Cost of Attendance (CoA)
COA comprises of several parts to build the amount of loan offered:
- Tuition and Fees – set by UWS annually for each programme of study
- Room and Board – set by UWS annual for on campus housing and set by an estimated annual cost by UWS for private accommodation
- Books, Supplies, Transportation and Miscellaneous Personal Expenses. These are estimates annually by UWS and explained below
- Dependent Care Expenses – these are only considered where a dependent will be accompanying you during studies
- Disability-related Expenses – these are only considered where a disability exists and there are associated costs to consider during studies
- Student Loan Fees – these are the origination fees set for each loan
- Employment Expenses for Cooportative Education – while offered for Title IV studies, these do not apply to UWS
For COA costs to be considered the costs must be incurred during (not after) a period of enrolment, UWS must determine the amount of the allowance and any increase in COA is at the discretion of UWS.
Award Limits
CoA is set by UWS annually to consider the actual needs of student during a period of study at the University.
CoA packages may offer options inclusive of Subsidised, Unsubsidised and Private Loans to Students and/or parents based on eligibility. Loan packages may not however breach any annual or aggregate limits for loan awards.
Funding Priorities
Loan funding priorities will remove the costs for tuition first and foremost, followed by any University living expenses and other University fees.
Once removed other expenses incurred by the student have loan fees dispersed for payment. These would be in numerical order as outlined in the CoA package policy above.
Start Dates
CoA is calculated on the actual period of study for the programme the student will study. For example an undergraduate student will have a CoA calculated on 9 months of study where a graduate is calculated on 12 months as a general rule and based on the circumstances of the programme.
Late Applications
Where an application for Title IV funds is made after the start of the academic year, UWS will offer the same CoA loan package to the student as if they had applied ahead of the start of studies.
The student then has the option to accept the full annual CoA loan package or request, in writing to the FSA Team, a lesser amount. The FSA Team can advise the student on what the CoA may be reduced to in such circumstances but will not recommend or enforce what CoA the student may select.
Estimated living costs 2020-21
Budgeting for living costs is an important part of planning for University life. As part of Title IV Funding, UWS must provide a Cost of Attendance (COA) estimate which is used to build a loan package. These costs are estimated annually and offered as the expected total cost to live and study at UWS.
Your estimated cost of living will be included as your complete COA breakdown on the offer letter you will receive from UWS for a US Title IV loan.
Notes
Tuition Fees
Fees are set annually and are available and published on every course entry.
You can find out more about finance, fees and funding on our dedicated webpages:
Room & Board
University accommodation
UWS offers on-campus accommodations at some of our campuses. These prices vary depending on the type of accommodation which you select to live in. Current costs and details are available below:
If you select to live on campus these living expenses will be used to calculate your Cost of Attendance.
Private accommodation
If living off-campus, UWS sets an estimated cost for monthly rent in the area you are living. This estimate is set by UWS to consider the cost for private rental suitable for student accommodation. Please note, UWS will not adjust the fee higher if you choose to live in more expensive private accommodations.
These are estimated lower and upper costs of living in the West of Scotland. The cost of living can vary greatly depending on your lifestyle, budget and spending habits. In addition, in line with UKVI, the UWS Tier 4 Visa Guide states that applicants will be required to have a minimum living costs of £9,135 (based on £1,015 per month for a period of nine months).
Coming from a UKVI Appendix H country, applicants do not routinely need to submit bank statements but you will still be required to have these prepared / have the funds, as they could be requested by UKVI.
These costs are broken down by month. You can calculate your estimated budget based on how long you will be in Scotland.
Costs to live in London could be between 25% and 50% higher due to the increased cost of accommodation, travel and food in the capital. The UWS Tier 4 Visa Guide states that you are required to have money for living costs of £11,385 (based on £1,265 per month if your course lasts 9 months or more) if you are studying in inner London.
