What a year actually costs.
Tuition is the number students look at. Rent, insurance, the deposit and the flight are the ones that decide whether the year works.
Tuition and living costs
Indicative figures for 2026/27, confirmed with the university before you apply.
| Country | Undergraduate a year | Postgraduate a year | Living cost a month |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | £12,000 to £26,000 | £14,000 to £30,000 | £1,000 to £1,400 a month outside London; £1,500 to £2,000 in London |
| France | €2,850 a year at public universities for non-EU students; €6,000 to €15,000 at private schools | €3,879 a year at public universities; €10,000 to €25,000 at grandes écoles and business schools | €800 to €1,200 a month outside Paris; €1,200 to €1,800 in Paris |
| Germany | €0 to €3,000 at public universities (Baden-Württemberg charges €1,500 a semester to non-EU students) | €0 to €5,000 at public universities; €10,000 to €30,000 at private universities | €950 to €1,400 a month; the blocked account is set at €992 a month |
| Ireland | €10,000 to €25,000 | €10,000 to €25,000 | €1,100 to €1,800 a month, with Dublin at the top of the range |
| United States | US$20,000 to US$55,000 | US$20,000 to US$60,000 | US$1,300 to US$2,800 a month depending on the city |
| Canada | CA$20,000 to CA$40,000 | CA$17,000 to CA$35,000 | CA$1,300 to CA$2,300 a month depending on the city |
| Australia | A$25,000 to A$50,000 | A$25,000 to A$50,000 | A$1,800 to A$2,800 a month depending on the city |
The costs students forget
Tuition deposit
Usually £3,000 to £5,000 in the UK and €1,500 to €3,000 in France and Germany, paid before the university issues visa paperwork.
Health cover
The UK charges an Immigration Health Surcharge for every year of your visa. Germany requires public health insurance. France requires registration with the health system.
Accommodation deposit
One to two months' rent up front, plus a guarantor requirement in France that catches many students out.
Flights and setting up
Flights, a phone contract, a bank account, bedding and a winter coat. Budget for the first month costing more than the rest.
Scholarships
Most of the money students actually receive comes from the university itself, not from famous named schemes. Universities award merit reductions at the offer stage, usually worth a few thousand pounds or euros.
We check what each university on your shortlist is offering for your intake before you apply, because eligibility often depends on when you apply, not just on your grades.
We do not promise scholarships, and you should be careful of anyone who does.
Education loans
Many of our students fund the year with an education loan from a lender at home. We can introduce you to lenders who understand the UK, French and German admissions timetable, so the money is in place when the university and the embassy need to see it.
We are not a lender or a broker and we receive nothing for an introduction. Any loan is a contract between you and the lender, on their terms.
Want the full-year figure?
Tell us your shortlist. We will send one number for the whole year, with every line shown.