If you're coming to the UK to study for the first time, or are returning to university after a break from full-time education, it's sensible to set up a budget to help you manage your finances once you get here. 

The information below is designed as a guide to your living expenses at university. You will be able to calculate your own personal budget once you know your outgoings. Please note that the table below is accurate for the 2024/25 academic year.

Expenditure Per month Per year Notes
Rent (if you are living in university accommodation, this is paid in three equal instalments) £7,530 - £8,146 Average rent for a standard room on a 50-week tenancy. Private rented accommodation tenancy agreements are usually 11 months. You can compare BU accommodation prices for 2024/25 entry in our accommodation price guide (pdf 46kb).
Bills (gas, electric, water, sewerage and internet) £0 (university accommodation)

£64 (non-university accommodation)

 £0 (university accommodation)

£768 (non-university accommodation)

 All of these bills are included in the cost of your rent if you are living in halls of residence/Unilet accommodation.

Otherwise, expect to pay around £64 per month.
Local bus travel £0 (university accommodation)

£25 (non-university accommodation)

 £0 (university accommodation)

£295 (non-university accommodation)

 An annual bus pass is included in your rent if you are living in halls of residence/Unilet accommodation.

Otherwise, it costs £295 for unlimited travel on specified BU and morebus routes for 90 days.
Groceries £133 £1,596 These figures are based on the . This figure will vary depending on the person and personal basic living costs. 
Laundry costs £13.60 to £23.60*

£163.20 to £283.20*

 Launderette facilities in halls of residence are coin/card operated. Unilet houses are fitted with washing machines, so this is included in the rent. 

*Based on using the washing machine and drying machine once per week.
Insurance for personal possessions Included in your rent with university accommodation

Included in your rent with university accommodation

 Insurance is inclusive with the cost of rent if you live in BU university accommodation. If you live outside of BU university accommodation, the price of insurance will vary dependant on the provider you choose. 
TV licence £169.50 You can also pay for your TV licence in weekly, monthly or quarterly instalments. Check whether you need one at the
Course materials £18 - £53 £210 - £630 For example, core textbooks, photocopying, stationery and other consumables. Please note that most facilities are available on campus and buying textbooks is not a mandatory for your course. Textbooks should be available in the library to hire for free. 
Going out £69 This figure is based on the  on the .
Takeaways and eating out £66 This figure is based on the  on the .

These figures are based on a 12-month period and have been gathered from a range of sources.

You may find one of the following online calculators can help you work out your budget:

Start-up costs

If you're moving to Bournemouth to study, don’t forget that there are certain things you’ll need that won’t be provided by your accommodation. If you need to buy them, make sure you set aside some money to cover the cost. They include:

  • Bedding (sheets, pillows, duvets)
  • Towels and tea towels
  • Cups, bowls and plates
  • Cutlery
  • Cooking utensils and saucepans.

If you're moving into university accommodation or a shared house, you may just want to bring the bare minimum of kitchen equipment, cutlery and crockery as you and your housemates may decide to buy some of the essentials together and split the cost.

Cost of living support

We are aware how the cost of living is increasingly a concern for prospective students considering whether to go to university or not. We are committed to supporting our students throughout the current climate. See all the ways we and our Students’ Union (SUBU) are supporting our students financially, including the SUBU Community Kitchen, Soup-er Mondays and warm spaces on campus to relax and study.