Budget advice for international student Leeds

[Dunlurking]

My s-in-law has asked for advice about a weekly budget for my niece, who will be spending 6 months on an exchange programme at Leeds uni. She's not a party creature, doesn't have extravagant tastes, and will be in self catering university halls. Any thoughts? I have a feeling previous threads say £25-£50 weekly is the usual range. Is that way out, or could we narrow it down? Do International students spend the same as UK ones or are there any hidden costs? We'll be lending her bed linen and stuff like that.

Thanks for any help.

[jclm]

I suppose international students may want to spend more time sightseeing and doing cultural things, and may not be able to get a part time job due to language or visa restrictions.

If it's just uni books/stationery, food, going out and toiletries that you niece will need, I would have thought £75 Max. Could your niece try to find a job eg teaching her language or bar work? As most students now work out of necessity.

[titchy]

Not sure why costs once here would be any different from home students - supermarkets don't price differentiate!

Food will cost £25 a week, so I'd say £50 a week minimum to cover phone, travel, books, laundry etc. Assuming her air fares will be paid.

[Dunlurking]

Thanks titchy and jclm. She won't be able to work on her visa but my sister in law has money here so just a case of working out what is needed. I hadn't realised it was food alone £25/week so I'll need to let her know I've advised her wrong so far

[titchy]

She might be able to eat for less by bulk buying - sacks of rice for example. But assuming she won't have transport she can't really lug a 10 kilo sack of rice back on the bus! So access to cheap supermarkets might be tricky.

[Dunlurking]

Money isn't actually a problem, I think titchy, but thanks. I think it's about working out a budget so the money is in the country in the appropriate amount, and account IYSWIM.

[Decorhate]

My dd reckoned she spent 50-70 per week & she was catered so only had to buy lunches. She does like to socialise though & would have had some train fares to visit friends in other unis

[Dunlurking]

Thanks Decorhate. That's helpful.

[hellsbells99]

We went for £80 a week self catered for DD1 at a different Northern uni - some of that was spent on transport costs though and societies.

[Dunlurking]

Oops, going up even more. Thanks for that hellsbells

[Emochild]

Depends which halls she is in

If she's close enough to walk to leeds it makes a big difference in buses and taxis after nights out

Self catering can work out cheaper than just buying lunches and you can self cater for around 15-20 a week but if the money is available then I would go with 25 a week food plus phone and some 'fun' money

I wouldn't worry about books, the vast majority are free online from the university library

[Babymouse]

As much as they can afford really. She'll want to travel. I did an exchange in Europe and spent little time in the classroom and had loads of free time. Lots of study abroad students were off to other countries every week and took full advantage of weeks off, etc. I took $3,000 with me for five months over ten years ago and could have easily spent more (I did have to pay for my own means and transport to and from uni).

[blueskyinmarch]

My DD was in self catering halls and i gave her £75 per week. This was sufficient but not extravagant. She got £50 on a Monday to buy her food etc then a further £25 on a Friday so she had night out money. She asked for the money to come to her like this so she was never really short.

[bojorojo]

My DD was an Erasmus student in Europe from September to July. As an international student there should be info on Leeds university web site about what is put on for such students. There are usually welcome events and trips out. She may not want to do anything regarding cultural experiences but lots of UK students on their Erasmus year do way more than study and sit in the hall of residence. It would be a great shame not to travel anywhere (London is a must - surely?) and she will gain way more from her visit. The exchange programmes are not just about academic learning , they are also about absorbing culture.

My DD was invited back to stay with other students, visited other cities and also went to exhibitions, Christmas markets and even neighbouring countries . Just looking at food costs is a very narrow view of an exchange and getting the most out of it. I would factor in travel and cultural activities too. This could be done with British students or students from her own country.

[LettyJane]

I paid my older children £100 a week when at university (plus rent and fees) but that willgo up for their siblings due to inflation since then. It is very hard to answer these threads because people have different amounts of money. I don't think the £100 a week (which was also paid when they were full board) meant they had a lot more than others in the places they went,. Some teenagers had an awful lot more than that and of course a lot on a lot less.

[bojorojo]

But coming as an international student is different from being a standard student who probably only travels home! It is a different experience and requires are different view of being a student. Exchange students are not 'normal' students.