Studying at Oxford – How much does it cost?

In an earlier post, we looked at the experience of studying for the MSt in MBCT at Oxford University.

In today’s post we consider a less glamorous but equally important aspect of further study – student fees. As we prepare for applications opening this September, one question comes up again and again. How much will it cost?

Studying for a Master’s degree can be an expensive business, and it is good to be aware of the costs before taking up a place. As well as everyday living costs, all students at Oxford need to pay annual tuition and college fees.

Tuition fees are paid to the university. The exact amount depends on various factors such as the academic division and the student’s country of nationality. These are liable to change annually, but as an indication, for the MSt in MBCT in the academic year 2016-17, these were £8,780 for home/EU students and £10,750 for overseas students, per year.

College fees are separate from, and in addition to, tuition fees. These pay for facilities offered by the colleges such as use of the college library, computing services and other communal facilities (usually a common room and bar/buttery, but for the luckier colleges, these can include such perks as a college gym or sports ground, music rooms, or if you are exceptionally lucky, use of college punts or your very own deer park to explore). The two colleges accepting students for the MSt in MBCT are Kellogg and St Catherine’s, and it is best to contact them directly to confirm their annual college fee.

So, how to fund your studies? Since the course is part-time, most students do continue to work throughout the course and to fund their studies through paid employment. It is worth bearing in mind, however, that working and studying simultaneously can make for quite a heavy schedule, especially if you need to factor in travel to and from Oxford. So the balance between work and study is obviously a delicate one, and it’s a good idea to consider the time and energy required before accepting a place.

What about scholarships? As this light-hearted video from the University’s fees and funding team shows, there are also some scholarships available, which you can identify via the University’s Graduate Fees, Funding and Scholarship search here.

Finally, since most graduates of the course go on to use their degree as part of their working life, it is worthwhile looking into funding opportunities from your employer or other professional bodies. Most employers will have some funding to put towards continuing professional development, and a the knowledge and skills developed during a Master's degree can be well worth the investment involved.