For comparison to the UKVI estimates, UWS have prepared its own costs based on local knowledge of campus costs in London and Scotland. When preparing your loan package, UWS will use these estimates to calculate your cost of attendance.
These costs do not include tuition fees. Some students may also need to pay additional course costs.
| Scotland | London | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Category | On-campus | Off-campus | Off-campus |
| Rent | £460.22 | £379.19 | £750 |
| Food^ | £242.92 | £242.92 | £242.92 |
| Gas / Electricity* | £0.00 | £65.00 | £65.00 |
| Travel | £84.88 | £94.88 | £175.00 |
| Study Expenses | £60.00 | £60.00 | £60.00 |
| Personal Care | £41.59 | £41.59 | £49.92 |
| Leisure | £86.00 | £86.00 | £120.00 |
| Clothing | £54.83 | £54.83 | £54.83 |
| Mobile Phone | £35.00 | £35.00 | £35.00 |
| TV/Internet/Music | £55.00 | £55.00 | £55.00 |
| Total | £1120.44 | £1104.39 | £1607.67 |
| Total (9 months) | £10,083.98 | £9,939.48 | £14,469.03 |
| ^ Food costs include UKVI official estimates of cost and UWS Federal Student Aid grocery estimates | |||
| * University accommodation includes gas, electricity and internet costs | |||
Food
Food costs will account for a significant part of your budget. This will vary depending on your taste and dietary needs. The following are estimates costs and a total cost over your period of study will be built in to your Cost of Attendance to afford these estimates.
| Food | Typical Cost | Typical Quantity | Typical Portion | Weekly Cost (£) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tea Bags | £4.00 | 240 | 2 per day | £0.23 |
| Coffee | £3.00 | 111 | 2 per day | £0.18 |
| Ham | £3.00 | 125g | 2 meals | £3.00 |
| Bread | £1.10 | 800g | Through week | £1.10 |
| Fruit | £5.40 | Mixed | Through week | £5.40 |
| Vegetables | £2.16 | Mixed | Through week | £2.16 |
| Juice | £4.50 | 10x330ml | 1-2 per day | £4.50 |
| Pizza | £1.00 | 1 | 1 meal | £1.00 |
| Chicken | £5.00 | 1 | 2+ meals | £5.00 |
| Eggs | £1.00 | 6 | 2+ meals | £1.00 |
| Biscuits | £0.60 | 18 | 2 per helping | £0.30 |
| Milk | £1.10 | 4 pints | Through week | £1.10 |
| Sugar | £0.65 | 1kg(2lbs) | Drinks/cooking | £0.04 |
| Honey | £1.35 | 30 servings | 4 per week | £0.18 |
| Jam | £0.75 | 30 servings | 4 per week | £0.10 |
| Mayonnaise | £2.50 | 42 servings | 6 | £0.36 |
| Sweetcorn | £0.50 | 1 can | 4 | £0.13 |
| Garlic Bread | £1.00 | 10 slices | 2 | £0.50 |
| Salad Leaves (Bag) | £0.93 | 1 bag | Through week | £0.93 |
| Cereal | £1.89 | 15 servings | 3 per week | £0.38 |
| Bacon | £1.95 | 2 servings | 2 per week | £1.95 |
| Minced beef / equivalent | £3.67 | 6 | 1 per week | £0.61 |
| Cheese | £2.30 | 460g | Lunch / cooking | £1.15 |
| Pasta | £1.00 | 13 servings | 2 per week | £0.15 |
| Lasagne sheets | £0.55 | 500g | 1/3 per lasagne | £0.03 |
| Chopped tomoatoes | £0.35 | 1 can | 1 per week | £0.35 |
| Sausages | £2.50 | 6 | 3 per week | £1.25 |
| Potatoes | £1.38 | 2.5kg | 1/3 per week | £0.46 |
| Crisps / Potato Chips | £1.50 | 6 packs | 6 per week | £1.50 |
| Chocolate bars | £2.00 | 4 | 4 per week | £2.00 |
| Stock cubes | £0.50 | 10 | 2 per week | £0.10 |
| Vegetable oil | £1.10 | 66 servings | 4 per week | £0.07 |
| Butter | £1.49 | 25 servings | 2 per day | £0.83 |
| Ice cream bars | £2.00 | 4 servings | 4 per week | £2.00 |
| Yoghurt | £0.69 | 500g | Through week | £0.69 |
| Total | £40.73 | |||
| Prices are subject to seasonal fluctuations as well as fluctuations due to specific retailers | ||||
| UWS estimates £40 per week on purchases groceries and an additional £20 per week on take away and eating out (this can include food on campus) | ||||
Additional Costs
Depending on your lifestyle and living arrangements there may be additional costs to consider. It is important to plan for these in your budget where necessary.
