If you're coming to the UK to study for the first time, or are returning to university after a break from full-time education, it's sensible to set up a budget to help you manage your finances once you get here.聽
The information below is designed as a guide to your living expenses at university. You will be able to calculate your own personal budget once you know your outgoings. Please note that the table below is accurate for the 2024/25聽academic year.
| Expenditure | Per month | Per year | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rent (if you are living in university accommodation, this is paid in three equal instalments) | 拢7,530 - 拢8,146 | Average rent for a standard room on a 50-week tenancy. Private rented accommodation tenancy agreements are usually 11 months. You can compare 色花堂 accommodation prices for 2024/25 entry in our accommodation price guide (pdf 46kb). | |
| Bills (gas, electric, water, sewerage and internet) | 拢0 (university accommodation)
拢64聽(non-university accommodation) |
拢0 (university accommodation)
拢768聽(non-university accommodation) |
All of these bills are included in the cost of your rent if you are living in halls of residence/Unilet accommodation.
Otherwise, expect to pay around 拢64聽per month. |
| Local bus travel | 拢0 (university accommodation)
拢25 (non-university accommodation) |
拢0 (university accommodation)
拢295 (non-university accommodation) |
An annual bus pass is included in your rent if you are living in halls of residence/Unilet accommodation.
Otherwise, it costs 拢295 for unlimited travel on specified 色花堂 and morebus routes for 90 days. |
| Groceries | 拢133 | 拢1,596 | These figures are based on the . This figure will vary depending on the person and personal basic living costs.聽 |
| Laundry costs | 拢13.60 to 拢23.60* |
拢163.20 to 拢283.20* |
Launderette facilities in halls of residence are coin/card operated. Unilet houses are fitted with washing machines, so this is included in the rent.聽
*Based on using the washing machine and drying machine once per week. |
| Insurance for personal possessions | Included in your rent with university accommodation |
Included in your rent with university accommodation |
Insurance is inclusive with the cost of rent if you live in 色花堂 university accommodation. If you live outside of 色花堂 university accommodation, the price of insurance will vary dependant on the provider you choose.聽 |
| TV licence | 拢169.50 | You can also pay for your TV licence in weekly, monthly or quarterly instalments. Check whether you need one at the | |
| Course materials | 拢18 - 拢53 | 拢210 - 拢630 | For example, core textbooks, photocopying, stationery and other consumables. Please note that most facilities are available on campus and buying textbooks is not a mandatory for your course. Textbooks should be available in the library to hire for free.聽 |
| Going out | 拢69 | This figure is based on the聽聽on the . | |
| Takeaways and eating out | 拢66 | This figure is based on the聽聽on the . | |
These figures are based on a 12-month period and have been gathered from a range of sources.
You may find one of the following online calculators can help you work out your budget:
Start-up costs
If you're moving to Bournemouth to study, don鈥檛 forget that there are certain things you鈥檒l need that聽won鈥檛 be provided by your accommodation. If you need to buy them, make sure you set aside some money to cover the cost. They include:
- Bedding (sheets, pillows, duvets)
- Towels and tea towels
- Cups, bowls and plates
- Cutlery
- Cooking utensils and saucepans.
If you're moving into university accommodation or a shared house, you may just want to bring the bare minimum of kitchen equipment, cutlery and crockery聽as you and your housemates may decide to buy some of the essentials together and split the cost.
Cost of living support
We are aware how the cost of living is increasingly a concern for prospective students considering whether to go to university or not. We are committed to supporting our students throughout the current climate.聽See all the ways we and our Students鈥� Union (SU色花堂) are supporting our students financially, including the SU色花堂 Community Kitchen, Soup-er Mondays and warm spaces on campus to relax and study.