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Higher education

Talk to other parents whose children are preparing for university on our Higher Education forum.

Original poster

Study Abroad Year on Under Graduate Degree- Costs?

30 replies

Dogsarethebest · 21/02/2018 11:31

Morning All 😊

Dd has offers from Lancaster, Leeds Liverpool and Newcastle for Law degree studies. Dd is wanting to do a year abroad, so a 4 year course and I wondered how much very approx this would cost (I will speak to unis). I know flights, accom, living costs etc will be needed, and I am expecting fees from the uni abroad. Anyone's child done it, and if so can't you kindly give me an idea of what to expect. I a hoping you can still get loans for that year - we are not rich! I would hate for her not to do it, but we need as much info as possible.

Many thanks 😊

OP posts:
Fortysix · 21/02/2018 14:48

Depends where she wants to go - Europe, Australia, Far East, US & Canada etc and whether for one semester or full year.

Aside from fees mine budgeted £13 k for two semesters August -May in the US which included trip home Xmas and weekend trips once a month. In the US it makes a difference whether DC is 21 or not as there is a no alcohol ban for under 21s which impacts living costs ...

Moominmammacat · 21/02/2018 15:53

My DS was in Austria and it was an arm and a leg, a brilliant year but expensive. He got Erasmus grants, a few jobs, small amount from me but flights, travel (every weekend was a different European city, but of course it doesn't have to be ...). Year Abroad fees are lower (£1800, I think, to the home uni) but I remember it as a very expensive year.

Original poster
Dogsarethebest · 21/02/2018 17:39

Thank you, that certainly helps 😊

OP posts:
TalkinPeace · 24/02/2018 17:34

DD will be in mainland europe next academic year
Erasmus we hope
no idea what it will cost
hey ho

AtiaoftheJulii · 25/02/2018 00:15

I have no idea, currently waiting for dd's arrangements to be made for this autumn, so we can start to find out!

2rebecca · 25/02/2018 21:06

Agree it depends on where they go and what the funding arrangements are like then. My son's Erasmus year was cheaper than being in the UK

Haffdonga · 25/02/2018 21:18

DS is in Australia for a year. It actually works out cheaper tha UK because

  • student fees in UK are 1.5k instead of 9.5k for the year
  • the universities have reciprocal agreements to take each other's students for free (so no foreign fees)
  • the maintenance loan he gets is higher for the year
  • he can claim back money spent on flights, taxes, insurance etc

He did have to pay for a lot of it (such as accommodation) up front and of course living and travel expenses are way more than if he was living at home but worth it for the experience, ds says.

BubblesBuddy · 25/02/2018 23:10

The Erasmus award was quite a good deal and DD wasn’t out of pocket for accommodation. Fees were reciprocal. We paid her allowance as normal as she was on minimum loan. Flights are an extra exit SE but can be pretty cheap if Easy jet or equivalent fly there! Living costs can be expensive, depending on country. Some universities abroad offer accommodation that is subsidised, others don’t.

Obviously working abroad helps with money. You would need to find out if the year abroad is only university based and where it is to make a judgement on costs. However - everyone manages it somehow! It’s not until 3rd year so DD could do a bit of work to save up.

BubblesBuddy · 25/02/2018 23:12

Is it international or European law? This would make a difference re costs.

BubblesBuddy · 25/02/2018 23:19

Leeds, for example, have loads of study abroad info on their web site. Web sites are the best places to look for each university. You can then see where she could go and what the costs/grants are.

Flights are an extra expense for European destinations as a rule.

LapdanceShoeshine · 26/02/2018 00:22

DS2 did last semester in Utrecht. (He’s at Newcastle)

He missed out on Erasmus funding because he was very late applying, & on cheap university accommodation for the same reason, so it was really expensive for us. (Flights were cheap though Smile)

If the Netherlands is a possibility for your DD I’d definitely recommend it - it’s a great country for students, almost everybody speaks good English, & there is a weird scheme where the municipality subsidises your rent if you meet certain conditions (DS wasn’t there long enough so I never got to grips with it)

Of course IF Brexit actually goes ahead, & we leave the EU in March next year Sad that will have massive knock-on effects for things like Erasmus...

LapdanceShoeshine · 26/02/2018 00:27

I think student maintenance loan should be the same as for doing a 4-year course here so I wouldn’t worry about that.

I don’t know about tuition; for the semester Newcastle gets their standard tuition but it might be different for a full year.

