ChoosingWhat does studying a language abroad really cost?
The course is one line of the budget. Here is the rest of it, before it surprises you.
4 min read
The price of the course is only part of what you will spend. Work out the whole thing before you choose a school.
Start with the course
Compare the total and check exactly what is included. Some schools charge registration, materials or activities separately, so two offers with different prices can end up costing almost the same.
Then the accommodation
For most students this is the second biggest expense. It changes a lot with the city, the distance to school and the type: homestay, student residence, a shared room, a flat, or something the school arranges. Count deposits and possible extras too.
One example, so you have the order of magnitude
London, a group course of 20 hours a week plus a homestay with breakfast and dinner: the base cost runs between £750 and £824 a week for course and accommodation together, roughly US$1,000 to US$1,100. The longer you stay, the lower that weekly figure tends to get, because many schools discount progressively.
London is one of the most expensive cities there is for this, so use that number as a ceiling to reason from, not as an average. Finding your own number, in your own destination, is exactly what the bid is for.
Do not forget living costs
Add an estimate for food, transport, phone and internet, laundry, going out, personal items and small daily spending. Living in two cities of the same country can cost very different amounts.
Include what you spend before you travel
Depending on the destination you may also have flights, insurance, documents and a visa.
Compare the total, not the school
Imagine finding a cheaper course in a city where accommodation and transport cost much more. The cheap option ends up costing more.
So the useful question is not "how much is this course". It is "how much will my whole experience cost".
Still choosing your school?
Tell us the course, the destination and the budget you are looking for. Accredited schools can send you offers to compare. You compare, and you choose.
