£11,400 to £38,000 per year
International undergraduate range
After HSC, check whether the university offers direct admission or asks for a foundation year first. Confirm subject prerequisites, English evidence and the total course length.
Study in the UK from Bangladesh
Tuition, living costs, the visa process, scholarships and work rights, checked against GOV.UK, Study UK and university pages.
Not sure where to start? Get a free study assessmentLast updated 29 September 2026Figures checked against official UK sources, listed at the end
About the UK: highlights
The UK is one of the most established study routes for Bangladeshi students, with shorter degrees than most destinations and a two-year work visa after graduation. Rules changed in 2025 and 2026, so plan around the current figures below rather than older advice.
- Rough annual budget: about £22,000 to £55,000 a year, combining the international tuition range (£11,400 to £38,000) with Study UK’s living-cost range (£900 to £1,400 a month).
- Money to show for the visa: one academic year of tuition plus £1,529 a month in London or £1,171 elsewhere, for up to 9 months, held for 28 days in a row.
- Visa costs: £558 application fee plus the Immigration Health Surcharge of £776 for each year of your visa, paid upfront.
- Work while studying: up to 20 hours a week in term time and full time in official vacations, for degree-level students.
- After graduation: the Graduate Route gives 2 years (3 after a PhD) if you apply before 1 January 2027, then 18 months for non-PhD graduates.
- Visa outlook: roughly 26% of Bangladeshi sponsored study applications were refused in Q4 2025 to Q1 2026, so a clean financial history matters.
Key facts about the UK
Studying in the UK
3 yearsTypical bachelor’s in England (4 in Scotland)
1 yearTypical taught master’s
20 hrs/weekWork allowed in term time
2 yearsGraduate Route work visa
Country stats
LondonCapital
Pound sterling (£)Currency
EnglishMain teaching language
5 to 6 hoursDhaka is ahead of UK time (5 in UK summer, 6 in winter)
Weather and community
About 7°CLondon average in January
About 19°CLondon average in July, with rain all year
Tower HamletsOne of the largest Bangladeshi communities outside Bangladesh
Birmingham, Manchester, OldhamOther large Bangladeshi communities
Why study in the UK?
Shorter degrees
- A 3-year bachelor’s and a 1-year master’s mean fewer years of tuition and rent.
- You can finish a master’s and start the Graduate Route within about 15 months.
Work rights during and after
- 20 hours a week in term, full time in vacations.
- Graduate Route: any job, any skill level, no employer sponsor needed.
An established pathway
- Manchester alone has around 104 Bangladeshi students on campus.
- Many universities publish Bangladesh-specific entry guidance.
Cost of studying in the UK
Your total cost has three parts: tuition, monthly living costs, and one-off costs you pay in Bangladesh before you travel. Figures below are official ranges and averages, not a quote for your course.
Annual tuition by study level
£9,000 to £30,000 per year
International postgraduate range; most taught master’s last 1 year
After a recognised bachelor’s degree, compare subject match, grades, work experience, English evidence and whether the course is taught or research based.
Check the research programme
The postgraduate range is not a PhD quote; fees and funding vary
Find a research question and a potential supervisor, then confirm the proposal, academic record, language, funding and tuition. A supervisor conversation is not an offer or a scholarship.
Monthly living costs
Study UK’s published averages for one student without dependants. Pick your accommodation type, then add the shared items. Totals line up with Study UK’s range of £900 to £1,300 a month outside London and £1,300 to £1,400 in London.
| Monthly expense | London | Rest of UK |
|---|---|---|
| Student halls (non-catered, bills included) | £848 | £664 |
| Private room in a shared house (bills extra) | £750 | £554 |
| Household bills, if renting privately | £140 | £80 |
| Groceries | £155 | £116 |
| Socialising (eating out, cafés) | £150 | £80 |
| Public transport | £103 | £54 |
| Mobile (SIM-only) | £18 | £18 |
| Student gym membership | £20 | £15 |
The visa’s £1,529 (London) and £1,171 (elsewhere) monthly figures are the legal minimum you must show, not a real budget. Rent alone often takes most of it.
One-off costs before you travel
Most of these are paid in Bangladesh before you reach the UK.
| Cost | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| IELTS Academic | ৳31,100 | Computer-delivered price from 4 September 2026 |
| IELTS for UKVI (SELT) | ৳34,850 | Only if your university does not assess your English itself |
| Tuberculosis (TB) test | US $78 | Paid in BDT at an IOM clinic in Gulshan, Sylhet or Chittagong; valid 6 months |
| Visa application fee | £558 | Paid online when you apply |
| Immigration Health Surcharge | £776 per year | Paid upfront for the whole visa; a 3-year course adds about £2,328 |
| VFS Global Dhaka service fee | £55 | For using the Gulshan-2 visa application centre |
| ATAS certificate | Free | Only for certain master’s and PhD subjects |
Calculate your UK study cost
Universities in the UK
Researched starting points, not a complete list or a ranking. Check the exact course and intake on the university’s own website.
