Living Costs

hi, i have applied to study architecture this year, I was wondering if anyone could help and let me know how affordable you found it settling in, in first year

Hi Amber,

Great to hear from you.

I'm a third year student at Kingston and have to say I found it affordable as long as you stick to a budget! A lot of people blow their loan in the first few weeks and struggle for the rest of term, baked beans can only taste so good. It also depends on what kind of things you want to do I wasn't really into the clubbing scene so spent the money I would have on concert tickets instead as we're so close to London.

I roughly spent

£120 a week on my rent including bills for halls
£10-20 a week on food
£100 a month on going out with friends/ to concerts
£20-30 on public transport in Kingston (we have a free uni bus that runs during the week so that saves a lot of money!)

Let me know if you have any more questions about university life, I'll be happy to help!

Chloe
Student Ambassador

Hi Amber,

Great to hear from you.

I'm a third year student at Kingston and have to say I found it affordable as long as you stick to a budget! A lot of people blow their loan in the first few weeks and struggle for the rest of term, baked beans can only taste so good. It also depends on what kind of things you want to do I wasn't really into the clubbing scene so spent the money I would have on concert tickets instead as we're so close to London.

I roughly spent

£120 a week on my rent including bills for halls
£10-20 a week on food
£100 a month on going out with friends/ to concerts
£20-30 on public transport in Kingston (we have a free uni bus that runs during the week so that saves a lot of money!)

Let me know if you have any more questions about university life, I'll be happy to help!

Chloe
Student Ambassador

you spent more money on socialising than on food...?
are you a nutter?

you spent more money on socialising than on food...?
are you a nutter?

Hi Cravez,

Eating for one is quite cheap and I used to make big meals and freeze them, hence cheap food costs. Plus going out includes going out for dinner sometimes

Chloe
Student Ambassador

Thanks for the response but i am genuinely curious, what were you eating in these frozen meals that cost £10 a week.
Similar to you I also cook my own food and freeze it but a one week supply of vegetables from the market alone cost me £10,

I'd go on a monthly shop for about £40. I'd get potatoes, pasta and two lots of mince meat to make smaller meals, I don't eat a lot anyway especially when I was living alone.

Sometimes it was more a month, sometimes less depending on what I had leftover. I also took a lot of tinned food with me before I went to uni and stocked up in the pound shop whenever I could!

Chloe
Student Ambassador

Hi! I will be attending Kingston this fall as a second year student. I will be moving to London from California and I am just wondering how the university accommodation works? From what I see online you are in your own room without a roommate. Is this really how it is?? Also wondering if there is a meal plan included with the university housing? Thanks!