Money

The cost of university is soaring – here’s where to get a degree for a fraction of the price


While not available everywhere, there are universities in France that offer undergraduate degrees taught wholly in English. However, it is worth doing the research to make sure your subject is available if you are not fluent in French.

Australia and New Zealand 

Home for the UK summer and back to university in time to soak up the sun on the beach in the southern hemisphere, it is easy to see the appeal of studying in Australia and New Zealand. 

However, fees for courses in Australia are some of the most expensive in the world, according to graduate website Prospects. 

Students can expect to pay anywhere between $20,000 to $45,000 AUS (£10,000 to £22,610) for an undergraduate degree that typically lasts three or four years.

Neighbour New Zealand has comparable fees averaging $20,000 to $40,000 NZ (£10,000 to £20,000) a year. However, despite launching a free fee initiative for residents, this does not extend to international students opting to study in the country. 

Both countries offer a variety of scholarship programmes open to international applicants, but criteria vary and it is worth checking what is available before considering applying. 

Furthermore, you will need to be sure you can meet the visa requirements for either country. 

In New Zealand you will need to show you have the funds to live in the country for the duration of your studies set at roughly £10,000 a year. Although the cost of the visa itself is as little as £40,

Likewise, students applying to Australia must also show they have the means to afford the cost of living in the country. 

And, of course, travel costs for coming home will be significant. Flights to Australia sell for anywhere from £500 to close to £2,000 one way. To reach New Zealand the cost of travel can be as much as £2,200 and requires at least one stop over on the way.

America

On the face of it, choosing to study in the US instead of the UK is unlikely to save you money. Fees in America are substantially higher than in Europe, with annual costs reaching as high as $50,000 (£38,204) for an undergraduate course.

Furthermore, while estimates vary, the average cost of living in the state for a student is thought to be around $1,000 to $3,000 (£783 – £2,350) a month depending on where you are located. 

Flying home to the UK can cost anywhere from a few hundred pounds to over a thousand, and will need to be factored into any financial planning for study. 

However, it is still the most popular destination in the world for international students and many institutions offer generous scholarship and grant programmes. These often fall under merit scholarships – for outstanding academic achievement, or sports scholarships.

Some universities also have needs-based financial aid on offer to support international students.



Source link

Leave a Response