| Category | Comments |
|---|---|
| Travelling | Travel costs in Scotland/UK or overseas will vary. Try to plan for visits home by checking on rail/air fares and adding this to your budget. |
| Bus fares | £1.70 per journey, £4.00 per day, £48.00 for a 4-week travel card. |
| Internet/TV package | £20.00-50.00 per month. |
| Clothing | £40.00-100.00 per month. |
| Health | £300.00 per annum is included in your original Visa Application in order to access the services of the National Health Service (NHS). This is a mandatory charge, but you may also wish to consider private medical insurance cover. |
| Childcare | £45.00-60.00 per day. |
Social & Leisure Costs
It is also important to include costs of your social life in your budget. Here are some guide prices.
| Comments | Estimated Price Range (GBP) |
|---|---|
| Gym Membership x 1 month (gym membership at the University is free at campuses that have gyms) | £30.00 |
| Cinema twice per month at average £8/£15 per ticket outisde/inside London | £16.00 - £30.00 |
| Nights out at avg. £20-£30 per night x 2 per month | £40.00 - £60.00 |
| Monthly Average | £86.00 - £120.00 |
| Averages taken from a range of gym and leisure facilities around UWS campuses and national average cinema ticket costs. Reasonable average cost of night out merging data from thestudentforum and The Deltic Group survey December 2019. | |
Related information
International student calculator
You can use this online tool to help you plan a budget before coming to the UK.
UWS Funding & Advice Team
The University’s Funding and Advice Team provides help and support for students.
Additional information for international students is available at:
Council Tax
Council Tax is a charge which pays for local services such as rubbish collection, street cleaning, police and schools. Full-time students do not normally pay Council Tax. If you live with others who are not students they may have to pay Council Tax.
Televisions
TV Licences
You need to be covered by a TV licence to watch or record live TV programmes on any channel, or download or watch BBC programmes on iPlayer. This also applies to students who live in University accommodation.
You do not need a TV licence if you do not watch or record live television, but you still need to let TV Licensing know.
For up-to-date cost information and details on the many ways you can pay, please visit the TV Licensing website. Find out more about TV Licensing:
Digital or satellite TV
If you watch television in the UK, you must have a digital TV. There are around 50 free channels which you can access from a digital television.
Other services are available which allow you to watch more channels. You pay a monthly fee and normally agree to 12 month contract.
Check with your landlord or letting agency to make sure there are no restrictions if you want to install this type of service.
Home telephone (landline)
If you rent privately you may wish to install a landline. Check with your landlord if there is already a landline installed and who is the service provider.
Internet
There is internet access in University accommodation, included in the rent. You can also access wireless internet at all University campuses.
If you rent privately you will normally need to set up internet access. The cost is not normally included in the rent.
There are a number of internet providers in the UK. Check comparison websites to find the best option for you.
Internet contracts normally have a minimum duration.
Contact Us
If you have any queries about US loans to fund your studies at UWS please feel free to contact our FSA-Scholarships team:
Last updated: 28/04/2020