How to budget for Cambridge in 2027–28
Cambridge costs depend first on your fee status, course and College. A useful budget keeps four figures separate: University tuition, any College fee, living expenses, and costs connected with travel, settling in or immigration. A headline tuition amount is not a total cost of attendance, and Cambridge's living-cost estimate is not the amount required for a visa application. The figures below are scoped to undergraduate entry in 2027 and Cambridge's 2027–28 living-cost guidance; postgraduate programmes have their own fee pages and should not be priced from these tables.
Home-status undergraduate tuition
Cambridge lists £10,050 as the tuition fee for a Home fee-status student starting a first undergraduate degree in 2027. The University says fees are subject to inflationary increases in later years and that enrolled students will be notified by June before the next academic year. The £10,050 figure is therefore the published 2027 entry rate, not a promise that every year of a multi-year course will remain at that amount.
Fee status is a legal classification assessed under current rules, not simply a synonym for citizenship or residence. Cambridge directs students who are unsure to its fee-status guidance. Some EU, EEA and Swiss nationals may qualify for Home status if they meet the relevant legislative and residency rules, while others will be assessed as international/overseas. Check your own category with the University before estimating tuition or assuming access to UK student finance. The University notes that Home status alone does not guarantee eligibility for financial support.
The standard Home first-degree amount does not necessarily apply to affiliated students taking a second undergraduate degree or to all course arrangements. Cambridge says a year abroad has a different tuition basis; its general guidance says the Home fee for a full year abroad is currently set at 15% of the fee for that year in Cambridge, with later-year rates subject to change. Check the specific course and the 2027–28 fee document before applying this rule to a programme.
International undergraduate tuition by course group
For 2027 entry, Cambridge groups international undergraduate courses by subject and publishes annual tuition rates fixed for the duration of the course. The five groups are:
The examples are not a substitute for checking the exact course row. Course names and group assignments matter: the published table places courses in named groups, and the fee must be read against the programme you will actually take. Cambridge states that international tuition fees are per year and fixed for the duration of the course for 2027 entry. It also notes that fees for 2028 entry will be published no later than 1 October 2027, so a later intake should use the updated table rather than carrying forward the 2027 rates.
Some international courses include a year abroad or a change in the course taken during a clinical year. Cambridge's guidance says international students undertaking a year abroad pay 50% of the full University tuition fee during that year. It separately explains that the fee for Year 3 of Medicine or Veterinary Medicine corresponds to the course taken that year and is determined by the fee for that course in the year the student enrolled in the pre-clinical portion. Check course-specific instructions because these rules do not create a single universal total for every degree.
College fees and other annual charges
International or overseas fee-status undergraduates normally pay an annual College fee in addition to University tuition. The College fee covers educational, domestic and pastoral services and support, and Cambridge says amounts may vary between Colleges; in many cases they are fixed for the course duration. The 2027–28 College-fee amounts are published in the University's undergraduate tuition-fees document. Since the amount depends on the College, adding a general College-fee estimate to the group tuition table could misstate an applicant's bill. Check the chosen College's row in the document and confirm whether the fee is fixed for the intended course.
The University describes international costs as tuition, College fees and living expenses. New students should also allow for arrival and settling-in costs such as visa expenses, travel and equipment. Course-specific materials or activities can create additional costs; consult the course entry and relevant department for those details. Cambridge's financial information says that international applicants may be asked for financial guarantees by Colleges, so confirm what evidence is needed and when rather than treating the fee table as the only financial requirement.
Living costs for 2027–28
Cambridge's indicative undergraduate living-cost estimate for 2027–28 is £1,330 per month. Its breakdown is £880 accommodation, £255 food, £75 personal items, £85 social activities, £10 study costs and £25 miscellaneous expenses. The University estimates around £11,970 for nine months and £15,960 for twelve months. Most students are in Cambridge during term time for approximately nine months, but a student who remains through vacations should plan for the longer period.
These amounts are estimates, not fixed charges. Cambridge says the figures account for projected inflation for 2027–28, were calculated in May 2026 using the Bank of England inflation forecast available then, are rounded to the nearest £10, and are intended to be reviewed the following November. Actual spending depends on lifestyle and accommodation. Colleges offer different housing options and contract lengths; check individual College costs, deposits, meal prices, utility arrangements and kitchen charges before comparing offers. A shorter accommodation contract may help avoid paying rent for a full year, but availability and terms vary by College.
Student visa funds are a different calculation
For a Student visa, GOV.UK says the applicant may need to show funds for one academic year's course fees, using the amount on the Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies, plus living-cost funds set by the location of study. The current government page lists £1,171 per month for up to nine months for courses outside London. Where the requirement applies, the funds must generally have been held for 28 consecutive days, with the end of that period within 31 days before the application. Exemptions and differential-evidence rules apply to some applicants, so use the live GOV.UK guidance for your own situation.
The visa maintenance amount is not Cambridge's estimate of what a student will actually spend. For 2027–28, Cambridge's monthly estimate of £1,330 exceeds the current £1,171 visa figure. Use the visa rules to check documentary eligibility, but use Cambridge's budget estimate and your College's charges to plan affordability. Do not replace the course fee amount on your CAS with an average or assume that the visa minimum covers all expenses.
Build a course-specific total
For a Home-status student beginning a first undergraduate degree in 2027, begin with the published £10,050 tuition rate, then add living costs for the months you expect to spend in Cambridge, course-specific expenses and personal travel. For an international student, identify the course's 2027 tuition group, add the chosen College's annual fee, then add living costs and arrival or visa expenses. If the course includes a year abroad, clinical year, or other special fee arrangement, use the official course and fee document rather than multiplying the headline rate blindly.
Before accepting an offer, make a year-by-year budget. Record the tuition basis, College fee, whether each value is fixed or subject to increases, the likely accommodation contract, the months you will be in Cambridge, and any scholarship or sponsor support that has actually been confirmed. Then compare this total with available funding and any visa evidence requirements. Cambridge's tables are strong planning inputs, but only your own course, fee status and College can resolve the final amount.