Study in Coventry, The United Kingdom

About Coventry

Coventry is a city in the West Midlands region of England, a short train ride from Birmingham. According to the Office for National Statistics, its population grew from just under 317,000 in 2011 to around 345,300 at the 2021 census. For students it is above all a university city: Coventry University says the city has over 50,000 students.

Students choose Coventry for two very different universities within a few miles of each other, good rail links, and lower living costs than London: the UK Student visa sets a lower monthly maintenance amount for students outside London.

Studying in Coventry

All three schools listed for Coventry on SpainExchange are universities. Teaching is in English. Examples:

• The University of Warwick received its Royal Charter in 1965 and took its first undergraduates that year. By the end of 2023 it had over 28,000 students, more than 9,000 of them postgraduates, and around a third of its students come from overseas. Warwick is a member of the Russell Group, an association of 24 research-intensive UK universities. Its main campus is about four miles from Coventry station.
• Coventry University describes itself as a modern university with a focus on applied research. Its campus is in the city centre and includes a five-storey library open 24 hours. The wider Coventry University Group also has locations in London, Scarborough and Wrocław (Poland).
• Arden University specialises in online and blended learning. Students can study fully online, at one of its eight UK campuses (three of them in London) or at its campus in Berlin.

Subjects offered by the Coventry schools in our directory range from medicine, health sciences and clinical laboratory science to mathematics, statistics, computer science, physics, psychology, history, philosophy and film.

Cost of living for students

There is no official figure for typical student rents in Coventry; both universities publish their own residence prices, so compare them before you apply. A useful benchmark is the UK Student visa rule: students on courses outside London must show £1,171 per month (for up to nine months) to support themselves, in addition to the course fee for one academic year.

The visa itself costs £558 when you apply from outside the UK, plus the immigration healthcare surcharge, and you can apply up to six months before your course starts. Students on a short course do not always need a Student visa: as a Standard Visitor you can study at an accredited institution, including on an English language course, for up to six months, and a Short-term study visa covers English language courses of up to 11 months.

Getting around and daily life

Coventry is part of the West Midlands public transport network. A Swift card can be used on buses, trams and trains across the region, and the pay-as-you-go Swift Go option works out the fare and caps the cost of your journeys. From Coventry station, the National Express bus 12X runs to the main Warwick campus.

Coventry station has regular direct trains to London Euston and to Birmingham. Birmingham Airport is the nearest large airport: on weekdays a train leaves Birmingham International for Coventry about every 10 minutes and takes 10 to 15 minutes. London Heathrow is about two hours away by coach or by rail via London, according to the University of Warwick.

The climate is the mild, changeable climate of central England, with cool, damp winters and moderate summers, so a waterproof jacket is more useful than heavy winter clothing.

Frequently asked questions

Which universities are in Coventry?

SpainExchange lists three: the University of Warwick, Coventry University and Arden University, which teaches mainly online and through blended learning.

How much money does a student need in Coventry?

For a Student visa, UK Visas and Immigration asks students outside London to show £1,171 per month for up to nine months, plus the course fee for one year. Rent depends on the residence or private room you choose.

How do I get to Coventry from the airport?

From Birmingham Airport, take the train from Birmingham International to Coventry, which takes 10 to 15 minutes. From London Heathrow the journey takes about two hours by coach or by train via London.

Do I need a visa to study in Coventry?

For a degree you need a Student visa, which costs £558 from outside the UK. For courses of up to six months at an accredited institution, including English courses, a Standard Visitor visit may be enough.