Keele University for International Students: Fees and Entry

TL;DR: Keele University is a campus university in Staffordshire, England, set in 600 acres an hour from Manchester and Birmingham. International fees for 2027/28 run in bands from £17,800, master's students can get an automatic £3,000 to £5,000 scholarship, and Keele asks January 2027 applicants from most countries to apply by 23 November 2026.

Keele suits students who want a calm, green campus with a strong teaching record and international fees that start at £17,800 a year. This guide explains fees, entry, English tests, intakes and scholarships in plain terms. Want to know where you stand? Check your eligibility with Prosper.

Is Keele University a good choice for international students?

Keele University describes its campus as "nestled in 600 acres of Staffordshire countryside and just an hour from Manchester and Birmingham". Students live, study and socialise on one large campus.

On its facts and figures page, Keele reports:

• Gold in the Teaching Excellence Framework in both 2017 and 2023
• 13 subjects ranked in the top 10 in England in the National Student Survey 2026
• 46th in the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2027
• 55th in the Guardian University Guide 2027 and 54th in the Complete University Guide 2027

The TEF Gold rating matters for students because it is a government-run measure of teaching quality and student outcomes, not a research ranking.

Keele University fees for international students

Keele sets international fees in seven bands for both undergraduate and taught postgraduate courses. For 2027/28 entry, Band 0 is £17,800, Band 1 is £18,900 and Band 6 is £31,000. Medicine and some clinical courses are priced separately.

Master's students can pay half the tuition in October and half in January. Remember that the UK Student visa also asks for living funds of £1,171 a month for up to nine months outside London, plus the visa fee and the Immigration Health Surcharge. Our guide to UK tuition fees for international students shows the full budget.

Check your eligibility ›

Keele University scholarships

Keele's international scholarships for 2027/28 entry are automatic. You do not write a separate application: they are awarded on your academic results when you receive an offer.

• Postgraduate Global Scholarship: a one-off tuition fee reduction of £3,000 to £5,000.
• Undergraduate Global Scholarship: a £3,000 tuition fee reduction.
• Advanced Entry Scholarship: £3,000 for students entering a later year of a degree.
• KUIC Postgraduate Progression Scholarship: the same £3,000 to £5,000 range for students moving from the pre-master's programme.

Keele alumni also receive 20% off master's fees.

Keele University intakes and deadlines

Keele's main intake is September. It also says "you can start some of our taught postgraduate degrees in January".

For January 2027, Keele publishes these dates for applicants outside Kenya and India:

1. Apply by 23 November 2026.
2. Pay the deposit by 30 November 2026.
3. Complete the pre-CAS checklist by 4 January 2027.

Check the course page before you apply. Some popular master's courses, including MSc Computer Science and MSc International Business, show that they are no longer accepting international applications for the 2026/27 academic year, which covers January 2027. If your course is closed for January, September 2027 is the realistic target. Our guide on how to apply for a UK student visa explains the steps after your CAS.

Keele entry requirements and English tests

Keele places every course in an English group. Group A asks for IELTS 6.0 with 5.5 in every part. Group B asks for IELTS 6.5 with 5.5 in every part. Many master's courses, including the two above, are Group B.

Keele also accepts TOEFL iBT, Pearson PTE Academic (62 for Group B), Cambridge English, LanguageCert Academic SELT, Trinity ISE and NCUK. The Duolingo English Test is not on Keele's list. Our PTE exam guide explains how PTE scores work.

Keele University International College

If you do not meet direct entry, Keele University International College (KUIC) offers Foundation and International Year One routes into many bachelor's degrees, and a Pre-Master's route into several master's degrees. KUIC lists a January 2027 intake for all three programmes.

Applying from Sri Lanka

Keele publishes requirements for Sri Lanka on its country page:

• Master's needing a 2:2: a Special Bachelor degree with a Lower Second (55% or above).
• Master's needing a 2:1: a Special Bachelor degree with an Upper Second (60% or above).
• Undergraduate English: IELTS 6.0 with at least 5.5 in each part.
• KUIC Foundation: at least five GCE O/L passes at grades A to D.
• KUIC Pre-Master's: 15 years of formal education, an HND, or an Ordinary or Pass bachelor's degree.

For direct undergraduate entry, Keele points to each course page rather than giving A/L grades, so confirm your A/L results against the course you want. UK visa biometrics are taken at VFS Global Colombo, and you will need the IOM Colombo TB test first.

FAQ

What is Keele University ranked?
Keele University is 46th in the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2027 and 55th in the Guardian University Guide 2027. It also holds Gold in the Teaching Excellence Framework from 2017 and 2023.

How much are Keele University fees for international students?
Keele's international fees for 2027/28 start at £17,800 (Band 0), with many courses at £18,900 (Band 1). The highest standard band is £31,000.

Does Keele University have a January intake?
Yes, for some taught master's courses and for all three KUIC pathway programmes. For January 2027, Keele asks most international applicants to apply by 23 November 2026.

Does Keele accept a degree with 55% from Sri Lanka?
Yes, for master's courses that ask for a 2:2. Keele lists a Special Bachelor degree with a Lower Second (55% or above) as the equivalent.

Do I need to apply for Keele scholarships separately?
No. Keele's Global Scholarships for international students are automatic and are based on your academic achievement.

PS: Keele's January dates are close, and some master's courses are already closed to international applicants for January. If Keele is on your list, send us your results and we will tell you whether January or September is the better plan. Check your eligibility with Prosper. For a wider view, read our guide to master's options with a 2:2 degree.

Check your eligibility ›

References

1. About Keele, Keele University, https://www.keele.ac.uk/about/
2. Facts and figures, Keele University, https://www.keele.ac.uk/about/factsandfigures/
3. Undergraduate tuition fees for international students, Keele University, https://www.keele.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/tuitionfeesandfunding/undergraduatetuitionfees/undergraduatetuitionfeesinternationalstudents/
4. Postgraduate tuition fees for international students, Keele University, https://www.keele.ac.uk/study/postgraduatestudy/tuitionfeesandfunding/postgraduatetuitionfees/postgraduatetuitionfeesinternationalstudents/
5. Postgraduate scholarships for international students, Keele University, https://www.keele.ac.uk/study/postgraduatestudy/tuitionfeesandfunding/postgraduatefunding/postgraduatebursariesandscholarshipsinternational/
6. Undergraduate scholarships for international students, Keele University, https://www.keele.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/tuitionfeesandfunding/undergraduatefunding/undergraduatebursariesandscholarshipsinternationalstudents/
7. January start: how to apply, Keele University, https://www.keele.ac.uk/study/postgraduatestudy/january/applyforjanuary/
8. English language requirements, Keele University, https://www.keele.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/apply/entryrequirements/internationalentryrequirements/englishlanguagerequirements/
9. Sri Lanka country page, Keele University, https://www.keele.ac.uk/study/internationalstudents/yourcountry/asia/srilanka/
10. Keele University International College, https://kuic.keele.ac.uk/study/
11. KUIC academic requirements, Keele University International College, https://kuic.keele.ac.uk/admission/academic-requirements/
12. Student visa: money, GOV.UK, https://www.gov.uk/student-visa/money