University of Manchester
Manchester, England- Type
- Public, Russell Group
- Bangladeshi students
- About 104 on campus
- English proof
- Test needed; prior English-medium study not accepted
University of Sheffield
Sheffield, England- Type
- Public, Russell Group
- Bangladesh guidance
- Country-specific entry page
- Postgraduate entry
- Depends on your previous university and course
UK scholarships for Bangladeshi students
Three UK government-backed awards that list Bangladesh as eligible. All are for master’s study and are highly competitive.
Chevening Scholarship
UK government (FCDO)
- Covers
- Fully funded
- Deadline
- 6 Oct 2026, 11:00 UTC
- Level
- 1-year master’s
- Intake
- 2027-28
Needs 2 years’ work experience (2,800 hours) after your degree and 3 UK course applications. You must return to Bangladesh for 2 years afterwards.
View on official site ↗Commonwealth Master’s
Commonwealth Scholarship Commission
- Covers
- Tuition, airfare, £1,712/month
- Deadline
- 20 Oct 2026, 16:00 BST
- Level
- Taught master’s
- Intake
- Sep/Oct 2027
Apply through CSC Central and a national nominating agency. The stipend is £2,000 a month in London. You cannot switch to the Graduate Route.
View on official site ↗GREAT Scholarships
British Council and UK universities
- Covers
- £10,000 off tuition
- Deadline
- Set by each university
- Level
- 1-year taught postgraduate
- Awards
- 140+ at 60+ universities
Bangladesh is one of 18 eligible countries for 2026-27. Each university lists its own subjects and application route.
View on official site ↗UK student visa from Bangladesh
You apply for the Student visa after your university issues a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS). Bangladesh is not on the list of countries excused from showing financial evidence, so expect to submit full bank records.
£558Visa application fee
£776/yearHealth surcharge, paid upfront
~3 weeksTypical decision time from outside the UK
6 monthsEarliest you can apply before your course
£13,761Living funds to show for London (9 × £1,529)
£10,539Living funds to show outside London (9 × £1,171)
Documents required
Document checklist
- Valid passport
- Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS)
- Proof of money1 year of tuition plus living funds, held 28 days
- Tuberculosis test certificateNeeded for Bangladesh, from an IOM clinic
- English test resultIf your university asks for a SELT
- ATAS certificateOnly for certain master’s and PhD subjects
- Sponsor’s written consentIf a sponsor paid your fees in the last 12 months
- Parental consent and birth certificateOnly if you are under 18
Step by step from Bangladesh
- Get your CAS
Your university issues it after you accept your offer and meet any conditions. It carries a reference number the Home Office checks.
- Prove your English
Sit IELTS or another accepted test if your university requires it. If you need a visa-specific SELT, book IELTS for UKVI, not standard IELTS Academic.
- Book your TB test early
Go to an IOM Migration Health Assessment Centre in Gulshan, Sylhet or Chittagong. The certificate is valid for 6 months, so do not take it too early either.
- Hold your funds for 28 days
Keep one year of outstanding tuition plus the living-funds figure in your own or a parent’s account for 28 days in a row, ending within 31 days of applying. Avoid large last-minute deposits.
- Apply online and pay
Complete the GOV.UK application, pay the £558 fee and the health surcharge for the whole visa, then book an appointment.
- Give biometrics at VFS Global Dhaka
The centre is in Gulshan-2. Bring your passport, CAS, TB certificate and financial documents, and pay the £55 service fee.
- Wait for the decision
Usually about 3 weeks. A paid priority service can cut this to around 5 working days where available.
- Get your eVisa and travel
You receive an eVisa, not a sticker. Travel up to 1 month before a course longer than 6 months, or 1 week before a shorter one, but never before your visa start date.
Work during and after your studies
20 hrs/weekMaximum in term time
Full timeDuring official vacations
£12.71/hourMinimum wage, age 21+, from April 2026
While you study
Working more than 20 hours in term breaks your visa conditions and can lead to your permission being cut short. Typical student jobs in hospitality or retail pay £10 to £15 an hour, so part-time work covers part of your living costs, not all of them.
After you graduate
The Graduate Route gives 2 years after a bachelor’s or master’s, and 3 after a PhD, if you apply before 1 January 2027. From that date non-PhD graduates get 18 months. You can take any job or be self-employed, and you apply from inside the UK.
UK intakes and deadlines
Main intake
September / October
Most courses start here. For 2027 undergraduate entry, UCAS’s equal-consideration date is 13 January 2027 at 18:00 UK time, and 15 October 2026 for Oxford, Cambridge and most medicine courses.
Smaller intake
January / February
Some universities offer a second start date for selected courses. Check the course page, since fewer programmes and scholarships are available.
Your preparation timeline
- 18 to 12 months before: Research courses, eligibility, funding and scholarship deadlines.
- 12 to 9 months before: Prepare language tests, transcripts, references and your shortlist.
- 9 to 6 months before: Submit applications by each programme’s actual deadline.
- 6 to 3 months before: Meet offer conditions, arrange funding and prepare visa documents.
- 3 to 1 months before: Apply for the visa and plan accommodation and arrival.
