Newcastle is regularly voted one of the best student cities in the UK. Friendly and welcoming, it is also affordable - our fantastic city ranked joint 1st for affordability in the QS Best Student Cities 2019, and has been voted 4th in the UK for local life in the Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2020.
So let’s explore what makes Newcastle an affordable choice for international students.
Newcastle is a major city in the UK so you have access to a huge transportation network. Although travel restrictions are currently in place because of the pandemic, once these are lifted you can reach London by train in less than three hours, or head north to Scotland's capital - Edinburgh - arriving in under an hour and a half.
Discounted railcards, such as the 16-25 Railcard, will save you money on your train travel - up to a third of the cost of a normal ticket.
Local transport in Newcastle itself, is direct and easy to use. The city's buses and our light rail Metro system are following all Covid-19 precautions, so you can travel safely. Sixty stations serve the city, Newcastle International Airport, and the surrounding areas of Gateshead, North Tyneside, South Tyneside and Sunderland, so it's easy to explore further afield once restrictions are lifted.
You can purchase a Student Metro Season Ticket and get a month’s worth of travel for £53.80 and a year’s worth for £396 - which works out much cheaper than buying a new ticket every time you travel.
But best of all, because our University campus and many of our accommodation sites are located in the city centre, everything you need is in walking distance - and that won't cost you anything at all!
As Newcastle is situated in the North of England, living costs are generally cheaper than in the South - UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) estimates living costs outside London to be £1,050 per month.
Your accommodation costs will most likely be your main expenditure, but this will usually be much less expensive than at a university in the south.
The cost for student accommodation at Newcastle University can vary from under £100 a week to about £175 - it depends on which accommodation you choose. In contrast, a student room in London can cost double that, and sometimes more.
Newcastle University also offers secure accommodation, with gas, water and electricity usage covered in the price of most rooms, meaning you don’t have to worry about any surprise bills.
Food, clothing and studying expenses are the main living costs (aside from paying rent) that you will have as a student at Newcastle.
In the city there are many places to buy your weekly food shop, including international, kosher and halal supermarkets. Newcastle's historic indoor Grainger Market is the perfect place to find fresh fruit and veg at a good price, as well as sample artisan street food. And when life is back to normal and Covid-19 restrictions are lifted, you can eat out at a huge range of well-priced restaurants that prepare delicious food from around the world.
How much you will spend a week on food will depend on what you buy, but if you are looking for more information on shopping in Newcastle, explore our blog here.
You will also need to spend money on items and activities related to your course. Luckily, items like stationery are not expensive, and Newcastle University also has four extensive libraries, where instead of buying books, you can borrow them. This can help to bring your living costs down.
Although restrictions are in place because of the pandemic, once these are lifted, Newcastle is a fantastic and affordable place to enjoy time with friends and explore the local culture. Similarly, the Northern cities of Manchester, Leeds and Liverpool are huge cultural centres and affordable to visit, too.
In Newcastle, you can expect to pay between £10 and £15 for a cinema ticket depending on the viewing experience, while street food vendors, takeaways, cafes and restaurants offer an eating out experience to suit every budget.
Another inexpensive way to have a great social life in Newcastle is to join a society or club. These are groups dedicated to a particular sport, cultural topic or extra-curricular activity. Newcastle University has over 200 societies and 65 sports clubs that you can join.
Overall, Newcastle is a great student city and an affordable one, too, for any student. Find out more about what your experience could be like with us, here.