Your child wants to study abroad. What your family needs to know
How admission works and what depends on the family, what a year costs, how housing, safety and visas work, the rules for students under 18, and how to choose an agency that does not promise the impossible.
- Roles agreed earlyWho chooses the programme, who pays and who keeps track of deadlines.
- Money comes firstFunds for the first year are shown for the visa before departure.
- Under 18: extra rulesParental consent, a custodian, housing conditions.
- Housing as soon as admittedStudent housing is limited; never pay for a place nobody has seen.
Who does what: the student and the family
The student applies: their statement, their tests, their choice. The family is responsible for limits, money and timing. Agreeing on roles early means fewer arguments and fewer missed deadlines.
| Stage | The student | The family | When |
|---|---|---|---|
| Choosing a country and programme | Works out interests, subject and language of study. | Discusses the budget and acceptable countries, and sets the limits. | 18–24 months before the start (usually the year before the final school year). |
| Tests and documents | Takes the language test, writes the personal statement, asks for references. | Pays for tests and translations, keeps an eye on deadlines, helps with documents. | The last two school years. |
| Applications | Submits applications and attends interviews. | Prepares financial documents if the university asks for them at this stage. | Autumn and winter of the final year. |
| Decision and money | Compares offers and chooses a university. | Pays the deposit and prepares visa funds: a blocked account, statements, a sponsor letter. | Spring. |
| Visa, housing and the move | Applies for the visa and books housing. | Arranges insurance and consents for a minor, and plans spending for the first months. | Summer. |
Country deadlines are on the after school page.
What goes into a year’s budget
Count the whole year, not just tuition. Below are examples at official rates; the full country table is on the budget page.
Tuition
From nothing at most German public universities to ≈ $60,100 (£45,500) a year for expensive UK programmes; private US universities average $45,000 (tuition and fees, 2025/26).
Housing
A room in German student housing averages ≈ $355 (€318) a month; a room in the Netherlands about $615 (€550). A deposit is usually due on moving in.
Food, transport, phone
In Germany a guide is ≈ $530 (€475) a month for food, clothes, phone and study materials; the Deutschlandticket for transport costs ≈ $70 (€63) a month.
Insurance
In the UK the Immigration Health Surcharge is £776 (≈ $1,020) per year of the visa, paid upfront for the whole stay. In Germany public student health insurance costs ≈ $165 (€148) a month.
Visa and one-off costs
A UK Student visa costs £558 (≈ $735), the US SEVIS fee $350 and a Dutch residence permit €254 (≈ $285). Add tests, translations, apostilles and flights.
Visa funds
Germany: €11,904 for the first year, usually in a blocked account (≈ $13,300); Canada: CAD 23,448 a year on top of tuition (≈ $16,500); the UK: £1,171–1,529 a month for nine months.
Where to live and how to get through the first year calmly
How to choose and avoid scams
- Student housing in the first year is the simplest option: a contract with the university or its partner, close to campus. Places are limited, so apply as soon as you are admitted.
- Do not send money for a place nobody has seen. Ask for a contract, check the landlord and pay by a traceable method.
- The Netherlands is short of student rooms: Study in NL advises finding housing before you arrive.
- Count commuting and utilities: a cheap room far from campus can end up costing more.
Support on site and staying in touch
- Save the contacts of the university’s international office, student support service and your country’s consulate.
- Insurance from day one: many countries require it for the visa or registration.
- Agree how you will keep in touch: a regular call is easier on everyone than hourly check-ins.
- The first weeks are the hardest: the university’s orientation and people you already know nearby help you settle faster.
If the student is not yet 18
Many students start at 17. Rules for minors differ by country, so check them before applying.
Visa from 16, with parental consent
You can get a Student visa from age 16. At 16 or 17 you need your parents’ consent and must show evidence of it when you apply. Universities may have their own rules for students under 18, so ask the admissions office.