Keep these dates separate
A course start date, an application deadline, a document deadline and a scholarship deadline are four different dates. Scholarship deadlines (like Chevening’s in October) are often a year before the course starts.
English tests and exams
Most degrees ask for IELTS Academic 6.0 (undergraduate) or 6.5 (postgraduate), rising to 7.0 or more for competitive courses. Your university’s admission requirement and the visa’s English requirement are two separate checks.
For admission
Each university sets its own accepted tests and scores. Manchester, for example, does not accept earlier English-medium study as proof on its own.
For the visa
If your university does not assess your English itself, you need a Secure English Language Test (SELT) at CEFR B2, for example IELTS for UKVI with at least 5.5 in each skill.
Approved SELT providers outside the UK
IELTS for UKVIPearson PTE (UKVI)LanguageCert SELTPSI Skills for English
Studying engineering, physics, computing or a similar subject at master’s or PhD level? You may also need a free ATAS certificate. Bangladesh is not exempt.
Study in the UK: FAQs
Can I study in the UK after HSC?
Yes, but it depends on the university. Some ask HSC students to complete an international foundation year first, while others accept strong HSC results for direct entry. Check the university’s Bangladesh country page for your exact grades.
How much money do I need to show for a UK student visa?
One academic year of tuition (up to 9 months, as shown on your CAS, minus anything already paid) plus £1,529 a month in London or £1,171 a month elsewhere, for up to 9 months. The money must stay in the account for 28 days in a row, ending within 31 days of your application.
Is IELTS compulsory for a UK student visa?
Not always. If your university assesses your English itself for a degree-level course, you may not need a separate SELT for the visa. Many universities still ask for IELTS or a similar test for admission.
Do I need a TB test as a Bangladeshi applicant?
Yes, if your course is longer than 6 months. Book it at an IOM Migration Health Assessment Centre in Gulshan, Sylhet or Chittagong. It costs around US $78 for applicants aged 11 and over, paid in BDT, and the certificate is valid for 6 months.
What is the visa refusal rate for Bangladeshi applicants?
About 26% of Bangladeshi sponsored study visa applications were refused in Q4 2025 to Q1 2026, according to ICEF Monitor. A steady financial history and a clear academic plan matter more than before.
Can I bring my family on a Student visa?
Only if you are a government-sponsored student on a course of 6 months or more, or a full-time PhD or other research-based postgraduate on a course of 9 months or more. Most bachelor’s and taught master’s students cannot bring dependants.
Can I work while studying in the UK?
Degree-level students can usually work up to 20 hours a week in term time and full time during official vacations. Your exact limit is printed on your visa, and breaking it can cost you your visa.
Are university admission and the visa the same decision?
No. The university decides your admission; UK Visas and Immigration decides your visa. An offer or a CAS does not guarantee a visa.
Guides to help you apply
Official sources
- GOV.UK: Student visa ↗Checked 2026-09-26 · next review 2026-10-26
- GOV.UK: money you need ↗Checked 2026-09-29 · next review 2026-10-29
- GOV.UK: documents you’ll need ↗Checked 2026-09-29 · next review 2026-10-29
- GOV.UK: knowledge of English ↗Checked 2026-09-29 · next review 2026-10-29
- GOV.UK: approved SELT providers ↗Checked 2026-09-29 · next review 2026-10-29
- GOV.UK: ATAS certificate ↗Checked 2026-09-29 · next review 2026-10-29
- GOV.UK: TB test for visa applicants ↗Checked 2026-09-29 · next review 2026-10-29
- GOV.UK: partner and children ↗Checked 2026-09-29 · next review 2026-10-29
- GOV.UK: Immigration Health Surcharge ↗Checked 2026-09-29 · next review 2026-10-29
- GOV.UK: Graduate Route ↗Checked 2026-09-27 · next review 2026-10-27
- Study UK: cost of studying and living ↗Checked 2026-09-29 · next review 2026-10-29
- Study UK: general guidance ↗Checked 2026-09-29 · next review 2026-10-29
- Chevening: Bangladesh ↗Checked 2026-09-29 · next review 2026-10-29
- Chevening: eligibility ↗Checked 2026-09-29 · next review 2026-10-29
- CSC: Commonwealth Master’s Scholarships ↗Checked 2026-09-29 · next review 2026-10-29
- Study UK: GREAT Scholarships ↗Checked 2026-09-29 · next review 2026-10-29
- UCAS: application dates ↗Checked 2026-09-27 · next review 2026-10-27
- IDP Bangladesh: IELTS exam fees ↗Checked 2026-09-29 · next review 2026-10-29
- Manchester: students from Bangladesh ↗Checked 2026-09-29 · next review 2026-10-29
- Manchester: Bangladesh entry guidance ↗Checked 2026-09-26 · next review 2026-10-26
- ICEF Monitor: UK visa refusal rates ↗Checked 2026-09-27 · next review 2026-10-27
These are dated editorial checks, not a live data feed. Recheck the original page before applying or paying.
About this guide. Researched by the Student Visa From Bangladesh editorial team from the official sources above and last checked on 29 September 2026. We are not a university or a government agency, and admission and visa outcomes are never guaranteed. Read our editorial policy.