Original poster
Dogsarethebest · 26/02/2018 13:20

Thank you all so much for your replies 😊. I think dd is looking at international law and is particularly interested at the minute in a year in America (her long held dream) or Australia. We are not big earners, so the loans will be very useful.

OP posts:
TalkinPeace · 26/02/2018 13:31

dogsare
DD looked at the US for her year and even though I have family over there and have a blue eagle passport, the visa rules Trump has brought in made it impossible
hence why she's going to Yerp

LapdanceShoeshine · 26/02/2018 17:32

@DogsAreTheBest

A friend's son is currently doing a US year (not law though) & I asked if they could tell me some of their arrangements - I have a very helpful reply for you Smile

Obviously lots of variables so you need to ask all 4 departments how their particular schemes work.

X pays no tuition fees for his year in the US. His home university, Essex, covers the tuition fees. This will vary across UK universities, but it would always be UK tuition fees. US tuition fees are extortionate!
I do recall that his second choice (Swansea) only covered half of the tuition fees, so I guess some might not cover any of it. However, he got his maintenance loan as normal. So, effectively, when he graduates his debt will be 3 years tuition fees and 4 years maintenance loan.
Regarding accommodation, X had to apply like he would for a UK University. And he had to pay for accommodation per semester, just as he would here. I suppose this might vary across US universities.
It’s worth pointing out that his US university provided bedding, so he didn’t have to fly out with any, and have been very supportive. For example, they provide transport to visit shopping malls and the nearest airport.
I’d recommend lots of University Open Days, to find out more about the various positions on tuition fees and what partner universities they have in the US

BubblesBuddy · 26/02/2018 19:16

The Leeds university study abroad section has lots of info on studying in North America. You need, probably, compulsory insurance, proof of funds for emergencies, money for books and other costs, flights, and early applications in February in y2 mean your need your ducks in a row at that point because of visa requirements.

There are reduced fees at Leeds. This is because they supervise and mark the work the student completes for them. This may well be the case at other highly regarded universities. Students have to apply for the placement so that takes work by the university to sift and select applicants. There is a lot of competition one would assume.

If you are paying a contribution for your DD’s maintenance, I would try and find out the true costs of studying in the USA for a year to see if it will be more expense for you. The Leeds site says it is more expensive than being in Leeds, but that may be down to the student to fund the difference, not the parent. I am sure you could email the study abroad staff or be put in touch with students who have been to a university in the USA. Leeds list their partner universities. No doubt, as in the uk, the cost of living varies. I would assume the other universities also have good jnfirnation. You just have to look for it because it varies.

Original poster
Dogsarethebest · 27/02/2018 11:56

Ooh! Very helpful, big thanks for that 😊

OP posts:
Original poster
Dogsarethebest · 27/02/2018 11:58

Thank you for some very helpful responses 😊

OP posts:
sendsummer · 27/02/2018 12:44

Talkin what do you mean by the change in visa rules make it impossible? Is this just for your family? UK students and postgraduates still seem to be going to the States for study / research posts.

TalkinPeace · 27/02/2018 12:48

sendsummer
DD's work placement year requirements got silly - and when she asked around, "year in industry" visas have become very hard to get.
It may not be policy, but the DHS guys have gone a bit wild lately.

sendsummer · 27/02/2018 12:52

Thanks, interesting.

Fortysix · 27/02/2018 13:53

My DC presently in the US has a student visa (applied July 2017 with Trump in power) which doesn't allow DC to seek work. DC is covered for study abroad 3rd year exchange and can get a job in the library or student union but strictly nothing outwith the campus.

Research posts and internships are more complex and not something we have explored.

Needmoresleep · 27/02/2018 14:07

Fortysix, I dont think mainstream research assistant jobs should be a problem. DS is currently shortlisted for a couple, including one with a US public sector body, and not being American does not seem to be much of an issue. The academic one came via a recruitment website. He applied for one job, made the shortlist, and was invited to apply for another at the same place, did not get that but was then invited to apply for a third with a collaborator of the second. Third time lucky?

These are post Masters, though some (Europeans) on his Masters course already seem to have done some research work in the States prior to starting.

LapdanceShoeshine · 27/02/2018 15:16

Is research work different (for visa purposes) from work placements though?

The US visa system is arcane & tortuous Confused

TalkinPeace · 27/02/2018 15:27

The US visa system is arcane & tortuous
The British one is as bad and a LOT more expensive.
Its one of the reasons I got a UK passport - visa costs of over £1000 to live and work here (despite already being a taxpayer)

One of the issues with the US system is the random application of it by DHS agents at the border
hey ho