International Students - Fees and Finance
Within the University, we have a great deal of experience of working with International Students and as such we understand how much of an investment it is to study in the UK. We are also aware that at first it can be difficult to manage your finances accordingly when moving to a different country. We therefore want to ensure that you have the most detailed and accurate information regarding all the costs which you may encounter during your time in Cardiff.
It is important that you have enough money to pay for your tuition fees and your living expenses for the whole of your course at Cardiff Metropolitan University. Any earnings from part time work should be seen as additional spending money and should not be factored into your budget for tuition fees or accommodation fees.
Please also bear in mind that you will be unable to obtain any money from the University or any other UK organisations once you arrive. For the majority of nationalities, UKVI will ask to see proof that you have the necessary finances to cover fees and living expenses before you can be granted a visa.
Like all other UK universities, all tuition and accommodation fees must be paid in full to the University whilst you are studying with us. If you do not do this, it could impact the continuation of your studies and you will be unable to graduate from your course or gain a certificate for your studies. However, it is possible to pay your fees in instalments if you are not able to pay them in full when you begin your course.
Deposit Payments
International fee-paying students are required to pay a tuition fee deposit, as outlined in their official offer letter, in order to secure their place on a course. The deposit amount will be specified in the offer letter and must be paid by the stated deadline.
Details of the payment methods for the University can be found on our Payments pages.
International Student Courses Fees
| Undergraduate Courses | Length | Course Fee 2026/27 |
| Undergraduate Degree | 3-4 years | £16,000 per year |
| Top-Up Degree | 1 year | £16,000 |
| Postgraduate Courses | Length | Course Fee 2026/27 |
| Postgraduate Masters Degree | 1-2 years | £17,600 |
| Postgraduate Doctoral Degree | Varies | £17,600 per year |
| Other Courses | Length | Course Fee 2026/27 |
| MBA | 1 year | £19,500 |
| PGCE | 1 year | £14,000 |
A small number of courses have additional costs, which are mandatory or optional expenses, additional to tuition fees, that need to be paid for by students to fully participate and complete their studies.
The university's full Fee and Debt Management Policy can be found on our Policy Hub in the Finance section.
Helping you achieve: Scholarships available at Cardiff Met
We believe all students deserve the opportunity to enhance their career prospects, irrespective of their financial situation. That's why we offer a range of undergraduate and postgraduate scholarships and studentships to support our International students.
For full information please visit our International Scholarship page.
Paying the Balance of Tuition Fees
Whilst you are a student at Cardiff Metropolitan University, it is your responsibility to ensure that your tuition and accommodation fees are paid on time.
Please visit Fees and Finance FAQs for further information regarding instalment options.
You can use this tool to calculate your tuition fee payment plan.
WARNING – DO NOT MAKE YOUR TUITION FEE PAYMENTS VIA A THIRD PARTY PROVIDER
Making a tuition fee payment via a currency agent or third party who claims that they will pay your tuition fees on your behalf at a favourable exchange rate, could cost you double the amount of your tuition fees.
Cardiff Met is seeing an increasing number of students who have paid their tuition fees to an organisation claiming to offer very good exchange rates. The organisation then keeps the students’ money and uses stolen credit cards to attempt to pay the fees to the university.
When the owners of the stolen credit cards contact the university, the money is refunded back to their cards as the payments have not been authorised by the account holder. Students who think they have paid their fees must then find more funds to cover their tuition fees.
PLEASE DO NOT TRUST THESE ORGANISATIONS. We recommend that you pay your fees directly to the university to prevent you becoming a victim of fraud and having to find additional funds to pay for your tuition.
Frequently Asked Questions
Please visit the Payments page for all payment methods accepted by the University.
Upon receipt of your payment, Cardiff Metropolitan University will send a message via your CAS Shield account, to confirm the amount of money received by the University. Instructions on how to create an account on CAS Shield which will be sent to you via email.
To pay your tuition fee balance, please use one of the payment methods listed on the Make a Payment pages.
It is important that you arrange your finances before you arrive in the UK to ensure that you are able to make payments on time. As with other UK universities, Cardiff Met has a regulation that all tuition fees must be paid in full whilst you are studying at the University or else you will not be permitted to graduate from your course and gain a certificate for your academic achievements.
If you do not pay your fees on time, you will receive letters from the Finance Office and may be prevented from continuing with your studies or re-enrolling onto the next phase of your course until your fees are paid. If you find yourself in a situation where you are unable to pay your fees, you may be advised to suspend your studies until you are in a position to clear all outstanding debts to the University. Please note, any change to an international student’s status at the university must be reported to UK Visas and Immigration, which may consequently result in a curtailment/cancellation of their visa. For further advice about fees and related immigration matters, please see the University Debtor Policy or contact the International Student Support Team at intstudentadvice@cardiffmet.ac.uk.
Eligibility for a refund will be assessed on a case by case basis. For full terms and conditions, please read the International Student Refund Terms and Conditions.
For further enquiries about refunds please email internationalrefund@cardiffmet.ac.uk.
It is essential that you have enough funds to pay for your fees and your living expenses for the whole of your course at Cardiff Met. The cost of living in Cardiff is not as expensive as living in many other large cities in Britain. UKVI advise that students should ensure they have sufficient funds to cover their living expenses whilst studying in the UK, although it is recommended that you prepare more money for at least the first few months, as you settle into your accommodation and purchase essential items such as travel passes.
We recommend you have a look at this budgeting tool to help you understand how much money you will need for living expenses in addition to your tuition fees.
When considering how to bring your money to the UK, it is important that you take security into consideration. You should ensure that you bring a small amount of cash only to pay for any incidentals on arrival such as a taxi/bus fare, however it is recommended that you bring a MasterCard or Visa debit/credit card with you as a large number of organisations and shops, including Cardiff Met, only accept card payments.
The answer to this is normally yes, however it will depend on the type of visa you are granted. Any earnings from part time work should be seen as additional spending money and should not be factored into your budget for tuition fees or accommodation fees.
It is usual practice for universities to classify asylum seekers as international students for tuition fee purposes, due to their temporary residency status. However, in order to make higher education more affordable, Cardiff Metropolitan University is very pleased to confirm that asylum seekers (who have not received a scholarship) will be charged the same fee as local students, rather than the higher international student fees.