A new study by Ukash has revealed that Edinburgh’s Heriot-Watt University offers the cheapest cost of living at the UK’s top universities.

With the UCAS applications deadline fast approaching, the study was carried out to see which of the UK’s top 20 universities offered the cheapest cost of living. Ukash compared the cost of nine living expenses, from a pint of beer to accommodation costs, to see which came out on top.

The study concluded that Herriot-Watt, Edinburgh University and St. Andrews universities are the three cheapest to attend. Students pay just £9,587 each year, which is £10,000 less than the most expensive institutions.

The top 10 cheapest universities, and their total cost of living over three years, are:

1. Edinburgh Heriot-Watt University          £28,761
2. University of Edinburgh                             £31,210
3. University of St. Andrews                          £33,603
4. University of Kent                                       £35,344
5. University of East Anglia                           £41,604
6. University of Birmingham                         £41,727
7. University of Warwick                                £41,790
8. University of York                                       £42,793
9. University of Leicester                              £43,139
10. University of Lancaster                           £43,938

On average, students at the most expensive university, London School of Economics, would end up paying more than twice as much as those at the cheapest. Over three years, that’s an additional £30,000.

Miranda McLean, Marketing Director at Ukash, said: “We were surprised to find such staggering differences in costs, with factors such as car insurance, rent, and tuition fees varying greatly depending on where you study.”

The ten most expensive universities, and their total cost of living over three years, are:

1. London School of Economics                  £59,152
2. University College London                       £53,954
3. Imperial College London                          £53,822
4. Oxford University                                        £50,540
5. Cambridge University                               £47,997
6. Exeter                                                             £45,291
7. Bath                                                                 £45,199
8. Durham                                                           £44,459
9. Surrey                                                             £44,264
10. Loughborough                                         £43,965

McLean said that Ukash “produced this cost comparison study for students who want to go to a top university but also don’t want it to cost the earth. With many students needing to complete their UCAS application on or before 15th January 2014, we’ve also developed an online tool that makes it easy for students to compare the cost of living at the UK’s top 20 universities.”

You can view the research data and use the interactive online tool by clicking here.

By Matthew G, Lancaster University
TNS