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A postgraduate degree lets you explore your subject at a deeper level and can help you to stand out in the tough job market. It all comes at a cost though, so we’ve put together a list of unis offering the lowest tuition fees for UK students studying a taught master’s degree. Featuring unis from England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, it shows you don’t need to go far to find affordable tuition.

Why do some subjects cost more?

When you study an undergraduate degree, the only difference in the fee you pay comes down to which nation you’re from. The subject you study makes no difference. If you’re from England and study Medicine, you’ll pay £9,250 per year. If you are from England and study English Literature, you also pay £9,250 per year.

The same does not apply to postgraduate tuition.

Clinical courses like Medicine, Dentistry and Vet Science cost far more to run than other subjects. They may need more contact time with lecturers, increasing staffing costs. Students also expect to learn using the latest simulation facilities.

Similarly, ‘lab’ courses like engineering and science must pay for precision equipment and skilled technicians to support students’ learning.

Least expensive are the ‘classroom’ courses. These are subjects like History or English – humanities, languages and social sciences. Students studying these subjects may only get lectures, meaning fewer staff may be required – saving the uni money.

So, at postgraduate level, tuition fees can more accurately reflect the cost of the subject. If you want to find affordable tuition fees, courses like English or Creative Writing MAs are often the cheapest. MScs in science and engineering generally cost more.

But courses aren’t always priced according to their cost. MBA courses often charge higher tuition fees than business degrees run as an MA or MSc, due to their popularity.

In the end, it’s up to the university how they price their courses. In our research we came across some institutions where all the courses we checked had the same tuition fee. This could be in the hope of attracting more applications to balance out the cost of expensive subjects. At these institutions, you really can study an MSc in Biological Science for the price of an MA in English Literature.

Why do postgraduate fees keep rising?

In recent years, university costs have risen. Unis must invest in the latest technology and provide support to ensure students get the best outcomes. Postgraduate students also want the benefit of the latest research, and your tuition fees may help to subsidise research at your university.

At the same time, some of the main income sources for universities have not risen in line with costs. This includes:

• UK undergraduate tuition fees being capped
• UK government funding cuts for undergraduate tuition
• UK research funding being squeezed

Publicly funded unis aren’t allowed to increase their tuition fees for undergraduates. However, they can set their own tuition fees for postgraduate study.

And while tuition fees for international students have always cost more, UK postgrad fees have increased at a higher rate. We ran a survey of UK university tuition fees for 15 years until 2021. In that time, UK postgraduate fees rose by 129% when compared with the average fee in 2006. International student fees grew by an average of 87% over the same period.

Top tips to find affordable postgraduate tuition

The following tips can help you to find the unis with the most affordable master’s:

• Rankings – top ranking unis can charge a premium, knowing that students are willing to pay what they charge because of their reputation. Look further down our league tables and you’re likely to find institutions offering lower tuition fees. Even universities with a good reputation don’t excel in every subject they offer, so it’s always worth shopping around. Check our subject tables to see how they compare.
• London factor – the capital isn’t the place to find inexpensive tuition as running costs are higher. However, some London unis will have lower fees than unis elsewhere.
• Specialists – small and specialist institutions have only a small pool of students to help cover their costs. They may not be able to offer discounted tuition fees.
• Online courses – if you don’t have to study your subject in person, see if you can find a course online. Online tuition is nearly always cheaper.
• Scholarships – don’t forget to check whether funding is available. Our university profiles have a section on student support, where unis can list their postgraduate scholarships. Alumni often get a discount, but you may need to progress straight into postgraduate study to benefit.

Below is our list of the top ten most affordable unis for postgraduate study in 2024. These are for UK students studying a full-time, one-year taught master’s degree at one of our league table universities. If you’re not sure whether you’ll be charged home/UK fees, check our guide on student finance eligibility.

=10. Liverpool Hope University

Lowest fee: £7,500

Tying in tenth place for the most inexpensive master’s fee are four universities.

Liverpool Hope has often been in our top ten unis for the best UK postgraduate fees. This year the uni’s fees range from £7,500–£13,000, with the lowest prices for MAs. Whether you choose Creative Music Practice or Disability Studies, the uni’s master’s degrees are underpinned by the expertise and research of academic staff.

Search through postgraduate courses at Liverpool Hope University.

=10. University of Sunderland

Lowest fee: £7,500

At Sunderland, humanities and social sciences have the most affordable master’s fees at £7,500. We found this price for MAs in Childhood and Youth Studies, Education, Journalism, and Law LLM, among others. Employers are involved in course design and lecturers have close links to their sector. You’ll gain workplace skills and knowledge to help you towards your future career and make your investment in master’s study worthwhile.

Search through postgraduate courses at the University of Sunderland.

=10. University of the West of Scotland

Lowest fee: £7,500

Four unis from Scotland make our top ten – but then the Scots have a reputation for being good (or careful) with money. Unfortunately for students from the rest of the UK (RUK), the cheapest fees at this uni are only available to students from Scotland. Scottish students could study a Big Data MSc or Creative Media Practice MA for £7,500 – those from RUK will need to pay more.

