildhall School of Business and Law, the School of Computing and Digital Media, the School of Social Sciences, the School of Human Sciences, and the Sir John Cass School of Art, Architecture, and Design.

With its inexpensive tuition, LMU is our most suggested choice for those who wish to study Architecture, Law, and American studies.

Its low tuition cost makes it one of the cheapest and most affordable universities in London for international students.

#7. University of Greenwich

• Founded: 1892
• Location: London and Kent
• Minimum Annual Tuition: $17,616 (£14,000)

The University of Greenwich is one of the 10 Cheapest Universities in the UK for International Students.  They are not just cheap but they offer one of the best education in London and the UK as a whole.

The University of Greenwich has a campus extension in Kent and several campuses in London. The Avery campus is abode to the Faculty of Education & Health Facilities.  However, the Greenwich campus is home to the Business School and the Faculty of Liberal Arts and Sciences. And the Greenwich Maritime Institute houses other faculties.

The Medway Campus which is the campus extension in Kent is the base for the Faculty of Engineering and Science and the Medway School of Pharmacy. 

It might interest you to know that this school is acknowledged as one of the top institutions in the world according to the QS 2020 rankings. 

#8. University of Westminster

• Founded: 1838
• Location: Regent, Marylebone, Fitzrovia, and Harrow.
• Minimum Annual Tuition: $17,616 (£14,000)

The University of Westminster is one of London’s pride institutions. Despite it being a somewhat young institution, it is acknowledged as one of the best ‘modern’ universities in the world. 

If you want to study for communication-based degrees, the University of Westminster is the best recommendation. Its communication course is rated 40th in the 2018 World University Rankings.

This college is home to 3 colleges and 4 schools where you can study at fairly low tuition because it is one of the cheapest universities in London for international students.

#9. London South Bank University (LSBU)

• Founded: 1892
• Location: Elephant and Castle
• Minimum Annual Tuition: $17,592(£14,460)

LSBU is a public institution first founded in 1892 as Borough Polytechnic Institute and became South Bank University 100 years later. It assumed the name London South Bank University in 2003.

LSBU operates via 7 schools that major in Applied Sciences, Arts and Creative Industries, Built Environment and Architecture, Business, Engineering, Health, and Social Care, and Law and Social Sciences.

In 2016, this university was recognized as the Entrepreneurial University of the Year. For students intending to study Law, LBSU is a good consideration.

Because of its quality education and cheap tuition, LSBU is a popular choice amongst locals and international students. 

#10. Ravensbourne University London

• Founded: 1959
• Location: 
• Minimum Annual Tuition: $18,127 (£14,900)

We end our list of cheapest universities in London for international students with Ravensbourne University.

If you are interested in a digital media school with affordable tuition, then you need to go to Ravensbourne University London.  Basically, the courses offered are TV and broadcasting, fashion, architecture, graphic design, music, etc

Also, it is included in many top UK university lists. Despite being a relatively young school, Ravensbourne has produced many renowned people in the field of arts and fashion. 

And they all study at a pretty affordable cost.

Read Also: 44 Best Medical Schools in UK Ranking

Summary

Studying in London is pretty much possible for everyone. All you have to do is look out for the schools that suit your academic needs and apply.

And if cost is a limiting factor, you can apply for scholarships and funding or enroll in any of the cheapest universities in London for international students.

We hope that this article on low tuition universities in London is enlightening. 

We wish you the very best of luck in your search!!!

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