Additional Expenses

It is very important that you research the potential living costs before you come to the UK so you can budget.

Below you will find some of the main costs you will have to pay in addition to your course fee and rent.  This is not a complete list but it should give you an idea of the main expenses you need to budget for, that you might not have already considered.

    Accommodation Deposit

    Many private landlord and letting agents will ask you to pay a tenancy deposit.  The tenancy deposit will often amount to around one month's rent.  If you do not have a UK Guarantor, the deposit you have to pay is likely to be much larger and sometimes they might want you to pay the rent for the whole length of the tenancy upfront.  More information can be found on the Liverpool Student Homes advice webpages:

    www.liverpoolstudenthomes.org/Help

    If you do not have a UK Guarantor, you might want to look into using a UK guarantor company.

    Council Tax

    This is a tax which is set by local councils to help pay for the services that they provide, such as rubbish collection, the Police and the Fire Service.  It is based on the value of the accommodation in which you live.  Usually you can expect to pay over £1000 for Council tax for a year, but the amount you are required to pay depends on your situation.

    If you are living in University of Liverpool Halls of Residence you do not have to pay council tax.

    You may have to pay council tax if you are living in private accommodation, but this depends on your situation.

    If you receive a Council Tax bill you must make payments when they are required.  You can find out further information such as how to pay your bill here.

    You can call Liverpool City Council to discuss Council Tax on +44(0)151 233 3009.

    Gas, Electricity and Water bills

    The cheapest way to pay these bills is monthly by direct debit.  The amount you have to pay depends on the size of your home and the amount of people who are living in it.  Recommended budgets and more advice can be found here: www.liverpoolstudenthomes.org/pages/Finances

    Internet and Home phone

    Internet might not be included in your rent. Unless you choose a company who offer fibre optic broadband, you have to pay ‘line rental’ for a phone line each month as well as the cost of the internet. 

    Furniture and Household items

    If you have decided to stay in private accommodation and you are only in Liverpool for a short time, you should consider renting furnished accommodation.  However even with furnished accommodation you will need to budget for some household items.

    TV Licence

    It is against the law in the UK to watch or record TV programmes as they're being shown on TV without a valid licence.  This includes the use of devices such as a TV, computer, mobile phone, games console, digital box or DVD/VHS recorder.  A colour TV licence costs £145 and you can buy it online: www.tvlicensing.co.uk 

    Watching TV without a valid licence can lead to prosecution, a court appearance and a fine of up to £1,000 (not including legal costs).

    Contents Insurance

    It is important you buy contents insurance to cover your belongings.  Some companies, such as Endsleigh specialise in student contents insurance: www.endsleigh.co.uk

    Healthcare

    If you are studying for more than 6 months, make sure you pay the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) when you make your visa application.  If you don’t you will have to pay for your healthcare in the UK at the point you use it, which can be very expensive.

    If you are going to be studying for less than 6 months, we recommend that you seek out private medical insurance before you arrive in the UK and then to speak to a GP about how to become a private patient once you arrive.  Even if you have medical insurance it is likely you will be expected to pay for the medical treatment in the first instance, and then claim the money back from your insurance company.

    Travel

    If you are not living in the City Centre, you need to consider you transport costs both for getting to university and for socialising and travelling around the UK.  If you are going to use the bus a lot, consider buying a student bus pass from the Guild of Students.  Prices can be found here: www.arrivabus.co.uk/north-west/bus-tickets/student-tickets

    You will also need to think about how many times you will want to travel back to your home country whilst you are studying here.