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A one-year UK master's outside London costs a Nepali family roughly NPR 64 to 94 lakh for tuition, living costs and the visa, depending on the university. That is tuition of £16,800 to £32,000, plus about £14,400 for a year's living and £1,722 for the visa and health surcharge. House of Admissions (HOA) gives free guidance from Kathmandu and Pokhara.

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For a one-year master's outside London, budget tuition plus about £14,436 for 12 months' living and £1,722 for the visa and health surcharge. At three example fees that is £32,958 to £48,158, about NPR 64 to 94 lakh, before flights and Nepal-side costs.

Costs & Finance 4 min read

Total Cost of a UK Degree in NPR: 2026-27 Breakdown for Nepali Families

A UK degree is priced in pounds but paid for in rupees. Here is every cost a Nepali family should budget, with worked examples for a one-year master's at three tuition levels, a London comparison and a three-year bachelor's.

Rahul Chhetri Director, House of Admissions • Putalisadak, Kathmandu
Last updated:

Figures checked on 20 October 2026: GOV.UK visa fee and maintenance, Statement of Changes HC 584, published university fees as read on 15 October 2026. NPR at HOA's planning rate of NPR 195 per £1.

Banknotes and a notebook for budget planning

Cost building blocks (2026-27)

Visa fee
£558Student visa: apply
Visa + health surcharge, one-year master's
About £1,722Three-year bachelor's: about £3,274
Living costs used here
£1,203 a month outside London£1,570 in London; UKVI rates for applications from 30 Nov 2026Student visa: money you need
Funds to show for the visa
Up to 9 months of living costsPlus first-year tuition still owed
NOC
NPR 2,000Online from MoESTNo Objection Certificate portal
TB test
NPR 7,800 (Norvic) or USD 60 (IOM)Age 11 and overTuberculosis testing in Nepal
Exchange rate used
NPR 195 per £1HOA planning rate; check the day's rate before paying

This guide covers the full cost of a degree. For a monthly budget by city, see UK cost of living in NPR; for whether the numbers work for your family, see can a Nepali family afford UK study.

What Goes Into the Total Cost

  • Tuition, set by each university and usually higher for lab-based and London courses.
  • Living costs: rent, food, transport and bills. This guide uses UKVI’s monthly figure as a realistic planning budget: £1,203 outside London and £1,570 in London for applications from 30 November 2026.
  • Visa fee and Immigration Health Surcharge: £558 plus £776 a year of permission, about £1,722 for a one-year master’s.
  • Nepal-side costs: NOC (NPR 2,000), TB test, English test if needed, document translation, and bank charges on transfers.
  • Travel: one-way flight and the first weeks of setting up (deposit, bedding, SIM).

One-Year Master's: Worked Examples

Three real published tuition fees for one-year master’s courses (read 15 October 2026), outside London, for applications from 30 November 2026. Living costs are 12 months at £1,203 (£14,436).

University (example fee)TuitionLiving (12 months)Visa + IHSTotalIn NPR
De Montfort University£16,800£14,436£1,722£32,958about NPR 64.3 lakh
University of Hertfordshire£19,950£14,436£1,722£36,108about NPR 70.4 lakh
University of Liverpool£32,000£14,436£1,722£48,158about NPR 93.9 lakh

These totals exclude flights, Nepal-side costs and any scholarship. Most universities give international students a discount or merit award, which can reduce tuition.

London vs Outside London

The same £19,950 tuition at a London campus raises living costs to 12 × £1,570 = £18,840, making the total £40,512 (about NPR 79.0 lakh), roughly NPR 8.6 lakh more than outside London. London also has more part-time jobs, but rent is the biggest difference.

Three-Year Bachelor's: an Estimate

A three-year bachelor’s outside London with tuition of £15,000 a year:

ItemAmount
Tuition, 3 × £15,000£45,000
Living, 36 months × £1,203£43,308
Visa + IHS (3.5 years of permission)£3,274
Total£91,582, about NPR 178.6 lakh

Part-time work (up to 20 hours a week in term at £12.71 an hour or more) can help with living costs, but do not count on it in your plan: the visa requires the money upfront and jobs are not guaranteed.

Visa Funds Are Not the Same as Total Cost

For the visa you must show first-year tuition still owed plus up to nine months of living costs, held for 28 days. For the Hertfordshire example with nothing paid, that is £19,950 + £10,827 = £30,777 (about NPR 60.0 lakh). Your real first-year cost is higher, because you live in the UK for 12 months and pay the visa and surcharge. Read the 28-day rule guide.

Costs Families Often Forget

  • A buffer for exchange-rate movement between budgeting and payment, often a few per cent.
  • Bank charges and any tax deducted at source on education remittances; ask your bank before you transfer.
  • The English test (about NPR 28,800 to 36,200 for IELTS with IDP) if your university does not waive it.
  • Certified translations and notarisation of Nepali documents.
  • The first month in the UK: a rent deposit, bedding, a winter coat and transport before your first pay or transfer.
  • A second year of fees if your course runs longer than 12 months, or a placement year.

Frequently Asked Questions

Sources

GOV.UK and Home Office pages checked 20 October 2026; university fees and the IELTS fee read on 15 October 2026. Fees change each year, so check the university's current fee.

  1. Student visa: apply (GOV.UK)
  2. Student visa: money you need (GOV.UK)
  3. Statement of Changes in Immigration Rules HC 584 (Home Office), maintenance rise from 30 Nov 2026
  4. No Objection Certificate portal (Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Nepal)
  5. Tuberculosis testing in Nepal (GOV.UK), updated 2 Nov 2025
  6. IELTS test fee and payment details in Nepal (IDP Nepal), NPR 28,800 to 36,200, read 20 Oct 2026