Study abroad: which destinations are the most expensive in terms of budget?

To make the most of your university experience abroad, you’ll need to choose a university that suits your budget. From one country to another – and even from one university to another – tuition fees can vary considerably: from €2,000 for universities in the Netherlands to €60,000 for some American universities! Rest assured, however, that the quality of teaching is fortunately not proportional to the cost of studies, and there are universities renowned for their academic excellence to suit every budget.

But which destinations should be your first priority, depending on your budget?

If you’re looking for affordable tuition fees (under €10,000 per year) but don’t want to compromise on the quality of your education, there are a number of destinations worth exploring, including Sweden, the Netherlands, Scotland, Belgium, Quebec, Ireland and Switzerland.

More expensive destinations (tuition fees over €10,000 per year)

Tuition fees in the UK

Until Brexit, for EU nationals, a Bachelor’s year cost an average of £9,250 (around €10,000) in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. What’s more, it was possible to obtain funding from the UK government allowing you to start repaying your studies only once you were in working life, with a salary in excess of £26,575 a year (around €30,000). On the other hand, following the Brexit, we currently have little visibility on the evolution of tuition fees for the start of the 2021 academic year, although a priori they shouldn’t increase too significantly. In any case, don’t hesitate to contact the universities or consult their websites for precise information and to follow the evolution of the situation.

School fees in Spain

Tuition fees in Spain vary widely between public and private universities. Given how competitive it is to get into Spanish public universities as a foreigner, it’s usually best to turn to private universities.

For example, a Bachelor’s year at IE University costs between €21,000 and €23,000 per year, depending on the program, compared with an average of €16,600 at ESADE for European students. To help students finance their studies, these institutions offer grants for eligible profiles. These grants – which can cover from 30% to 100% of the year’s tuition fees, depending on the case – are awarded on the basis of social criteria, but often also on the basis of the student’s merit, academic results and involvement within the university.

Physiotherapy studies generally cost between €7,000 and €14,000 per year (French curriculum), and dental and veterinary surgery between €16,000 and €20,000 per year. For more information on tuition fees for these higher education establishments, and on how to apply for financial aid, please visit the universities’ websites.

Tuition fees in the United States

The United States is a dream destination for many students. However, the cost of education can be a deterrent for some. At many public and private universities, tuition fees can reach €50,000 a year, not including ancillary costs such as accommodation and food.

A financially more advantageous option in the United States, the community colleges will enable you to obtain an associate’s degree (equivalent to a bac + 2, such as a DUT or BTS) and then, thanks to their partnerships with certain universities, to transfer to a university to obtain a bachelor’s degree. The advantages include reduced tuition fees (between €7,000 and €10,000 per year in a community college), which could reduce the total cost of your studies in the U.S., and simplified admission criteria. What’s more, some less selective American universities looking for international students offer scholarships (through programs like Campus Access) that can reduce fees to less than €20,000 a year.a

Tuition fees in Canada

In Canada, outside Quebec, French students do not benefit from Canadian tuition fees and are therefore considered international students. For the University of British Columbia (UBC) or the University of Toronto, for example, you’ll need to budget between CAD$40,000 and CAD$50,000 (around €26,000 and €33,000) a year for tuition fees alone.

Tuition fees in Australia

In Australia, the cost of study can vary from AUD$10,000 to AUD$50,000 per year (or around €6,000 to €30,000 per year), and can reach AUD$60,000 (or almost €36,000 per year) for medical or surgical studies. For the universities in the Group of Eight, which includes the country’s top eight universities (University of Western Australia, Monash University, Australian National University, University of Adelaide, University of Melbourne, University of New South Wales, University of Queensland, University of Sydney), you’ll need to budget between €18,000 and €30,000 a year. In some private universities, it is sometimes possible to do an accelerated Bachelor’s degree in two years, which could potentially reduce tuition fees. What’s more, according to Go Study Australia, one of the country’s major advantages is that immigration allows students to have a student job for up to 20 hours a week during course periods, and full-time during vacations, which helps finance your daily life, especially as the minimum wage in Australia is high (AUD$19 an hour, or over €11 an hour).

What’s more, if you want to enter the local job market quickly, you can opt for a Vocational Training Course (VET), a vocational program leading to a diploma (bac + 1) or advanced diploma (bac + 2), the equivalent of a BTS or DUT in France. The cost of these courses – which last one or two years depending on the program – averages around AUD$10,000 to AUD$15,000 per year (roughly €6,000 to €10,000).

Other ways to finance your studies abroad

Although this is likely to change following the Brexit, the Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS) has until now covered 100% of the tuition fees of EU students in Scotland, i.e. the cost of a course of study in Scotland. For example, you can get a student job, or take out a student loan with often advantageous conditions: low interest rates or the possibility of repaying only after you’ve found a job, for example.

Additional costs

Please note that the above rates only cover tuition fees. In addition, there are the expenses inherent in everyday life: rent, utilities (water, electricity, heating), food, telephone, internet access, insurance, travel costs, the purchase of books and supplies, and even outings – expenses that can be higher or lower depending on the destination. Don’t hesitate to go directly to the university websites, which often provide tables estimating the overall budget for a year of study!

To avoid unpleasant surprises, it’s best to anticipate all the expenses associated with your university studies. To help you see things more clearly, here’s a budget model to consider studying in London, a popular but expensive destination:

Renting a private dwelling : around €700 and €800 a month.
Food: €300 to €400 per month.
Transport ticket : about €80 per month.
Out and about : from €200 to €400 per month.
University sports club membership : between €20 and €30 per year.
Telephone subscription : about €20 per month.
Total budget : 1,300 and €1,700 per month.

What’s more, since the university year only lasts eight or nine months a year, you can exclude the summer period from your annual budget, when you won’t necessarily be on site!

Find all the answers to your questions about studying abroad in our book “Etudier à l’étranger après le Bac” (Studyrama Editions).

Would you like more personalized support to make your plans to study abroad a reality? Don’t hesitate to contact the Your Dream School team!