What studying abroad costs: a full year’s budget by country
A year can cost ≈ $13,600 in Germany or over $90,000 at a private US university. The difference is tuition, the city and housing. Below: ten countries in one table, visa funds under official rules, worked examples and ways to spend less.
- TuitionFrom $0 at most German public universities to $60,000 or more a year.
- Living costsThe visa minimum runs from €600 a month in Spain to £1,529 in London; real costs can be higher.
- One-off costsApplications, tests, translations, the visa, deposits, flights.
- A bufferExchange rates and prices move: keep a reserve.
Tuition and visa funds: ten countries
Tuition for 2026/27 unless stated. The visa amount is the official minimum you must prove; real costs, especially in capitals, can be higher.
| Country | Tuition per year | Living funds for the visa |
|---|---|---|
| The UK | Bachelor’s ≈ $32,600–60,100 (£24,700–45,500); one-year master’s ≈ $34,000–52,300 (£25,750–39,600), 2026/27. | £1,171 a month outside London and £1,529 in London, for up to nine months: ≈ $13,900–18,200. |
| The USA | On average $31,880 at a public university (out-of-state) and $45,000 at a private one: tuition and fees, 2025/26. | No fixed sum: the university uses its own annual estimate for the I-20. The University of Kansas, for example, asks for $52,278: $33,854 tuition and fees plus $18,424 living costs and insurance. |
| Canada | Bachelor’s ≈ $23,400–52,600 (CAD 33,350–75,000), 2026/27. | CAD 23,448 a year (≈ $16,500) on top of tuition and travel, for applications from 1 September 2026. |
| Germany | At most public universities $0, only a semester contribution of ≈ $110–505 (€97–453). Non-EU students pay in Baden-Württemberg (≈ $1,680, €1,500 per semester) and at TUM (bachelor’s usually ≈ $2,240–3,350, €2,000–3,000 per semester). | €992 a month, €11,904 for the first year (≈ $13,300), usually in a blocked account. |
| The Netherlands | Bachelor’s ≈ $10,500–24,400 (€9,360–21,800), from applied sciences to research universities, 2026/27. | €1,130.77 a month (≈ $1,260), €13,569 for 12 months (≈ $15,200), 2026. |
| Italy | Public universities charge by family income: from ≈ $1,290 (€1,157) at Bologna for non-OECD countries; Bocconi ≈ $19,000 (€17,000) for a bachelor’s. | €10,179.85 per academic year (≈ $11,400), 2026/27. |
| Spain | Public universities ≈ $845–9,150 (€757–8,186) depending on the region; private from ≈ $15,500 (€13,900). | 100% of IPREM: €600 a month (≈ $670), €7,200 for 12 months (≈ $8,050), 2026. |
| France | Public universities for non-EU students: ≈ $3,240 (€2,902) for a bachelor’s and ≈ $4,410 (€3,950) for a master’s, 2026/27. | €877.50 a month (≈ $980) from 1 August 2026. |
| South Korea | On average ≈ $3,190 (₩4.27m) at public and ≈ $5,700 (₩7.63m) at private universities per bachelor’s year. | Embassies set the amounts: in Kazakhstan $20,000 for Seoul and the capital region and $18,000 elsewhere; in Russia no bank statement is needed for accredited universities. |
| Turkey | Private universities in Istanbul: Kadir Has $20,000, Özyeğin $25,000, Sabancı $36,500 a year. | StudyU’s estimate for living in Istanbul: $450–750 a month (housing, food, transport, phone). |
Dollars at ECB rates of 7 October 2026. Sources are in the StudyU country guides and listed at the end of this page.
What a year is made of
To compare countries fairly, count the same lines everywhere. Figures are official rates and StudyU guide data.
| Cost line | Examples | How to cut it |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | Germany: student housing averages ≈ $355 (€318), a room in a shared flat ≈ $570 (€510) a month. The Netherlands: a room around $615 (€550). Istanbul: a dorm or room $220–420. | Student housing in the first year, a shared flat, a smaller city. |
| Food and everyday costs | Germany: ≈ $530 (€475) a month for food, clothes, phone and study materials (the basic BAföG rate). Istanbul: groceries and canteen $140–220. | Student canteens, cooking at home. |
| Transport | Germany: the Deutschlandticket ≈ $70 (€63) a month, and at many universities a travel pass is already in the semester contribution. Istanbul: $15–30 with a student card. | A student pass, housing near campus. |
| Insurance | The UK: IHS £776 (≈ $1,020) per visa year, paid upfront for the whole stay. Germany: public insurance ≈ $165 (€148) a month. The Netherlands: a sample policy ≈ $760 (€681) a year. | Student rates; check what the visa requires. |
| Visa and residence permit | The UK: £558 (≈ $735). The USA: the SEVIS fee $350. The Netherlands: €254 (≈ $285). Korea: a consular fee of $80 for Russian citizens. | Apply on time to avoid paying for urgency. |
| Applying | UCAS: £34.50 (≈ $45) for up to five choices; the USA: usually $75–100 per college; the SAT outside the USA: $111; Italy’s TOLC: €35. | A short, precise shortlist instead of a dozen random applications. |
| Deposits and setup | A university deposit for the CAS or place, a rent deposit, first purchases, flights. | Check early whether deposits are refundable and count towards tuition. |
The visa amount is a minimum, not a budget
The consulate checks that the student can cover the first year. This is a floor calculated by the government, not the real cost of living. The UK, for example, counts the requirement for nine months at most, although rent is often paid over the summer too.
