Living costs and discounts

It's a good idea to work out a budget based on the money you have coming in and out. You may need to check this regularly in case anything changes or you're spending more than expected. You can use an online budget calculator such as the Money Helper budget calculator or the UCAS budget helper. Money Saving Expert offer a guide to making a budget.

• Do not let bills pile up or ignore them – if you are unable to make the necessary payments, try negotiating special terms with your creditors or seek advice from a debt advice organisation such as StepChange.
• The Demotivator - A fun tool to show you just how much you spend on non-essentials, and to stop you spending when you can’t afford it.
• Is it safe to buy now, pay later? - from Save the Student

Your monthly living costs in London will vary depending on your lifestyle, spending habits, which area you live in and how often you need to use public transport.

Rent and accommodation costs

Your rent and accommodation costs depend on whether you live in SOAS or private accommodation. See details and full costs of SOAS's student accommodation. 

Council Tax

Each household in Great Britain has to pay Council Tax. Most students don't have to pay, but you must check the rules. If you don't have to pay, you need to let your local council know.

Transport

The cheapest way to get around London is on foot or by bike. Check out how to hire a bike with Santander Cycles or plan a walking route with the Citymapper app. 

Transport for London tells you all you need to know about public transport.

To save money on transport costs, get an 18+ Student Oyster card. This will give you Save 30% on adult-rate Travelcards, and Bus and Tram Pass season tickets..

Add a 16-25 Railcard to your Oyster card to get a discount on off-peak, pay-as-you-go fares. This railcard is also available to full-time students who are over 25 years old.

Food

Cooking your meals at home and making a packed lunch is usually cheaper than eating out. There are lots of resources to help you cook your own meals on a budget.

Compare food prices to find the best deals. London is full of supermarkets, so you can shop around for bargains. You’ll usually find a food market in your local area, where you can pick up cheap fruit and vegetables.

Always ask if a student discount is available when eating out or ordering takeaway meals.

Other costs

As well as essential expenses like rent, you’ll also need to budget for non-essential costs such as:

• mobile phone
• clothes, haircuts, personal grooming
• going out and socialising
• hobbies
• exercise classes, gym membership
• subscription services, like Netflix, Adobe and Spotify
• holidays
• gifts

Materials for your course will vary depending on the materials and techniques you use. As well as any course-specific materials, the following digital kit list is recommended for all SOAS courses. 

We suggest waiting until you’re notified you’re eligible to enrol before purchasing your course kit:

1. Laptop or desktop computer (Mac or PC)
2. Stable internet connection
3. Ear/headphones which work with your laptop or desktop – preferably with an inbuilt microphone

• 16-25 Railcard (formerly Young Person's Railcard) – 34% discount on off-peak rail fares when added to your 18+ Student Oyster card.
• TOTUM card (formerly NUS) and UNIDAYS discount – give you money off shops, bars, restaurants and cinemas.
• ISIC card – loads of student discounts worldwide.
• ArtFund Student Art Pass – save on entry to 100s of museums and galleries.