Tuition fees, living costs and other study costs

There are 2 types of costs you need to consider when you go to uni:

1. study costs – these include tuition fees and other costs such as books and equipment
2. living costs – these include accommodation, food, laundry, bills and socialising

Most UK students fund their studies with Government student loans. You may also be able to fund some or all of your tuition fees and living costs with a scholarship or bursary.

Study costs

Tuition fees

The main cost of study is your tuition fees, which are paid to the University to cover course and University costs. Your tuition fees cover:

• The cost of your undergraduate degree at the University as well as charges for registration, tuition, supervision, and examinations
• Your graduation ceremony
• The facilities and equipment you need to complete your studies, such as computer rooms, access to laptops, the Library, and laboratories
• Access to resources including electronic journals and thousands of hours of educational videos on LinkedIn Learning
• University support services including academic, financial, careers and wellbeing support and personal tutors
• Membership of the Students' Union (giving you the right to vote in elections, join clubs and societies, and get free independent advice)
• Access to software such as Microsoft Office, SPSS and Adobe Creative Suite (this includes Photoshop, InDesign, and Adobe Premiere Pro

Tuition fees for UK students 

If you're from the UK, tuition fees in 2021/22 for all full-time undergraduate courses are £9,250 a year.

Fees may go up in later years, in line with inflation.

Tuition fees for EU residents 

If you're an EU resident, tuition fees in 2021/22 for all full-time undergraduate courses are £9,250 a year. This includes the Transition Scholarship.

Fees may go up in later years, in line with inflation.

Tuition fees for part-time and international students

Tuition fees for part-time and international students vary. If you’re a part-time or international student, you can see tuition fees for specific courses on course pages.

Paying your tuition fees

If you’re paying for your tuition fees with a tuition fee loan, the Government will pay your tuition fees to us directly.

If you or a sponsor are paying your tuition fees, we’ll send you an invoice when you need to pay.

Other study costs

There are some course-related costs that aren’t included in your tuition fees. So you’ll need to budget for them. These include things like books, specialist equipment and the cost of optional field trips.

You can see the additional study costs for each course on course pages.

Living costs

As well as your study costs, you'll also need enough cash to support yourself while you’re at uni. Most students use a maintenance loan to help cover living costs.

Portsmouth is one of the most affordable places in the UK for students. These were average weekly outgoings for our students in 2019.

Living in halls of residence

Living in private rented accommodation

Upfront living costs

Bear in mind you might need some money for upfront costs before your maintenance loan comes through. For example, if you're in halls or rented accommodation you'll need to pay a deposit to secure your room and may need to pay a month's rent in advance.

Make sure you've got enough cash to see you through your first few weeks of university.