Cost of living

Renowned for its creativity, diversity and cultural offer – and ranked as the world’s best student city for four years in a row by QS Rankings – there’s no better city to develop your practice in.

Whether you are moving to London from another part of the UK or another country, it’s likely the cost of living will differ from what you are used to at home. Living costs are personal and will depend on your lifestyle choices, but as a student there are many ways to manage and you can take advantage of a range of discounts, including on travel and cultural activities.

This guide provides practical information on costs like housing, utilities and travel as well as how to make the most of London life on a budget. You can also find out more about RCA Financial Assistance Funds and RCA Scholarships.

Financial Assistance Funds

The RCA is offering students in financial need new resources in response to the cost of living increase in the UK. We offer Financial Assistance Funds to help enrolled students with unforeseen financial difficulties. Students may qualify for financial assistance if either their income is less than their essential living expenditure; or they have experienced an unexpected situation for which they could not have foreseen and could not budget for. Information on the funds will be available for you to view on the Intranet once you have registered as an RCA student.

For those experiencing financial difficulties, we have repurposed our Emergency Hardship Fund to also include a utilities (electric, gas and water bills) element. We also continue to offer financial assistance through the Materials Fund that aims to support students who may be needing funding to cover costs for course materials or materials testing where such purchases are taking money away from essential living costs. 

Additionally, in collaboration with the Royal College of Art & Students’ Union, the College has also announced a Cost of Living Fund that is available to enrolled students. It is not a loan and does not need to be repaid. It is a limited fund to assist disadvantaged students experiencing unanticipated and significant short-term circumstances, associated with the Cost of Living crisis in London. Current students can read more details about this fund on the Intranet.

RCA scholarships and awards

Over 300 scholarships, awards and bursaries will be made available to incoming RCA students for the 2025/26 academic year. These are awarded predominantly on an assessment of financial hardship and social disadvantage. The RCA wants our programmes to be open to all talented students, from all backgrounds – if you are an existing offer holder or thinking of applying to the RCA but you are worried about finances, please visit our scholarships and award page to see if support is available. Incoming RCA students will be offered the opportunity to apply for RCA scholarships.

Cost of living: How the RCA can help

The RCA provides the following facilities on campus:

• Hot water points, fridges and microwaves located near programme studio spaces
• Showers (Stevens Building, Kensington Campus; Dyson Woo Building, Battersea Campus) and bike storage
• Wi-Fi (eduroam)
• Free shuttle bus service between campuses
• Discounted food at campus canteens
• Free period products

Books, equipment and materials

The RCA Library offers access to over 70,000 books on art and design reflecting the full range of activity at the College – if you’re looking for a specific book, always make sure to check the library first to see if you can borrow a copy rather than have to buy one. The Library also has a dedicated space for magazines and journals, with subscriptions to a huge range of art, design, fashion and film periodicals – reading these in the library can save you having to buy magazines or take out your own subscriptions. More information about accessing the Library can be found on the Intranet once you’re registered at the RCA.

Key creative software like Adobe Creative Cloud is available free through the RCA and a number of other programmes are available for students at a discounted rate – you’ll be able to find a full list on the Intranet once you register as an RCA student.

We also have two College Shops across our campuses – one in Kensington and one in Battersea – where you can buy supplies and materials at affordable prices.

Ways to save on travel

Walking

Walking offers a good way to save money and to see the city at the same time. Many places are closer than you think and apps like Citymapper can help you find walking routes that stick to main roads – which are helpful for navigating an unfamiliar route or if it’s dark and you’d prefer to stick to well-lit streets.

Off-peak travel

Travelling during off-peak times can help you save money as tube fares are cheaper. Off-peak times are generally 9.30am – 4pm and from 7pm onwards. Check the TfL website for more information.

Buses

Travel by bus in London is cheaper than the tube at just £1.75 per journey. In fact, a day of travelling only by bus will never cost you more than £5.25. You can also transfer to other buses or trams for free within one hour of tapping in for your first journey. Hopping on the bus lets you see more of the city which can help you get your bearings when you first arrive in London – and find more areas to explore!

