Tools
What will university actually cost?
Tuition is free for Scottish students — living costs are not. Pick a university, how your child will live, and your household income: this shows the realistic monthly budget, the SAAS support you’ll get, and the gap a part-time job or family contribution needs to cover.
Estimated annual gap at Aberdeen
£1,200
Costs exceed the full SAAS package — £100/month to find from work, savings or family
- Rent (university halls)
- £481/mo
- Food & groceries
- £200/mo
- Transport
- £50/mo
- Phone & broadband
- £30/mo
- Social & going out
- £120/mo
- Course costs
- £30/mo
- Total living costs
- £911/mo
Your SAAS support (2026/27)
- Tuition (paid for you — not a loan)
- £1,820/yr
- Bursary (non-repayable)
- £0/yr
- Loan (max)
- £8,400/yr
- Living support
- £8,400/yr ≈ £933/mo term-time
£34,000 and above
The four-year picture
- Living costs over 4 years (rent for 40 weeks a year)£38,400
- Loan debt if you borrow the max each year£33,600
- Tuition debt (Scotland)£0
Repaid on Plan 4: 9% of earnings above £33,795/year, written off after 30 years.
Local reality check — Aberdeen
Aberdeen's cheapest halls rooms are among the lowest-priced university rooms in Scotland, which helps — but once food and bills are added the full SAAS package can still fall short. Run your income band through the calculator below; many students close the gap with part-time work.
Estimates combine Aberdeen’s typical student budget (checked April 2026) with SAAS 2026/27 young-student rates. Rents vary by building and year — always check the university’s own accommodation pricing. Full Aberdeen profile
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Planning ahead
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What to do next
You have the answer. These are the decisions it usually leads to.