Cost-effective living
'Living costs' cover whatever you need to pay for, excluding tuition fees, while you're at university. For example, accommodation, food, course costs/study materials, personal expenses and transport.
We’ve estimated that in 2023-24, students should allow approximately £11,020² for living costs in Cambridge for the year, depending on lifestyle. Applicants should be aware that because maintenance rates are set more than a year in advance based on inflation rates at the time, the cost of living may have risen before they arrive in Cambridge. Living costs for international students and for those who choose to stay in Cambridge during the vacation periods will be higher. See International fees and costs for more details.
The table below gives an indication of typical student living costs at Cambridge. The weekly accommodation cost will vary across the 29 undergraduate Colleges and you should allow for increases in subsequent years.
|
Living Costs 2022-23 |
|
|---|---|
|
Accommodation |
£130-£200 per week1 |
|
College meals |
£4-£7 per meal |
|
Additional course costs |
Dependent on course (see below) |
|
Transport in Cambridge |
Cheap or free! |
Accommodation
Most Colleges offer a range of accommodation to suit your preference and affordability. The table above details the median weekly rent across our 29 undergraduate Colleges. The weekly rent and the length of your accommodation contract will vary depending on your College choice – minimum contract lengths in 2022-23 range from 27 to 39 weeks. Please see individual College websites for details about accommodation costs, contract lengths and additional charges.
See the Accommodation webpage for general information about accommodation.
Food
Colleges provide basic self-catering facilities as well as cafeterias/dining halls. Some levy a separate charge towards the running costs of the College kitchens – a Kitchen Fixed Charge which ranges from £258 to £625 per year in those Colleges that make such a charge. Some Colleges also have a minimum meal charge, which is paid in advance and provides credit for meals bought in College (see individual College websites for details).
- Individual meals typically cost £4-£7.
- Many Colleges have regular 'formal halls' (three-course dinners) that are also great value, usually at around £10-£16 at most Colleges.
Additional course costs
These costs are in addition to tuition fees and living costs and will vary depending on your course but may include you having to pay for your own:
- personally-owned equipment (eg calculator, lab coat)
- printing
- study materials (eg paper, pens, books)
- travel costs (eg field or dissertation research trips)
The University’s numerous libraries and IT facilities help to keep your costs down, and many Colleges and some departments offer grants to help with particular costs (see individual College and department websites for details).
You can find specific details of additional course costs on the relevant course entries.
Personal expenses and transport
What you spend on food, clothing, transport etc depends on your lifestyle. However, there are lots of free recreational facilities plus loads of College-based and student-run activities that don’t cost very much. What’s more, Cambridge is a small place so transport is cheap or free – most students walk or cycle and there’s a ‘Universal’ bus service that offers discounted fares to students.
College fees
Unlike overseas fee status students and Islands students (from the Channel Islands and Isle of Man), Home fee status students who are eligible for public support don't normally have to pay an additional College fee, unless they're studying for a second undergraduate degree (affiliated students). More information about College fees is given on the international fees and costs webpage.
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1 Figures based on the median room costs for first year undergraduate students in 2022-23. Students should allow for price increases in subsequent years of study. A choice of shared bathroom and en suite rooms is not available at all Colleges and figures do not include any deposits that may apply. Costs have been rounded up to the nearest £10. Please see individual College websites for further details.
2 Figures rounded up to the nearest £10.