The money must be shown before the visa application, in bank statements, a blocked account or a scholarship letter. Expected part-time earnings do not count.
- Germany: €11,904 for the first year goes into a blocked account and is paid out in monthly parts after arrival.
- Canada: CAD 23,448 a year on top of first-year tuition and travel.
- Italy: €10,179.85 per academic year, from lawful sources.
- The USA: the I-20 shows the university’s own annual estimate, covered by family funds, a scholarship or a sponsor.
Four worked examples
Excluding flights, deposits and personal spending: tuition and living costs at official or university rates only.
Public university, student housing
≈ $13,600 for 12 months
€12,200: no tuition, semester contributions, average student housing, insurance and living costs.
Kadir Has, Istanbul
$25,400–29,000 a year
$20,000 tuition plus living in Istanbul at StudyU’s estimate of $450–750 a month.
UBC Arts, first year
≈ $52,600 a year
CAD 74,978: CAD 51,530 tuition and the IRCC living minimum of CAD 23,448; excluding fees and insurance.
Bangor, business, three years
≈ $120,800 for the whole degree
£91,503: £19,000 × 3 tuition, living costs at the visa rate outside London, and the visa plus IHS for three years.
Six legitimate ways to spend less
Public universities
Most German states charge no tuition, a French public university costs ≈ $3,240 (€2,902) a year for a bachelor’s, and Italian fees depend on family income.
A cheaper city
The UK living requirement is £1,171 a month outside London against £1,529 in London; public tuition in Andalusia is several times cheaper than in Madrid.
Scholarships
Full grants are more common for master’s study; Italy’s DSU is awarded on family income, even in the first year. Master’s scholarships
Applied universities and colleges
In the Netherlands a university of applied sciences starts at ≈ $10,500 (€9,360) a year; in the USA you can start at a community college and transfer.
Shorter programmes
A bachelor’s in England takes three years and many UK and Dutch master’s one year: fewer years, lower living costs.
Part-time work within visa limits
In Canada up to 24 hours a week during term, in France up to 964 hours a year. It helps the budget but should not carry it.
A budget checked by people who live there
An official rate will not tell you what a room near campus or a travel pass costs in a particular city. In every country we work with, StudyU has a student consultant who studied or studies there, plus a large student network that knows today’s prices. We are international students ourselves and plan your budget the way we planned our own.
Free first consultationfrom $700 shortlist in one countryfrom $1,000 admission support
- We shortlist programmes within your budget in one country, with the full cost of each.
- We point out scholarships and discounts you can realistically get.
- We check the visa funds: the amount, the form of proof and the timing.
- We share real prices for housing and daily life, first-hand.
The university makes the admission decision and the consulate issues the visa; nobody can guarantee either. We answer for what depends on us: a realistic shortlist, checked documents and deadlines met. Paid work runs under a contract with StudyU.
Frequently asked questions
How much money do I need for a year abroad?
From ≈ $13,600 in Germany (a tuition-free public university, student housing) to ≈ $52,600 in Canada (UBC, tuition plus the living minimum) and over $90,000 at private US universities: MIT’s full 2026/27 cost of attendance is $92,760 before financial aid. The main variables are tuition, the city and the type of housing.
How much must I show for a student visa?
Germany €11,904 for the first year, Canada CAD 23,448 a year on top of tuition, the Netherlands €1,130.77 a month, Italy €10,179.85 per academic year, the UK £1,171–1,529 a month for up to nine months, Spain €600 a month. In the USA it equals the university’s estimate on the I-20.
Where can I study for free?
Most German public universities charge no tuition, only a semester contribution; Baden-Württemberg and TUM are the exceptions for non-EU students. Full scholarships such as Erasmus Mundus, GKS, MEXT and the Chinese Government Scholarship also make study close to free. See the guide to tuition-free study abroad.
Can part-time work cover the costs?
Partly. Work is allowed within visa limits: in Canada up to 24 hours a week during term, in France up to 964 hours a year. But visa funds must be shown before departure, and in the first months you still have to find a job.
Which exchange rate should I use?
Plan in the local currency and keep a buffer. Dollar amounts on this page use ECB rates of 7 October 2026 and move with the exchange rate.
What do families most often forget?
Deposits for the university place and housing, the health surcharge or insurance for the whole stay, flights home, books, translations and apostilles, and higher fees in later years: some universities publish next year’s higher rates in advance.
Are StudyU’s fees included in these figures?
No. The first consultation is free; a university shortlist in one country starts from $700 and admission support from $1,000, and we confirm the exact price before the contract. Tuition, university fees, translations and visa fees are paid separately.
Detailed budgets by country
Let’s work out your budget
Tell us the countries, level of study and what your family can spend per year. In a free consultation we will show which options fit.