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Funding · 7 min read

Planning your budget: tuition, living and hidden costs

How to build a realistic yearly budget, including the costs most students forget.

Published 23 Oct 2026

The big two

  • Tuition: set by the institution and the course, and it can rise each year
  • Living costs: rent, food, transport and utilities. These vary hugely by city.

Costs students forget

  • Application and test fees
  • Visa fees and health surcharges or cover
  • Deposits for accommodation
  • Flights and the first month's setup costs

Funding

Scholarships exist, but they are competitive and specific. Treat any award as a bonus, not as the foundation of your plan. We can help you find options worth checking, but we cannot promise an award.

A simple method

Add tuition and twelve months of living costs, then add 10–15% as a buffer. If the total does not work, look at shorter programmes, smaller cities or a different intake.

General guidance only. Always verify requirements, costs and policies with the institution or the official government source.