Cost of living and personal Finances

Managing your finances

Managing your finances is important. Before you leave home you should ensure that your financial matters are in order. Students are strongly advised not to embark on a course of study unless they have adequate funding to support themselves and any dependents for the duration of the course. Be realistic about the costs involved.

Once you have started a course, financial assistance is extremely limited. Any forms of sponsorship should be arranged in your home country well in advance of the start of the course.

Bringing money to the UK

There is no limit to the amount of money you can bring into the UK, but you will need to check if there are limits imposed on foreign currency transactions by your home country.

Advice on how to transfer money is probably best sought from your bank at home, since local conditions and regulations vary widely. Find out what methods of transferring money are available, including the security of each method, the costs involved and how long the process will take.

If you need any specific documentation to confirm that you are coming to the UK in order to study, contact the Admissions Officer. It is advised that you bring money into the UK by:

  • Bankers draft (in £ sterling), which is a document drawn up by your bank in your home country. You then give the bankers draft to a bank in the UK when you open an account.
  • International money order, which you buy at home before you leave and then, either pay it directly into your UK bank account or take it to a post office to obtain cash (the money order must be in £ sterling for you to do this).
  • Electronic transfer, which is where your bank in your home country transfers money directly to your account in the UK, once you have opened a UK bank account.
  • Telegraphic transfer, which you can arrange once you have opened a UK bank account.

If you are being sponsored by your Government or the British Council you need to bring a letter from your sponsor which sets out clearly the extent of the sponsorship. You will need to show this to the Immigration Officer and to the Finance Office at the College.

Tuition fees

Details of current tuition fees can be found on our finance and fees page.

Accommodation fees

Details of current accommodation fees can be found on our accommodation page or by contacting our Head of Residential Accommodation Services, Philip Duggleby.

Living expenses

British currency

You will need some sterling cash for expenses during your first week - about £200-£300 should be enough. You are strongly advised not to bring or carry larger amounts of cash with you. If possible make arrangements to transfer money to the UK bank account. In case there is a problem in transferring money it is also a good idea to have a further £300 available in travellers cheques. You can also ask your bank to issue you with a cash card for use abroad.

Your general living expenses will vary according to your lifestyle and type of accommodation, but as a guide the cost of living for a single student in Wiltshire has been estimated at £5,000 - £6,000 per academic year. This includes accommodation, food, books, travel, clothes and entertainment.

The following guide is to help you budget, but it does not include vacations.

Expenditure in halls of residence at Lackham for 32 weeks:

Rent £2,400
Food £960
Personal Toiletries £140
Laundry and housekeeping £140
Clothes £245
Travel local and within UK £350
Leisure / Social £576
Telephone £160
Contents Insurance £70
Books, materials and equipment £250

Total: £5,291

Expenditure renting from a private landlord - based on 4 sharing for 32 weeks

Agency Letting Fees £13
Refundable rent deposit £260
Rent approx £2,000
Utility Bills (gas, electricity, water) £416
Food £960
Personal Toiletries £140
Laundry and housekeeping £140
Clothes £245
Travel local and within UK £350
Leisure / Social £576
TV licence £29
Telephone £160
Contents Insurance £70
Books, materials and equipment £250

Total: £5,609

Insurance

We recommend that you take out insurance cover for your personal belongings in addition to travel insurance. If you want to drive a car or ride a motorbike, you must take out at least third party insurance.

Did you know?

During the period 1943 to 1944 Lackham was the headquarters for the 10th Armoured Infantry Battalion of the 4th Armoured Division of the 3rd United States Army, commanded by Gen. George S Patton.