How much does an undergraduate international year cost?

[Lilymaid]

DS should be going on an international year between Y2 and final year of his degree. I know that the tuition fees will paid to his UK university and will be the same as he would pay for a year in the UK. However, I've no idea of other costs.
He hopes to go to a state university in the US (fall back position is a German university). Any idea about living and other costs? I have a feeling that Bank of Mum and Dad may be called on even more than usual.

Can't help you with American universities, but I know a bit about studying in Germany. You would actually be making a big loss on the year, because very few German universities charge 3,000 quid (or 9,000, whatever you're paying) - they generally charge admin/student union fees only, and if you're unlucky you'll have to pay those in addition to the university in question. In Berlin for example, the admin fees include a local public transport ticket so is actually worthwhile.

Living expenses are generally fairly low (certainly no higher than the UK), unless you insist on living in the centre of Munich, Hamburg or Dusseldorf. You would need to budget for about 5-600 euros per month for accommodation, food, etc I asked a friend recently whose son is studying in Munich and he has to manage on 600 euros all inclusive. It's very common for students to have part-time jobs to supplement their income. Most students will be older than those in the UK - often they will only start studying at 21 rather than graduating then. Halls of Residence are frequently awful, there's much more scope sharing a private flat (called a WG) with other students.

Thanks - the UK university deals with the fees, so probably wins on some, loses on others. The UK university still has responsibility for the student and the student has to submit some work back to the UK during the year.
I can remember visiting a German friend who was still at university in her late 20s when I'd graduated and been at work for several years.

DD1 is on her international year at the moment. She pays reduced tuition fees to her home university (half the normal amount) and she was able to borrow slightly more for her maintenance loan - I think it was about £500 extra . She is at a state university in California and it has been expensive. There are visa costs and $1200 for health insurance plus of course flights. We managed to get reasonably "cheap" flights by booking far ahead.

Rent and the cost of living is higher than in the UK but she is in a big city. You can't go too cheap on the rent or you might end up living in a really terrible area. There was no accommodation available at the university for international students and so DD1 had to stay in a backpacker hostel for the first couple of weeks while she did her househunting (while I fretted at home till she got sorted out!).

It has been a fantastic experience but we have had to help out more financially than when she was in the UK.

Ds1 has an offer for a four year course which may include a semester abroad ,,I am a bit concerned about the extra costs but hopefully ultimately he will be more employable and I think the experience will be amazing.

DD1 is one of the youngest in her year so if she would have graduated at only 20. A four year course has been a good thing for her and I think she has gained a lot of confidence from the experience. She did have all sorts of work lined up for just before she went to america but managed to be ill and so her plans fell apart.

There are grants available to help with the extra costs but DD1 wasn't eligible for any of them.

Thanks for your messages. DS hopes to go to a university on the eastern seaboard. Unfortunately he has a chronic illness (controlled successfully by drugs) so the health insurance will be bumped up - and then exclude his illness. He's been to the US a couple of times as a camp counselor and has a few friends in the area, so he ought to be able to cope (whether I do is another matter). We will also look out for bargain flights as he needs to get back to the UK at Christmas and Easter vacations for his medical checkups - as well as to see us.

Lilymaid there isn't an Easter break in the US. They work on two semesters, the first is August to December with a week off in October and then from the end of January to May with a week off in March. DD1 has a week off next week for spring break (she's going to Las Vegas ) but she isn't coming home now till June.

Webwiz
Thanks for the information (more than I am likely to extract from DS!)
DS has already been to Las Vegas but was under 21 at the time, so is hoping for another visit when he is 21 and able to gamble/drink . It looks as though we will have to pay out for a few quick visits from him back to the UK to see his NHS consultant (which will probably still work out cheaper than paying to see someone in the US) and get his prescribed medication.

DD1 is still only 20 so it will be a cheaper trip for her than the others!

DD1's asthma wasn't covered by her health insurance so she took a stockpile of inhalers but pre existing conditions were only excluded for 6 months. The policy was one demanded by the US university for international students and it cost the same whatever your current health. The university has its own individual recommended policy and if you didn't use theirs you needed to get a signed affidavit from your insurance broker to say that your policy had the amount of cover that they require. Obviously you can add extra features to the policy for an additional cost. Three cheers for the NHS is my view.