Student travelcard

Travelcard fares allow you unlimited travel on the tube and bus for a set price over a set period of time – for example seven day travelcards give you seven days' travel for the price of five days. The cost differs depending on how many zones you would like to travel through. As a student, you are entitled to receive a further 30% off travelcard fares if you purchase a Student Oyster card. Make sure to check if you really need a travelcard based on how much you intend to use it – you may find it’s cheaper to use a regular pay as you go Oyster card or a contactless debit or credit card.

Pay as you go and railcards

If you have a 16–25 Railcard or a 26–30 Railcard, you can add the discount to your Student Oyster card or to a standard adult Oyster card to get a 34% discount on off-peak pay as you go fares on Tube, DLR, London Overground, TfL Rail and most National Rail services in London. Find out more about pay as you go fares and how to connect a railcard to your Oyster card on the TfL website. Railcards are also a great option for visiting the rest of the UK.

Cycling

Many of our students also choose to cycle to College and there is plenty of bike storage available across our three campuses. If you do not have your own bike, there is also the Santander Cycle scheme which lets you rent bikes across the city. Find out more about the scheme on the Santander Cycles website.

Ways to save on living costs

Students in the UK are eligible for a wide range of discounts to help ease living expenses; while a number of apps can also help you save on day to day costs. Below you can find some suggestions on ways to save and discounts to take advantage of – but remember you can also shop around and do your own research.

Leisure and lifestyle

UNiDAYs is a free scheme which offers discounts on brands from clothing and tech retailers to travel and gym memberships. RCA students are also eligible to buy a TOTUM card which offers discounts. Websites like Save the Student and Student Beans regularly post about the latest discounts and offers from different retailers across the UK, so it’s worth bookmarking their websites too or following them on social media for tips on where you can save money.

Culture

London hosts a huge range of free cultural events throughout the year, from the iconic Notting Hill Carnival to poetry readings – listings websites like TimeOut can help you discover what’s on for free. For galleries and museums, National Art Fund’s Student Art Pass will get you 50% off entry to major exhibitions across London and the UK for just £5 and there’s no age limit as long as you can prove your student status. London is also one of the greenest cities in the world for its size – offering a number of great outdoor spaces you can enjoy for free. For more about the city’s galleries, live events and green spaces, visit our Living in London guide.

Food and eating out

Shopping at cheaper supermarkets like Lidl and Aldi can help your grocery budget go further. More generally, grocery shopping in the evening can help you save money and waste too – as a lot of supermarkets begin to reduce their prices on fresh products. Apps like TooGoodToGo and Olio connect you to restaurants, businesses, shops and people in your local area that have unsold surplus food that you can pick up for a cheaper price, or sometimes even for free, to stop it from going to waste. If you’re happy to be flexible about your menu, Oddbox delivers cheaper surplus and ‘wonky’ seasonal fruit and vegetables weekly or fortnightly, which can help you get creative when it comes to cooking.

IT equipment

As an RCA student you’re able to buy computers, laptops and accessories at educational prices. For example, through UNiDAYS, you can get discounts on a range of brands such as Apple, Samsung, HP, Dell and Lenovo.

London’s underground network is world famous – but there’s more to travel in London than just the tube. The RCA is well-served by buses which are one of the most affordable ways to get around. For everything you need to know about getting to our campuses, head to our Visiting the RCA page. Keep reading below to find out more about how to get around London.

How Transport for London (TfL) works

Payment

Most people in London pay by contactless debit or credit card. You can also use an Oyster card, which can help you take advantage of specific discounts. Find out more ordering or collecting an Oyster card on the Transport for London website.

Zoning

The city is divided into six zones and journey prices on London Underground depend on how many zones you travel through. The Royal College of Art is located in Zone 1, in the centre of London. To see a map of the underground showing different zones and for information regarding all methods of transport in London, visit the Transport for London (TfL) website.

