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When making your university choice, it’s important to find the right course for you but to also consider the practicalities of what you can afford.
London is not a cheap place to live whether you’re a student or not. A simple comparison between Norwich and London shows that:
The cost of living in Norwich is now 44% cheaper than in London
Rent prices in Norwich are 53.7% lower than in London
Restaurant prices in Norwich are 21.4% lower than in London
Source: Expatistan.com & Numbeo.com (2025)
Norwich – Affordable accommodation and a highly rated place to live
Not only is Norwich a cheaper place to live than some other university cities in the UK, like London, but average on-campus student accommodation costs at UEA are also considerably cheaper than many other university cities (StudentCrowd). Take a look at our wide variety of accommodation options, starting from under £170 per week.
City | Average cost of shared flat with ensuite bathroom (per week) |
|---|---|
UEA (Norwich) | £181 |
Nottingham | £194 |
Manchester | £196 |
Southampton | £204 |
York | £218 |
Bristol | £203 |
Central London | £303 |
Cambridge | £210 |
Exeter | £187 |
Southampton | £167 |
Sources: StudentCrowd.com (2024)
In addition to the above, UEA can also offer you:
Subsidised travel – We've partnered with local transport providers to make travel cheap, simple and convenient.
Subsidised memberships – Whether it’s saving on Sportspark activities (our on-campus sports facility) or free membership to enjoy our on-campus art gallery, there are many ways to enjoy university life without it costing you more than it needs to.
More than a degree – As part of your student fees you get access to a range of benefits and resources.
If that wasn’t enough, Norwich has been recently identified as one of Europe's hidden gems by CNN and named by The Times as one of the best places to live (again) in 2024 saying:
“The cathedral city of Norwich is a longstanding Best Places to Live favourite, on everyone's shortlist for good reason. The cosmopolitan city is big enough to be buzzy yet small enough to walk everywhere and the only one in England set in a national park (the Norfolk Broads).”
What’s not to like?
Budgeting tips from UEA students
Whilst all circumstances are different, Beth has recently created the following YouTube video to help you understand more about how much it costs to live as a student in Norwich (as of August 2022) :
The following video from one of our UEA students also gives tips and advice on how to budget and where to find extra financial help during the cost of living crisis.
Supporting current students with financial costs
UEA has a range of initiatives to support students with budgeting and to reduce the financial strain that current cost of living challenges present. Some of the services in place:
We’re aiming to ensure that all reading list books are readily available in our library. We’re buying extra copies, so you don’t have to.
Free urgent food and personal care products available for all students
We have a student services fund in place, which all current students can apply for
A new opportunities fund to cover or part-pay for the cost of participating in extracurricular activities
Supporting the Too Good to Go initiative, ensuring that many of our on campus food outlets are reducing the amount of food wastage by offering it at a discounted price to students
Scholarships and bursaries
Take a look at our Scholarships Finder to find out about available schemes and opportunities.
Further advice and guidance
There’s a lot of advice for you to consider. Some of our favourite student budgeting tips are:
Martin Lewis – Money Saving Expert
Martin and the team have created some great tools and tips to help you manage your budget
Which – How to save as a student
There are some great tips and considerations to consider when planning your university budget over on the Which website
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What's included in your fees
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UEA Students' Union
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