That’s how much it costs to study abroad

That’s how much it costs to study abroad

Stays abroad can be an enriching experience for international students. It has never been so easy to travel the world and discover new cultures.

Stays abroad can be an enriching experience for international students. It has never been so easy to travel the world and discover new cultures. The average cost of studying abroad depends on the country, the city, the university and mainly on you, as you know best how much money you need. Although the cost of some programs is high, there are opportunities to spend the semester abroad at a reasonable price.

The price of studying abroad

Before deciding where to study, you should consider the cost of various academic programs to determine the total cost of studying abroad. Your college or university department may have information about the cost of different programs. Otherwise, you can also find information on the Internet.

The costs at a glance

Before the costs are described in more detail, an overview of the most popular issues is first presented. Whereby many expenditures are the same as also in the homeland.

Transport from home country to university (flight, train, bus, car, etc.)
Travel expenses (if other countries or cities are visited at the weekend)
Semester fees
Learning materials
Apartment
TV, Internet and Smartphone
Eating & drinking
Leisure and sports activities
Insurance
Housing

Apartment

The second most important question, after you already choose an university, is where to live. The prices vary from place to place. In Germany, you pay an average of 128 euros for a student residence. But beware, this is only an average value that applies to the whole of Germany. The average value for an apartment in Germany is 323 euros. In the following the prices for international cities are enumerated. The prices listed here, do not factor in potential roommates or currency fluctuations.

  • Paris: About 1,300 to 1,800 dollars per month for a studio apartment.
  • London: Approximately $1,500 to $2,200 per month for studio apartments.
  • Hong Kong: Approximately $2,200 to $3,400 per month for studio apartments.
  • Melbourne: Approximately $900 to $1,200 per month for studio apartments.
  • Rome: About $800 to $1,200 per month for studio apartments.
  • Moscow: About 600 to 1,000 dollars per month for studio apartments.
  • Barcelona: About 800 to 1,200 dollars per month for studio apartments.
  • Cape Town: About 500 to 900 dollars per month for studio apartments.
  • Germany: 128 € per month average for studio apartments.

Transport

If you use public transport, you will need a ticket for it. In Germany, a ticket is often integrated into the student ID card. To be on the safe side, ask if this also applies to your university. If not, the semester ticket costs you an average of 75 euros. Then you can use public transport in your city for the whole semester (6 months) without restrictions. In the following you will again find a list of prices in international cities.

  • Paris: About $83 for a monthly transport card.
  • London: About $172 for a monthly transport card.
  • Hong Kong: About 62 dollars for a monthly ticket.
  • Melbourne: About $100 for a monthly transport ticket.
  • Rome: About 41 dollars for a monthly transport ticket.
  • Moscow: About $31 for a monthly ticket.
  • Barcelona: About 54 dollars for a monthly ticket for transport.
  • Cape Town: About $30 for a monthly ticket.
  • Germany: 75 € average for 6 months.

Food

Some types of costs are identical to those in your home country. Regardless of where you live, you must consume food. When it comes to food, it depends on whether you can save money or incur high costs. From a price point of view, it makes a difference whether you eat in the canteen of your university or in a noble restaurant. Students at the Technical University of Munich pay between 1.55 euros and 5.50 euros for a lunch. On the other hand, it can cost you about 14 euros in a restaurant. As you can see from the following list, Germany is still one of the favorable countries.

  • Paris: The average meal is between 9 and 17 US dollars.
  • London: The meals are on average between 7 and 13 US dollars.
  • Hong Kong: Meals average between $5 and $12.
  • Melbourne: Meals average between $7 and $12.
  • Rome: Meals average between $8 and $15.
  • Moscow: Meals average between $4 and $6.
  • Barcelona: Meals are between US$8 and US$15 on average.
  • Cape Town: Meals average between US$4 and US$8.

Transport from home country

It is not possible to give precise information on this point, as the price depends on the current location and the location of the university.

Additional costs and fees

To avoid complications, it is important to take additional money with you for hidden costs or fees. You can contact your university in advance to avoid unexpected hidden costs.

Tips for minimizing the cost of studying abroad

Whether your stay abroad is expensive or inexpensive depends on you. With a few tips you can also save some money.

Use public transport
In most cities you can reach everything you need by public transport. The systems are well developed and you can get anywhere. Since parking in city centers is very expensive, you can save a lot of money with public transport. Find out online about the transport network in your study city and note important places and how to get there.

Cooking in groups
If you and your roommates or fellow students cook in a group, you can save some money together. Another advantage of this group activity is that you can get to know the people around you better, have fun preparing food and learn about new kitchens and dishes.

3 Minimize weekend trips.
Many students want to explore as many new places as possible. They also fly to another country or pay for expensive train tickets. To save money, you can travel with your new friends, as group tickets are usually cheaper. You can also rent a car and explore new landscapes. It doesn’t necessarily have to be a new country, it can also be worth visiting the next city. Especially if you are studying in Germany, where many cities offer beautiful sights. Moreover, Germany is quite central in Europe and makes it possible to visit many other European member countries in a short time. Since you need a Schengen visa for your studies in Germany, you can visit all other Schengen countries without restrictions. Find out more about the Schengen visa now.