There are loads of things to think about when choosing where to go to university. The course. The nightlife. How far away you’ll be from home. Whether the local takeaway scene looks promising.
And then there’s the slightly less exciting one: rent.
Unfortunately, where you choose to study can make a massive difference to how much of your student loan disappears before you’ve even bought a meal deal.
Accommodation for Students' latest data puts the average UK student rent at around £169 per week. But in some cities? Yeah... you might want to start budgeting now.
Here are the 10 most expensive UK university cities for student rent:
10. Newcastle – £211 per week
It's £42 above the UK average, so while Newcastle might be famous for a good student night out, you'll definitely want to leave enough room in the budget for the actual roof over your head.
9. Aberdeen – £213 per week
That might not sound massively different from Newcastle, but once you're paying it week after week, those little differences definitely start adding up. Basically: budgeting spreadsheet incoming.
8. Oxford – £213 per week
Probably not the biggest shock on this list. If you're studying somewhere with higher rents, it's worth comparing different types of accommodation rather than automatically choosing the first room you see.
7. Bath – £249 per week
There's then quite a jump up to Bath. Average student rent here comes in at £249 per week... a full £80 above the UK average. Beautiful city? Absolutely. Kind to the student bank account? Maybe not quite as much.
6. Glasgow – £250 per week
That's getting towards £1,000 for four weeks of rent before you've even thought about food, transport, nights out or the coffee you somehow end up buying every single day. Suddenly, making coffee at home doesn't sound quite so boring.
5. Kingston – £250 per week
Kingston also averages £250 per week, putting it joint with Glasgow on price. Being around London without technically being right in central London might sound like the best of both worlds, but it certainly doesn't mean bargain student accommodation. The good news is that different properties can vary massively, so shopping around is definitely worth the effort.
4. Exeter – £256 per week
That's £87 above the UK student rent average. Over a longer tenancy, the difference can become pretty important, so this is one of those cities where starting your accommodation search early could definitely be a good idea.
3. Bristol – £278 per week
And now we've entered the top three. The type of accommodation makes a big difference here too. In the AFS data, student houses averaged £204 per week, while flats averaged £360, studios £297 and halls/PBSA £314. So if Bristol is your dream uni city, don't panic, but maybe don't immediately fall in love with the first fancy studio you find either.
2. Edinburgh – £290 per week
And this is another city where your accommodation choice really matters. According to the AFS data, houses averaged £179 per week and flats £192, while studios jumped all the way up to £445 per week. Halls/PBSA averaged £301. So yes, that nice private studio might look amazing on the website. Your bank account may have a slightly different opinion.
1. London – £330 per week
Was anyone really expecting somewhere else?
That's nearly double the £169 UK average and almost four times the £84 average recorded in Pontypridd, the cheapest city in the same AFS report. The type of room matters here as well. London houses averaged £234 per week, flats £276, studios £413 and halls/PBSA £417. In other words, choosing a shared house rather than a studio could make a very noticeable difference to your budget.
Does expensive mean you should avoid these cities?
Definitely not. There are loads of reasons students choose places like London, Edinburgh, Bristol and Bath, and rent is only one part of deciding where you want to spend the next few years. But knowing what you're likely to pay beforehand is pretty important.
If you're heading to one of the more expensive cities, compare different areas, look at shared houses as well as halls, check what's included in the rent and don't be afraid to shop around. It's also worth reading this blog, which breaks down the main accommodation options and explains why prices can vary so much.
And remember, the nicest-looking room isn't always worth spending your entire maintenance loan on. You do still need money for food... And nights out... And that completely unnecessary £4 iced coffee you somehow buy three times a week.
