London, especially the Regent's Park area, costs more than most UK cities. The figures below cover weekly expenses and exclude rent, which will be the largest part of your budget.
A student at the School of Psychotherapy Counselling Psychology should budget roughly £150 to £220 per week on living costs, not counting accommodation.
Here is a typical weekly expense breakdown:
Groceries and Food: Expect to spend £30 to £60 per week. This depends on how often you cook versus eating out.
Transport: With an 18+ Student Oyster photocard, students get a 30% discount on adult-rate travelcards and bus and tram passes. Weekly transport costs typically run £31 to £37. Baker Street and Great Portland Street stations, both near campus, give fast access across London.
Household Bills: Students in purpose-built student accommodation usually have utilities and internet bundled into weekly rent.
Socialising: A casual meal out in London costs around £12 to £25. This varies a lot based on personal habits.
Mobile Subscriptions: A UK SIM-only mobile plan runs around £5 to £6 per week.
Course Costs: Psychotherapy and counseling training has additional costs which are not associated with undergraduate degrees. These costs include fees for personal therapy hours, clinical supervision and professional body registration. Factor these into your monthly budget from the start.
The UK Home Office and UKCISA set a minimum funds requirement for Student visa applicants. As of 11 November 2025, this is £1,529 per month (around £352 per week) for London-based students, for a maximum of nine months. This is a regulatory figure for visa purposes, not a realistic spending average.
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Weekly Expense Category
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Estimated Weekly Cost
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Groceries and Food
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£30 to £60
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Transport (with Student Oyster discount)
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£31 to £37
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Household Bills (in PBSA, usually included in rent)
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£0 (bundled)
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Socialising and Eating Out
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£12 to £25
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Mobile Subscription
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£5 to £6
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Total (excluding rent)
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£150 to £220
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Given Regent's Park's location, your overall budget will run higher than students at universities in more affordable parts of the city. Using student discounts consistently makes a real difference month to month