About 2/3 of high school graduates enroll in a university immediately after high school. Young people are eager to apply to a higher education institution that can provide them with the courses, qualifications and professional knowledge they need to get the dream job after graduation.
Therefore, many of these young Romanians are thinking of pursuing higher education abroad, where the courses and subjects taught are constantly adapted to the labor market, and teachers can guide them on the chosen career path.
However, when it comes to studying abroad, young high school graduates also think about the costs they may involve, but especially how they can reduce them as much as possible.
1. Choose the right destination for your budget
You can start reducing your expenses abroad right from the moment you apply to a university! All you have to do is choose a destination in Europe that offers you studies at the lowest possible cost or even free!
2. Big city, high living costs
Even choosing the city where you will study is a decisive factor in reducing or increasing your monthly expenses. Thus, if you choose to study in a capital city, the total amount of expenses at the end of the month could be much higher than your budget.
For example, if the monthly costs per person reach about € 1,000 in Amsterdam, the capital city, in another smaller city in the Netherlands, these costs can be reduced by up to € 400 – € 500.
Therefore, we recommend that, in order to reduce your expenses in the first years of study, you opt for rent in a smaller city, which fits in your budget. Don’t worry, after the first years of study you will be able to opt for a part-time job or even a paid internship, which will allow you to live in a bigger city, where employment opportunities will be appropriate.
3. Government Loan – student aid
Until this year, the Tuition Fee Loan in the UK offered thousands of international students applying to study here the chance to fulfill their dream of studying in the UK.
However, it is not just the UK that offers popular study programs and the opportunity to cover their costs with a government loan [even in 2021, if you have already obtained “settled” or “pre-settled” status]! Along with the announcements made by the British Government after Brexit, other study destinations have become known in which young students can request support from the state, to cover all or most of the costs of their studies.
Thus, the Netherlands is one of the European countries that can help you with a government loan, calculated according to the costs of your studies. In addition, this loan is repayable only after graduation, so you can focus only on your courses, without worrying about student fees. Find out more about studying in the Netherlands here !
how you can reduce your expenses as a student
4. Daily habits
Studying abroad helps you to mature and become more responsible, especially in the first years of study. If you do not have an unlimited or very large budget, you will have to adapt your habits at home to the budget you have now.
Here are some tips that can help you significantly reduce your expenses in the first year:
Opt for dormitory accommodation in the first semester or first year to save money. This can be a temporary solution, until you get a government loan or even a part-time job, which will increase your monthly budget;
Give up what you can, for example eating in the city every night, transportation passes you don’t use, or high-value clothes and accessories;
Eat smart every day without wasting money [it saves money and the planet: D];
Borrow books or school supplies, do not buy them unless this is the teacher’s request;
Buy / Borrow a bicycle to move between locations more easily and quickly;
Eat at the canteen, where the food is super affordable for students and sooo delicious;
5. Apply for part-time jobs or paid internships during studies
A part-time job remains one of the best ways to earn some extra money and increase your monthly budget. The money you get can help you cover the cost of rent or some tuition if you have not been able to get a government loan or scholarship.
In addition, this job helps you to increase your professional experience, to meet new people and to relate more with the locals, in order to better understand their culture and traditions. We invite you to find out how you can get a quick part-time job in countries such as the United Kingdom , the Netherlands or Denmark from our articles!
Also, a paid internship obtained with the help of university professors can help you specialize in the field in which you study, as well as earn some extra money. In addition, he can provide you with a full-time job after graduation, in the same company!
expenses as an international student abroad
6. Ask for help, if needed!
As the costs abroad can be “a bit too much to handle” for any young person at the beginning of maturity, different organizations come to their aid to help them fulfill their dream of studying abroad!
One such organization is FINS , which has been providing financial assistance to young Romanians for about 2 years, who cannot obtain a scholarship or government loan, to cover their tuition fees or monthly expenses.
Thus, FINS can help you with a loan of up to ~ £ 25,000 for 3 years of Bachelor / Bachelor, 12,000 EUR for one year of Master’s studies and up to 18,000 EUR for 2 years of Master’s studies, repayable only after you have found the perfect job for you after graduation!
What you need to know
Trying to save money and be “modest” in terms of your student expenses is your first step in the maturation process! It is important to know your priorities as well as opportunities during your studies.