You'll need to make sure you have enough money to cover your living expenses for the whole duration of your course.
You can find information below about the types of costs this may include. If you have dependants, you'll need to cover their living expenses too.
Before you're admitted to the University, you'll need to confirm that you can meet your living costs (the ‘maintenance requirement’) in addition to your course fees. If you're made a conditional offer, you'll be asked to do this by completing a 
Financial Undertaking Form.
Estimated living costs
For 2027/28, we estimate that a full-time student without dependants will need around £20,700 per year, or £15,525 for nine months, to cover basic living costs.
These estimates are based on a detailed survey of postgraduate students and their spending. The average monthly costs are detailed in the table.
| Expense category | Estimated monthly cost |
|---|---|
| Food | £305 |
| Accommodation | £925 |
| Personal items | £175 |
| Social activities | £160 |
| Study costs | £35 |
| Miscellaneous | £125 |
| Total | £1,725 |
How we calculate these estimates
Our estimate of living costs for 2027/28 was made in May 2026 using Bank of England inflation forecasts. As these are calculated in advance, living costs could end up being higher by the time you arrive in Cambridge, or during your studies if your course is longer than 12 months.
We recommend you budget for a 3% inflationary increase annually for courses over a year.
The annual estimate shown above forms part of the ‘minimum financial undertaking’ you agree to in the Financial Undertaking Form.
The figures in the table reflect the spending of an average (median) student. Your actual costs may be higher or lower depending on your lifestyle and personal choices.
What the estimates cover
- Food and drink: Three meals a day from student cafeterias or self-catering. Dining out is included under social activities.
- Accommodation: Rent, utilities, furniture and routine maintenance. Accommodation costs vary by College or private rental.
- Personal expenses: Clothing, toiletries, health costs, personal transport, and subscriptions.
- Social activities: Recreation, culture, eating out, and events.
- Study costs: Books, course materials, equipment, and travel related to your studies. Some courses may require specific additional expenditure. Check your course entry or with your Faculty or Department.
- Miscellaneous costs: Small expenses not covered in other categories.
Travel to and from Cambridge is not included in the maintenance amount required in your offer.
Further information for specific student groups
Research students
If you’re a research student, you need to make sure you have enough funds for the full duration of your course (at least 3 years and up to 4 years). Your living costs will rise with inflation, and your financial planning should take this into account, in particular for multi-year courses.
Part-time students
We do not provide an estimate of maintenance costs for part-time students, as these vary widely between different home locations and circumstances.
You'll still need to cover your living costs on a full-time basis throughout your studies. For a PhD, this may be for up to 7 years.
If you are offered a place for part-time study, you'll need to estimate your own expenses when completing the Financial Undertaking Form. The form asks for a single estimate covering the duration of your course. If your course has a range of possible durations, base your estimate on the minimum period, but make sure you have a plan for if you need longer to complete your course.
When calculating your estimate, you should consider:
- Housing costs
- Utility bills
- Everyday living - food, transport, clothes and furniture
- Healthcare
- Tax and any insurance policies
- Lifestyle costs, such as eating out, entertainment and other personal expenses
- Family costs: including childcare and other costs for dependants (see note below)
- Study-related costs: particularly travel and accommodation for time spent in Cambridge (see note below)
You should include costs related to your study, and in particular travel and accommodation costs for the time you will need to spend in Cambridge. See the Accommodation Service website for additional information on accommodation and other costs.
You should also consider whether spending time in Cambridge will affect your existing childcare arrangements or create additional costs. Childcare in Cambridge can be particularly expensive. See the Childcare Office website for current fees at University-run nurseries for children aged 0–4.
Students with accompanying dependants
If you have dependants, additional provision should be made. You should allow approximately 50% of the above estimate for an adult and 30% per child.
The financial condition specified in your offer letter takes into account your statement about accompanying dependants in your application form.
You cannot bring dependants to Cambridge before providing proof of financial support and getting the consent of your College.
Childcare costs
The cost of childcare in Cambridge is extremely high. Full-time nursery care for pre-school children is very expensive for students ineligible for UK Government support. These costs are in addition to the figures requested for your financial guarantee.
You can find out more about childcare in Cambridge on the University's Childcare Office website. This also gives potential costs for University-run day nurseries, but note that many private nurseries in Cambridge will have higher fees.
Costs of arriving in Cambridge
Starting your studies in Cambridge can involve additional costs, particularly if you're coming from overseas. These may include:
- Travel to Cambridge
- Visa and immigration health surcharge fees
- Other costs associated with settling in
These costs are not included in the estimates above, so you should budget for them separately.
Planning for these expenses in advance can help you avoid unexpected financial difficulties. For more information about the costs of arriving in Cambridge, see the guidance on the International Students website.
Other course-related costs
Some courses have additional costs beyond your University Composition Fee.
For example, if your course involves expensive laboratory materials, you may be expected to contribute towards the cost of your research.
Some courses may also have additional expenses for conferences or field trips, or special equipment and materials.
Check the finance tab of your course page for details of additional costs.
Payment for these additional course costs is arranged through your Department, not the Student Registry or your College.