Financial considerations
Plan the costs of studying or working abroad before you apply.
Studying or working abroad can involve extra costs, including travel, accommodation, healthcare and visa documents. Make sure you understand what you may need to pay for and what funding may be available before you apply.
Travel and arrival costs
You should plan for the costs of travelling to your destination and getting settled when you arrive.
- flights or rail journeys
- transfers
- travel within the host country
Living and accommodation costs
You may have to demonstrate you have the necessary funds to satisfy immigration requirements in certain countries. Please refer to the undergraduate opportunities for an indication of how much this may be.
- day-to-day living costs
- accommodation (particularly if you need to live off-campus)
- meal plans, if required
- evidence of funds for immigration purposes
Study costs
The cost of purchasing books for academic purposes may be considerably higher in some countries.
- books
- academic supplies
- any course-related materials
Visa and document costs
You may need to pay for visa applications, appointments or supporting documents before you travel.
- visa application fees
- travel to an embassy or visa appointment, if needed
- private medical examinations
- applications for criminal record checks
- document translation fees
- notarised documents fees
- International Child Protection Certificate for British Council language assistants
Health and insurance costs
You should check what healthcare, vaccination and insurance costs may apply in your host country.
- vaccinations, if needed
- medical insurance, if required
- on-campus medical insurance policies required by some partner universities, particularly in North America
Funding and income
You should consider what funding may be available and whether you can work while you are abroad.
- scholarships
- If you normally apply for a US Federal Loan, you should contact the US Loans Team at admin-usloan@st-andrews.ac.uk before applying to study abroad to check what funding options are available to you
- part-time work opportunities in the host country
Remember that while you may be eligible for a mobility grant or scholarship, you will be responsible for your travel costs, living costs and any other personal expenses.
For advice about arrangements regarding grants and loans which you currently receive and how study abroad may impact on these, please contact the Money Advice team at money.advice@st-andrews.ac.uk.