"How much will it really cost?" is the first question every family asks — and the honest answer is: it depends on the country, the course and, above all, the city. Here's how to build a realistic, all-in budget instead of a scary guess.
The two buckets that make up your budget
Your total is tuition plus living costs (rent, food, transport, insurance, phone). Tuition varies by course and university; living cost is driven mostly by the city — a regional town can cost far less than a capital, for the same degree.
Rough positioning by destination
- UK & USA: higher tuition, but the UK's one-year master's can reduce total cost
- Canada & Australia: strong value, with the right to work part-time while studying
- Europe (business & hospitality schools): varies widely; some genuinely strong-value options
- Asia (Singapore, Malaysia): lower cost, globally recognised degrees and pathways
The one-time costs people forget
- Application and visa fees
- IELTS/PTE tests and biometrics
- Airfare and initial settling-in (deposit, first month, essentials)
- Health cover / insurance where required
How to bring the number down — honestly
- Choose a strong university in a smaller, cheaper city
- Apply for scholarships and fee waivers you're actually eligible for
- Use part-time work rights where the country allows
- Budget for the real city, not an optimistic average
Don't forget the return side
Cost is only half the equation — look at earning potential and post-study work rights too. A slightly higher upfront cost in a country with strong graduate salaries can be the better financial decision.
Your next step
Book a free assessment to get your real numbers and a funding plan that fits your family's budget.
Student visa cost by country, 2026
The visa itself is a small part of the total, but it is the part people forget to budget. Current government fees, before tuition and living costs:
- ✓Canada — CAD 150 study permit plus CAD 85 biometrics, so CAD 235 minimum, plus VAC charges of roughly CAD 30–100
- ✓Australia — the student visa charge rose by about 25% in July 2025, making the study visa cost in Australia among the highest of the major destinations
- ✓UK — the student visa fee plus the Immigration Health Surcharge, which is usually the larger of the two
- ✓Add to all of these: the English test, the medical, courier and document costs
The funds you must show — not spend
Separate the money you spend from the money you only prove. Canada requires CAD 22,895 in living costs for a single applicant (CAD 24,617 for Quebec from January 2026), on top of tuition. Australia sets its requirement at roughly 75% of the national minimum wage. This money is yours and you live on it — but it must exist, with a documented history, before you file.
Our itemised Canada fee breakdown shows exactly where each rupee goes, and the cost estimator will model your specific course.