Living costs
Bradford offers cheaper living when compared to nearby cities like Leeds and Manchester.
Here are a few examples of typical costs below to give you some guidance on how much you'll need to live on as a student here.
| Estimated minimum living costs for a single student in Bradford 2023-2024 | 42 weeks | 51 weeks |
|---|---|---|
| Accommodation depending on type* | £3,780 to £6,910* | £4,335 to £8,305* |
| Food (based on £60 per week) | £2,520 | £3,060 |
| Average utilities (if not included in rent) | £1,186 | £1,440 |
| Toiletries, laundry and household (based on £15 per week) | £630 | £765 |
| Books, stationery, photocopying and printing (based on £10 per week) | £420 | £510 |
| Mobile phone costs (based on £10 per week) | £420 | £510 |
| Local travel – if required (based on £20 per week) | £840 | £1,020 |
| Set-up costs | £500 | £500 |
| Insurance for personal possessions** | £70** | £70** |
| Estimated minimum total for guidance only | £10,366 to £13,496 | £12,210 to £16,180 |
* Accommodation may be in Halls of Residence (standard rooms or en-suite rooms available) or in private housing. Halls of Residence rents usually include all utility bills. Rent in some private housing will include room only, others include the cost of utility bills, please check with provider. Please check with your accommodation provider for further details.
** Insurance for personal possessions is included in Halls of Residence rents. Rent in private houses does not include this insurance, and this cost should be included in your planning.
Please note:
These expenses will vary from one student to another according to your lifestyle and circumstances, as everybody is different!
The amount of money that you need also varies according to the time of year.
At the start of the academic year you will need to have access to enough money to pay accommodation deposits and rents (it is best to pay these in advance), and also to buy items that you need when you first arrive.
There may also be additional costs associated with your course, such as lab coats or driving licence.
International students
The UK Border Agency considers that students living outside of London will require approximately £1,023 per month for their living expenses.
For visa purposes, as a new student to the UK, you will need to provide evidence that you have £9,207 (£1,023 x 9 = £9,207) of money in your bank account to use for your living costs, in addition to your tuition fees for the first year of your course.
More information can be found on the International and EU students website and the Visa Support website.
Student discounts
Being a student means that you can get discounts on different things like eating out, clothing, footwear and electronics with participating retailers. To access these discounts, you can use Unidays, Student Beans and Totum.
Discounts on public transport are also available for students. For train journeys, a Railcard by National Rail gets you a third off original tickets prices. For busses, students get discount on termly and annual tickets with First and Arriva.
Our on-site gym, Unique Fitness also offers discounted student memberships.
