Studying for an undergraduate degree can be costly, so it’s important that you’re equipped with the information about these costs in advance.
Costs fall into three main categories:
- Tuition fees
- Maintenance costs
- College charges
Student Finance at Cambridge University
Tuition fees
- You will pay your Tuition fees annually for each year of your course.
- The amount that you pay depends on your fee status and on whether you have studied at degree level before.
- Your fee status depends on your nationality, where you live and how long you have lived there.
- Your fee status will be assessed during the admissions process. If you are made an offer, your offer letter will outline whether you have been assessed as having home fees status or overseas fee status.
View the comprehensive guide from the UK Council for International Student Affairs which contains all the situations where a student is considered to have home fees status.
Fee Status
Home Fee Status
- Tuition fees are determined by the UK Government.
- The fee is £9,535 per year for those studying their first degree (2025-2026 academic year)
- The fee is £12,876 per year for those studying for an additional degree (2025-2026 academic year) in addition to the College fee of £12,980 (2025/2026 academic year)
- 2026–2027 fees have not yet been set.
Overseas Fee Status
- Your tuition fee will depend on the course you are studying. Up-to-date figures can be found on the University of Cambridge Tuition fees Undergraduate Study page.
- Overseas students will pay an additional £12,980 College fee (2025/2026 academic year)
Maintenance costs
Maintenance costs, or living costs, are the expenses that you are likely to incur while living in Cambridge studying for your degree.
The University of Cambridge recommends that an undergraduate student budget £1,240 for living expenses each month. This includes money for food, rent, social activities, study costs and personal items. If you’re staying in Cambridge for term time (approximately nine months), you would need around £11,160 for the year. If you’re staying for the full year, including during vacation time, you would need around £14,880.
A detailed breakdown of likely expenses can be found on the University of Cambridge living costs page.