Living in London is expensive and varies depending on where you live, your personal preferences, and your circumstances. On average, the cost of living in London for students ranges between £1,237 and £2,254 per month. There are a variety of ways to save money and stick to your budget, which is why it is essential to know your expenses and see what consumes most of your budget.

There are lots of resources available to help you plan your budget and make the most out of the money you spend.

Websites like Money Saving Expert offer templates for students that can help you set up a budget and apps like Monzo, an online bank connected to an app that sorts what you spend into categories like ‘travel’ and ‘groceries’, can help you keep track of your outgoings and establish healthy habits. Save the Student has a useful budgeting guide for students.

The below list gives an indication of living costs for the average student during an academic year at the RCA – please note that your costs will differ depending on your situation.

Per year (52 weeks)/per week:

Rent: £15,600/£240–300 (average)

Food: £2,600/£50

Household goods: £1,040/£20

Household bills: £2,080/£40 (energy costs are not included in costs please see below)

Insurance: £86.32/£1.66

Personal items: £1,560/£30 (personal items include clothing, mobile phone bills, medical expenses, toiletries, and other small personal items.)

Leisure items: £1,560/£30 (leisure items include hobbies, sports, entertainment subscriptions, and social and cultural activities.)

Course materials: £2,800/£52

Travel: £2,080/£40 (travel costs will vary according to where your accommodation is located.)

Energy Costs

In most instances in the UK, you will pay your energy bill separately from your rent. A number of providers are available and websites like Money Supermarket and U Switch can help you compare deals.

Gas and Electricity Costs Usage

The average energy bill by house size and usage per month/per year:

Low (Flat or 1-bedroom house 1–2 people): £142.69/ £1,712.25

Medium (3-bedroom house / 2-3 people): £208.32/£2,499.87

High (5-bedroom house / 4-5 people): £291.08/£3,492.90

Many students choose to house share in London as this is more affordable than renting on your own and can help you meet new people outside of the RCA community.

Short-term

If you are looking for a short-term place to stay while you settle in, you can expect to pay from the following: 

• Hostel dorm room from £20 per night. 
• Hotel room from £100 per night.  
• AirBnB private room from £75 per night. 

The cost of short-term accommodation varies depending on location and time of the year. Book early to get the best price and availability.  

Long-term

For long-term options, average rent costs by type of accommodation are listed below. 

• £726 per calendar month for a room in a shared house. 
• £1200 per calendar month for a studio flat. 
• £1450 per calendar month for a 1 bedroom flat. 
• £1700 per calendar month for a 2 bedroom flat. 

The figures above are average costs and vary depending on location. The cost cited does not include household bills. The figures have been taken from the London Rents Map, linked here.

For more information on finding somewhere to live while at the RCA, visit our guide to Accommodation in London.

Full-time students are exempt from paying council tax – a tax levied by local authorities in the UK to help pay for local services, such as rubbish collection and policing.

If you live in a household where every adult is a full-time student then you will receive a bill but will not have to pay council tax once you have submitted proof of your student status. To get proof of your student status, just request a council tax letter from the Registry at the RCA. For council tax purposes you are treated as being a student from the time that you start your programme, to the time when you complete it.

The situation is a little more complicated if you are a full-time student living with someone or a number of people who are not students. If you live in a household with one non-student, then there will be a 25 per cent discount on council tax upon submission of proof of student status. If there is more than one non-student then the full amount will be owed, but any students in the household will not be legally liable to pay.

The Student Support team can advise on council tax. If you have any questions you can reach them at [email protected].

Television

In the UK, you need to pay for a TV licence to watch television programmes as they are being shown on TV or live on an online TV service. The current fee for a colour TV licence is £169.50. Payment can either be made in full or you can spread the cost over a year. More information can be found on the TV licensing website.

Insurance

When you are renting the owner must insure the building you are living in, but this does not cover the contents. For peace of mind, we recommend you take out insurance for your belongings, especially bicycles and personal computers or other equipment and supplies related to your course. Some companies have offers tailored for students and comparison websites like Money Supermarket and USwitch can help you find a quote based on your needs.

Students are welcome to send feedback and ideas for cost of living support to [email protected].