Costs

UK: £14,000 to £30,000 a year for most master's. Ireland: €10,000 to €25,000. Canada: CA$17,000 to CA$40,000. US: US$20,000 to US$60,000. Australia: A$25,000 to A$50,000. Germany: €0 at most public universities. Medicine, dentistry and MBAs run higher everywhere.

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A deposit of £2,000 to £5,000 (or equivalent) when you accept the offer, and the balance either before the course starts or in two or three instalments during the year. Most universities require the deposit, and sometimes a larger part of the first year, paid before issuing a CAS or I-20.

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Usually by 3 to 5 percent a year at UK universities. Some universities fix your fee for the length of the course; ask before you accept.

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UK outside London £1,000 to £1,400 a month, London £1,500 to £2,000; Dublin €1,300 to €1,800; Toronto CA$1,500 to CA$2,300; Sydney A$2,000 to A$2,800; Berlin €950 to €1,300. Each country page has the breakdown by category.

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The health surcharge or insurance, the visa fee, flights, an accommodation deposit, winter clothes, a phone contract, textbooks, and the cost of going home for a family emergency. We add a contingency of 10 percent to every budget.

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For some subjects and careers (finance, law, media, fashion) the London network is worth it. For most one-year master's, a university in Birmingham, Manchester, Glasgow or Leeds gives the same degree at £6,000 to £10,000 less over the year.

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