Managing Living Costs in Birmingham: A Student’s Guide

Managing the budget amid inflation is a tricky task. You move to a new city like Birmingham and we get it, you want to experience everything. But at what cost? Figuring out living costs in Birmingham may seem difficult but when you do it right, it is the most easy task. 

From paying tuition fees to finding affordable student accommodation in Birmingham, everything is possible. However, if not planned correctly, you can expect to be in an expensive affair. Luckily, like we solve all your student housing needs, we are here again to help you out in times of budgeting crisis. Our blog will help you to navigate all the costs in a planned manner. Let’s begin and find that secret by which you can truly enjoy your student life in Birmingham!

Basic Cost of Living

As per the rule of visa, you are required to show a minimum of £1,136 per month for up to 9 months. This is a necessary requirement to ensure that you can survive in Birmingham or any other city in the UK. As for the cost of living, international students can expect to find the following expenses:

• Rent of student apartments
• Groceries
• Public transportation
• Utilities like internet, Wi-fi, electricity, laundry, heat, water, etc. 
• Clothing
• Leisure activities 
• Social activities and more. 

Given the list above, you can expect to spend approximately £1,350–£1,400 per month excluding tuition fees. However, this cost also depends on your life choices. For instance, if you wish to spend on miscellaneous activities like gym, dance classes, entertainment, etc, you can manage the cost accordingly. Let’s break down further to get the facts while you set your budget well in advance!

Tuition Fees

The tuition fees depend on the program and university you enroll in. With such prestigious universities, the top choices among students include:

• The University of Birmingham
• Aston University
• Birmingham City University
• Newman University and 
• University College Birmingham

Offering both undergraduate and postgraduate courses, the typical tuition fees vary from £13,000 to £46,000 per academic year. However, international scholarships, financial aid and grants can help you to lower the cost of tuition. 

Student Accommodation in Birmingham

Student housing in Birmingham is another major expense you will see as students, especially international students. To be honest, you can’t rely on some relatives or friends to spend the next 4 to 5 years, isn’t that right?  

The rental market offers a wide array of housing options. The different kinds of student housing include:

• On-campus student rooms: Primarily given to first-year students, this is the most convenient option available in Birmingham. The university student halls typically range from £110 to £200 per week. This is ideal as this cost includes utilities, maintenance and other services. 
• Private rentals: It is a myth that private rentals are expensive. If you explore the market well, you can easily find a place to live within your budget. Popular student-friendly areas like Selly Oak, Harborne, etc offer spaces starting as low as £20 per night. In short, you can choose from both long-term and short-term student accommodation in Birmingham. You can explore shared houses, homestays, private student residences, etc and expect to spend about £300 and £450 per month. 

Tips to Save on Student Housing in Birmingham

Some of the top tips to save a large chunk of money on housing include:

• Look for shared housing rather than independent rooms. Once you start living with roommates, you can easily share expenses on utilities, laundry and more.
• Remember not to pay the first price you hear. Always negotiate with landlords to get better deals on rent. 
• Opt for those properties which offer all-inclusive rent. 

Get Around the City By Public Transportation

You cannot commute every day by taxi and spend all your student allowance. As the second-largest city in the UK, Birmingham has efficient and cheap public transportation. With various student deals and discounts, you can also save money in commuting between college and student accommodation in Birmingham. The breakdown is as follows:

• Buses: You can easily travel around the city by the National Express West Midlands bus network. One ride costs around £2 to £3, making approximately £300 annually. 
• Trains: For longer commutes or intercity travel, you can opt for trains which typically cost around between £60 and £100. Plus, you can get good discounts with rail cards. 
• Carpools and Cycling: This is another mode of transportation available in Birmingham. You can either opt for cycle, costing around £1 per ride or travel in carpools. 

Food and Groceries- Eat on a Budget

Well, food and groceries also take a significant part of your budget. You can either prepare your meals at home or eat out once a week. Simply put, if you wish to eat on a budget, you need to rely more on cooking than eating out. You can explore wholesale and farmers’ markets to get cheap groceries which cost around £20-£40 for a week. If you prefer eating out, you can expect to set a budget of £150 to £200 per week.

Miscellaneous Expenses

Along with basic expenses, there are other expenses like entertainment, gym, leisure activities, etc. You can simply set a budget and spend accordingly on such miscellaneous expenses. Plus, you can also reduce this cost by exploring things which are available for free like visiting museums, parks and more. 
To sum up, managing the cost of living in Birmingham as an international student is all about striking a balance. With the right planning, you can easily enjoy a life on a budget. Moreover, you can explore affordable student accommodation in Birmingham, wholesale market, public transportation, etc to spend within your set budget!

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