Search through postgraduate courses at the University of the West of Scotland.

=10. University of Wales Trinity Saint David

Lowest fee: £7,500

£7,500 is what you’ll pay to study a sports or exercise MA at UWTSD. Other master’s degrees at this uni cost slightly more, at £7,800. However, £7,800 is also the price for their MBA, making UWTSD the cheapest place in the UK to study a one-year MBA on campus. Locations include London and Birmingham as well as Swansea and other campuses across south Wales.

Search through postgraduate courses at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David.

=8. Glasgow Caledonian University

Lowest fee: £7,300

Unlike some other Scottish unis, Glasgow Caledonian doesn’t differentiate between Scotland and the rest of the UK, charging all UK students the same postgraduate rate. Fees do vary between subjects, but it’s not a simple distinction between MA and MSc. We found an MSc Medical Bioscience at £7,300 and an MA in Multimedia Journalism at the higher rate of £8,900. Courses have a real-world, practical focus, and may include professional accreditation.

Search through postgraduate courses at Glasgow Caledonian University.

=8. Queen's University Belfast

Lowest fee: £7,300

It’s always worth checking the prices at higher ranking institutions. Queen’s ranks 25^th in our 2025 league table, so it came as a surprise to find this Russell Group uni offering fees as low as £7,300 for a master’s degree. The catch is that you must be a resident of Northern Ireland or the Republic of Ireland to get this price. Still, fees for other UK students are also reasonable, at £9,250. And you’ll get to enjoy the craic of a good night out in Belfast during your studies! A number of MAs are available at this price, including the MA Arts Management.

Search through postgraduate courses at Queen's University Belfast.

7. Edinburgh Napier University

Lowest fee: £7,280

Master’s fees at Edinburgh Napier are the same for all UK students but vary by subject. At the lowest rate of £7,280 there’s plenty to choose from, including an MSc in Advanced Security and Digital Forensics and an MA in Writing Popular Fiction. The uni’s interdisciplinary approach to teaching means you can learn from other relevant specialisms alongside your own.

Search through postgraduate courses at Edinburgh Napier University.

6. Ulster University

Lowest fee: £7,000

Northern Ireland is clearly a good place to check for affordable master’s fees. In the case of Ulster University, the same fees apply to students from Great Britain as well as those from Northern Ireland. You’ll find many master’s degrees at this price – from English Literature MA to Artificial Intelligence MSc. Some of Ulster’s MScs charge more, but with fees of £7,350 for many of these, they’re still lower than some other unis in our top ten.

Search through postgraduate courses at Ulster University.

5. Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh

Lowest fee: £6,825

At Queen Margaret, the cheapest fees are reserved for arts and media courses. Most of QMU's courses focus on practical work experience, and many offer the option of a hands-on project rather than a dissertation. For instance, the MA in Arts, Festival and Cultural Management makes the most of the uni’s proximity to Edinburgh. Students on this course can benefit from internships offered by the likes of the Edinburgh International Festival and the Lyceum Theatre, among others.

Search through postgraduate courses at Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh.

4. University of Cumbria

Lowest fee: £6,720

The University of Cumbria may not offer the widest range of subjects, but fees for most full-time master’s degrees are inexpensive. Some courses capitalise on the uni’s idyllic location in the heart of England’s Lake District. These include the MA in Outdoor and Experiential Learning and the MA in Literature, Romanticism and the English Lake District, both offered at the uni’s Ambleside campus.

Search through postgraduate courses at the University of Cumbria.

3. Teesside University, Middlesbrough

Lowest fee: £6,710

As well as reasonable fees, students at Teesside also benefit from a new postgraduate facility, with spaces for individual and collaborative study. Alumni get 20% more off fees, making your master’s qualification all the more affordable. £6,710 is what you’ll pay for a ‘standard’ full-time taught MA or MSc – this includes the International Management MSc. ‘Enhanced’ master’s cost more, but at only £7,365 they come well within the range of our top ten fees.

Search through postgraduate courses at Teesside University, Middlesbrough.

2. Leeds Trinity University

Lowest fee: £6,000

Most of the MAs offered by Leeds Trinity have the low price of £6,000, making it one of the most affordable unis for full-time master’s study in the UK. A number of these courses focus on education and wellbeing. They include the MA Childhood and Education, MA in Family Support and MA Mental Health in Children and Young People. Gain a postgraduate qualification from here and you could go on to make a real difference in society.

Search through postgraduate courses at Leeds Trinity University.

1. Wrexham University

Lowest fee: £5,940

Wrexham University has the best price for a full-time one-year master’s degree in the UK, with the tuition fee of £5,940 for most of its MA and MSc qualifications. Wrexham prides itself on the personal approach, promising tailored support and a close-knit community. You’ll also benefit from modern research facilities and the chance to participate in projects that make a real difference.

Search through postgraduate courses at Wrexham University.