Adulthood at 18 or 19
The age of majority depends on the province: 18 or 19. Under 17, a student travels with a parent or legal guardian or has a custodian in Canada who is a citizen or permanent resident. From 17 a custodian is optional, though an officer may still ask for one.
Consents, powers of attorney, housing
A university may require parental consent for enrolment and the housing contract, and a consulate may ask for a notarised consent. These are signed and certified at home, so get the list early.
The student visa in four steps
A document from the university
The basis of the visa: a CAS in the UK, an I-20 in the USA, an acceptance letter plus a provincial attestation letter (PAL) in Canada.
Money
Proof of funds for the year: statements, a blocked account or a sponsor letter, according to the country’s rules.
Forms and fees
Application form, passport, insurance and fees; for the UK, residents of Russia and Kazakhstan need a tuberculosis test.
The consulate’s decision
Apply as soon as the documents are ready: a UK visa decision usually takes up to three weeks. The consulate decides.
Visa guides: UK · USA (F-1) · Canada · Germany · Italy · France
How to check an agency before you sign
Five questions for the first meeting and five signs that you should look for another agency.
What to ask
- Who exactly will work with our child, and did that person study abroad?
- Why do these programmes fit, in terms of requirements, budget and goals?
- What does the price include, what is extra, and can we see the contract before paying?
- How can we verify your accreditation? ICEF accreditation, for example, can be checked on the ICEF website.
- What happens if a university says no or a deadline slips, and what are the refund terms?
Red flags
- Guaranteed admission or visa. No honest agency can promise either.
- Pressure and urgency: “only two places left”, “this price ends on Friday”.
- Tuition paid to the agency. It is safer to pay tuition and deposits directly to the university, using the details in its official letter.
- No contract, or a price you only learn “after payment”.
- Offers to “improve” documents: changing grades, writing the statement for the student, hiding a past visa refusal.
We are international students first. So we know this road from the inside.
In every country we work with, StudyU has a student consultant who studied or studies there and can tell your family honestly how things really work. Our large student network keeps us up to date on life and study in your city. Mikhail Matyushenko, StudyU’s founder, and Damir Natkho are two of us; there are many more student consultants, studying in different countries. For us this is not just a paid service; it is what we love doing.
One consultant
Stays with you from the first consultation to the university’s decision and knows your family’s whole story.
A contract and open prices
A shortlist in one country starts from $700 and admission support from $1,000. We confirm the exact price before the contract, once we know your case. The first consultation is free.
Honest about risks
The university decides admission and the consulate issues the visa, and we say so from the first meeting. What depends on us is a realistic list, checked documents and deadlines met, and we point out weak spots early, while there is still time to fix them.
About the team → · Reviews → · Services and prices → · ICEF accreditation #7302 ↗
Frequently asked questions
From what age can a student go to university abroad?
The visa and the university set the limits. A UK Student visa is available from 16 with parental consent; in Canada a student under 17 needs a parent present or a custodian. If your child is 17, check the university’s rules early.
How much does a year abroad cost?
From ≈ $13,600 in Germany (a tuition-free public university and student housing) to $90,000 or more at a private US university. See what studying abroad costs by country.
Can the student work to pay for living costs?
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 for the year must be shown upfront, so part-time work should not be the core of the budget.
What if my child is not admitted?
To avoid that, students apply to several universities and countries with different deadlines. If rejections do come, there are later rounds, a foundation programme or the next year; in the UK, for example, Clearing fills remaining places in summer. We agree a back-up plan early, not in August.
How are parents involved when working with StudyU?
Come to the free consultation together with your child: we discuss the goal, budget and timing with everyone present. After that you know who is handling your case and can ask them questions.
Do you guarantee admission?
No. The university decides admission and the consulate decides the visa, so nobody can promise either in advance. Our terms of work and refunds are set out in the contract and our refund policy.
More reading for families
Let’s plan it together with your child
In a free consultation we go through the goal, the family budget and timing, name realistic countries and talk honestly about the risks.