If you are moving to Edinburgh to complete your postgraduate degree, you should include living costs in your total cost of study. Living costs include accommodation, food and bills. If you are commuting, you should include transport costs. Living costs Where to find living costs Our estimated 2026-2027 living costs for postgraduates How to calculate your total living costs For the 2026-2027 postgraduate academic year, we estimate that you will spend an average of £18,228 to live in Edinburgh. We expect that living costs will rise in line with inflation, at an average of around 4% each year (based on inflation data from the Office for National Statistics). Inflation can increase or decrease due to unexpected factors, so consider this number only a rough guide. Adjusted for inflation, these are our estimated postgraduate living costs for the next six years: 2026-2027: £18,5042027-2028: £19,2442028-2029: £20,0142029-2030: £20,8142030-2031: £21,6472031-2032: £22,513 The total amount would be the sum of the living costs for each year you need to complete your programme. Example estimated living costs This example is for a student studying a 3-year degree, starting in 2026.2026-2027: £18,5042027-2028: £19,2442028-2029: £20,014 £18,504 + £19,244 + £20,014Total cost for 3 years = £60,073 Commuting costs If you already live in Edinburgh or nearby, and plan to stay in your current home while you study, you do not have to include most living costs. However, you should include your travel costs as a commuter. You may also want to consider costs associated with socialising and participating in university societies, which we include in our living costs estimate. Where to find commuting costs If you plan to commute by bus, consider a Ridacard bus pass from Lothian buses. Alternatively, if you are under 22 you should be eligible for a Young Scot Entitlement Card, which gives you free bus travel around Scotland. Prices for a Lothian Buses Ridacard If you plan to commute by train, consider a monthly or annual season ticket from ScotRail. Prices for a ScotRail season ticket Most students do not commute by car, as parking options are limited on the University campus and permits are issued to people who need them most. If you think you will be commuting by car, consider the price for petrol, diesel or electric charging, as well as the price of a parking permit. Petrol and diesel prices at RAC Electric car charging costs at RAC Permit types and costs at the University If you want to include costs for socialising, leisure and wellbeing, visit our living costs page.Find our estimated socialising, leisure and wellbeing costs for postgraduates How to calculate your total commuting costs We expect that commuting costs will rise in line with inflation, at an average of around 4% each year (based on inflation data from the Office for National Statistics). Inflation can increase or decrease due to unexpected factors, so consider this number only a rough guide.To calculate an estimated total cost commuting over the entire period of your degree: Calculate your expected commuting costs for one year of your programme (for example, the cost of an annual Lothian Ridacard, an annual season ticket on ScotRail or petrol costs for one year).Calculate any socialising, leisure and wellbeing costs for one year of your programme that you want to include. Add these totals together. Multiply this figure by 1.04 to account for inflation over one year. Repeat this step for each year of your degree, using the figure from the previous year to make the calculation. Add together all of these totals. Example estimated commuting costs This example is for a student studying a 3-year degree, starting in 2026, and commuting to Edinburgh from Linlithgow. 2026-2027: £2,052 (ScotRail annual season ticket between Edinburgh and Linlithgow)£246 (monthly socialising, leisure and wellbeing costs) x 12 = £2,952£2,052 + £2,952=£5,0042027-2028: £5,004 x 1.04 = £5,2-42028-2029: £5,204 x 1.04 = £5,412£5,004 + £5,204 + £5,412Total cost for 3 years = £15,620 Next step Step 4: Calculate other relevant costs Previous step Step 2: Calculate estimated additional study costs This article was published on 2026-04-02
