ACCOMODATION AND LIVING EXPENSES OF STUDENTS STUDYING ABROAD

The final piece of the study abroad puzzle: finding the right international accommodation. Why should you look high and low for some place to call ‘home, sweet home’, after having received the offer letter from your dream university?

Finding the right accommodation is extremely essential to your well-being and student-happiness. It could enhance your stay abroad and make you more productive in your educational pursuits as well.

These are a few factors we think you should bear in mind, while you are on the lookout for your much-needed university accommodation.

While many universities provide rooms in their residential halls, there are some that expect you to find private accommodation by yourself. Some universities recommend students to take up certain off-campus accommodation options and help with arrangements, even if they don’t offer any.
You can also choose to use the university’s accommodation services on a temporary basis before moving to an off-campus option.

Location Matters

The first thing you need to do is map out the area surrounding your university and look into prospective neighbourhoods. Ask yourself these questions:

Is your university located further away from the city centre?

Is it easily accessible by public transportation?

Are there many restaurants, shops and residences near your campus?

How much is it going to cost you? The answers will help you narrow down your options.

Research Well

You could use Facebook and other networking sites to access groups, forums and communities that discuss rental options in the city. You may find regular people posting ads on sites like Craigslist, looking for roommates. Even the local newspaper, which you can access online, may have classifieds on rentals.

Universities usually have an approved list of landlords and student-friendly real-estate agents, so make sure you check with your university advisors.

Safety Matters

In addition to considering proximity to the campus, transportation, entertainment and laundry, don’t overlook safety. It’s always good to live in an area where you feel secure at all times. Do they offer security services? Many on-campus options have 24-hour surveillance as well. Take your time to know all available safety measures taken.

Perks of Living with a Roommate

It’s always nice to live on your own, but you can save a lot of money by moving into an apartment with other students and splitting the rent evenly.

Consider that if you move in with an international student from a different country, you can learn a new language. But if you move in with a local, you can learn a great deal about the country you are living in.

Be Adaptable

Living on-campus or opting for home-stay accommodation would sometimes mean having to deal with curfews and other rules. A home-stay is where you live with a local family in their home.

If you feel restricted in space and movement, you can always choose to move out. 

Talking Money

Some private residential options may demand you to make a deposit payment – a sum which will mostly be refunded the day you leave. Certain private residential options may settle for a discounted price, if you bargain and are willing to commit to a long stay period. In this case, talk to their management and work out a good deal.

 

Key Questions

If you’ve chosen private accommodation, collect details of students residing there at present and any who used to in the recent past and get in touch with them if required. 

Necessities and Luxuries

Make a checklist of things you definitely need and what you can afford to overlook. Is air-conditioning a must? Do you need a room heater? If you are planning to cook your own meals, you may need kitchen supplies. You may even want a refrigerator in the house. Look into how well furnished the place is and decide based on your needs.

Be Resourceful

As you finalize and are making your deposit payment to the landlord, ensure you sign a proper contractual agreement. Take a local, who knows the legalities of rental agreements, with you. 

These are a few factors we think you should bear in mind, while you are on the lookout for your much-needed uni accommodation. We hope you are one step closer to feeling at home in your study destination now.

It is every parents dream to ensure that their children get the possible education – some even start planning and saving for it since the day their kids are born. However, higher education is an expensive affair, especially if you want to send your child to a foreign university. Other than the tuition fees, you will also need to factor in the cost of living. These can vary from country to country and city to city as well. It is important that you factor in both heads of expenses while chalking out your budget.

Here is a look at how much it costs to study in six top destinations. 

1.United States of America

Tuition Fees 
Varies drastically across public and private colleges. Rs 25–30 lakh in a private college, Rs 15–23 lakh in a public college 

Cost  of living
Average cost of living is Rs 75,000 a month. Living on the east coast is cheaper than on the west coast. 

Total annual cost: Rs 34 lakh 
Tuition Fees: Rs 25 lakh 
Cost of living: Rs 9 lakh 

2.Australia 

Tuition Fees 
Rs 10-16 lakh for an undergraduate course 
Rs 12–18 lakh for a postgraduate course 

Cost of living 
Prescribed cost as per visa requirement is Rs 86,000 a month. Varies across cities. For example, difference in living cost between Sydney and Canberra is around Rs 17,000 per month. 

Total annual cost: Rs 25 lakh 
Tuition Fees: Rs 15 lakh 
Cost of Living: Rs 10 lakh

3. United Kingdom 

Tuition Fees
Fees ranges from Rs 8 lakh to Rs 18 lakh. 

Cost of Living 
Prescribed cost as per visa requirement is Rs 1.1 lakh a month for London and Rs 91,000 a month outside London. 

Total annual cost: Rs 25 lakh 
Tuition fees: Rs 13 lakh 
Cost of living: Rs 12 lakh 

4. Germany 

Tuition Fees 
No fees in public universities. Some universities charge a nominal social contribution fee of about Rs 40,000 per year. 

Cost of living 
Rs 54,000 a month in big cities like Munich and Berlin. It can come down to Rs 42,000 if you live in college dorms instead of private accommodation. In smaller cities like Freiburg, Leipzig and Hannover, living cost is about Rs 42,000 a month. 

Total annual cost: Rs 5.4 lakh 
Tuition fees: Rs 40,000 
Cost of living: Rs 5 lakh 

5. Canada 

Tuition fees 
Rs 10-15 lakh for an undergraduate course 
Rs 8-20 lakh for a postgraduate course 

Cost of living 
The prescribed living expense as per the visa requirement is Rs 57,000 per month. 

Total annual cost: Rs 19.8 lakh 
Tuition fees: Rs 13 lakh 

Cost of living: Rs 6.8 lakh 

6. Singapore 

Tuition fees 
Rs 5–13 lakh for an undergraduate course 
Rs 10–25 lakh for a postgraduate course 

Cost of living 
Living expense for a student is upto Rs 50,000 per month. 

Total annual cost: Rs 18 lakh 
Tuition fees: Rs 12 lakh 
Cost of living: Rs 6 lakh 

You can reach out to the Top Overseas College Admission Consultant In Mumbai who will help you in choosing the right destination and also assist you with the visa and accommodation process.