The cost of studying abroad for Indian students is one of the many factors that fuel their decision of choosing the right country and the right university for their desired course. The cost of studying abroad also varies from country to country and many other factors like the city, the type and level of higher education they are choosing, the type of university, and more.
While many might believe that the cost of studying abroad only covers tuition fees, it does entail a number of other costs such as books and supplies, and accommodation costs among others. To help students first create a budget, let us understand the study abroad costs that one should not overlook.
This article will also enlighten students about the cost of studying abroad for Indian students in some of the most popular countries around the world.
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What the Cost of Studying Abroad Covers?
Before discovering the cost of studying abroad for Indian students at the top study abroad destinations, lets first examine what the cost of studying abroad actually covers for international students.
Tuition Fees
The primary cost or expense for Indian students to study abroad is the tuition fees of the programme in which they are enrolled. The tuition fees will vary depending on the level of their degree/programme, the type of university/college and the country. This also covers the universities administrative costs and other miscellaneous costs that the university may charge from international students.
Books and Supplies
Apart from the annual/semester-based tuition fees and administrative fees that the universities abroad charge, the cost of books and supplies or other course materials (as per the programme you are enrolled in) are also included in the overall cost of studying abroad for Indian students.
Accommodation Costs
Accommodation while studying abroad is the second-largest and one of the most crucial costs for Indian students, after tuition fees. Many study abroad programmes include this cost in the upfront programme fees, especially if students choose to live in a homestay or dormitories with meals. Many students also choose to rent a flat outside of the city centre in order to have more flexibility. Renting a place by oneself is usually more expensive than sharing one with other students. As a result, students must determine what works best for them.
Transportation Cost
Transportation costs are also included in the cost of studying abroad for Indian students. After a student has been accepted by the institution, they will need to make travel arrangements to go from their off-campus hostel or other types of student accommodation to the university and vice versa. Furthermore, whether students are studying through the Erasmus+ programme or receiving a scholarship, they must pay for both the outward and return flights.
Health and Travel Insurance
The cost of studying abroad for Indian students also includes health and travel insurance. Depending on the length of their degree, studying abroad usually entails being away from home for one to five years. As a result, it is critical that their healthcare is covered wherever they go.
Miscellaneous Costs
Aside from the aforementioned expenses, the overall cost of studying abroad for Indian students also covers other miscellaneous costs like:
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University application fees,
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Visa charges,
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Exam charges,
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Groceries,
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Phone/internet bills, etc.
Cost of Studying in the USA for Indian Students
Known as the land of opportunities, the USA is one of the most desirable and popular study abroad destinations for Indian students, with the largest number of its academic institutions ranking at the top of the QS World University Rankings 2022. The country has one of the best and most prestigious education systems in the world, being home to elite universities such as MIT, Stanford, Harvard, Caltech, and others.
STEM, Medical, Healthcare, Biology, Biomedical, Liberal Arts, Social Sciences, Aviation, Computer Science, AI, and other degrees are available at the diploma, undergraduate, and postgraduate levels in the USA. The table mentioned below highlights the average cost of studying for Indian students in the USA:
Type of Expense |
Average Estimated Cost (in USD) |
Bachelors programmes |
8,000 - 35,000 |
Masters programmes |
30,000 - 60,000 |
Doctoral programmes |
10,000 - 43,000 |
Universities Application Fees |
50 - 160 |
Visa Application Fee |
460 - 490 |
Yearly Cost of Living Expense |
12,000 - 36,000 |
Cost of Studying in Canada for Indian Students
Canada is another well-known destination for international students looking to study abroad. This is because it is less expensive than in other countries. The country also has world-class and prominent universities such as the University of Toronto, McGill University, the University of British Columbia, the University of Alberta, and many others. Business & Finance, Computer Science, IT, Engineering, Health & Medicine, Media & Journalism, and other subjects of study are among the most popular in Canada.
The average cost of studying in Canada for Indian students can be found by type of expense in the table below. One must, however, keep in mind that the overall cost is determined by a variety of criteria such as the type or the level, its international reach and reputation, the type of university, and the city in which the student will be residing, and so on.
Type of Expense |
Average Estimated Cost (in CAD) |
Bachelors programmes |
5,500 - 30,000 |
Masters programmes |
18,000 - 57,000 |
Doctoral programmes |
5,000 - 25,000 |
Universities Application Fees |
50 - 300 |
Visa Application Fee |
150 |
Yearly Cost of Living Expense |
15,000 - 20,000 |
Cost of Studying in the UK for Indian Students
Known as the land of angles, the UK is another popular study abroad destination for Indian students. Attracted by its English culture, old and prestigious universities, lifestyle, monumental cities, history and opportunities, the UK attracts and welcomes large numbers of international students, especially from India to study their desired courses to expand their careers.
The country is best known for its courses in different fields of study like Law, Computer Science, Design Studies, Preclinical Medicine, Sports, Management, Finance, Business Administration, Psychology, Architecture and more. Without a doubt, the country is internationally recognised as a pioneer in quality education and teaching excellence, with many of its academic institutions continuously standing at the top of world university rankings.
From a wide range of courses to streamlined immigration regulations, the United Kingdom provides a safe and dynamic cosmopolitan environment for seekers, as well as a plethora of job and research options.
The table tabulated below will help one determine the average cost of studying in the UK for Indian students:
Type of Expense |
Average Estimated Cost (in GBP) |
Bachelors programmes |
8,000 - 25,000 |
Masters programmes |
10,000 - 35,000 |
Doctoral programmes |
15,000 - 30,000 |
Universities Application Fees |
50 - 150 |
Visa Application Fee |
372 |
Yearly Cost of Living Expense |
12,000 - 15,000 |
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Cost of Studying in Australia for Indian Students
Australia is one of the most emerging countries and study abroad destinations that are attracting masses of international students from all over the world. The country is effectively attracting a large student population due to its advantageous stay back visa regulations, world-class universities, quality education and courses, career opportunities, and mode of living.
It also encourages innovation, creativity, and independent thought across its universities. The educational system is unique, demanding, enjoyable, and rewarding. Furthermore, students may expect to live, grow, and learn in a young, pleasant, and opportunity-rich country.
One of the most appealing advantages of being an international student in Australia is the possibility to work part-time while studying. Those with a student visa are automatically permitted to work in Australia. International students must seek their own jobs, but once recruited, they will acquire hands-on experience in a variety of industries.
The country is highly renowned for its courses in the field of STEM, Biomedical Engineering, Earth Sciences, Computer Science and IT, Psychology, Tourism and Hospitality Management, and many more.
The country also offers spectacular scholarships to international students to finance their studies. The table tabulated below will help our readers to examine the average cost of study in Australia for Indian students:
Type of Expense |
Average Estimated Cost (in AUD) |
Bachelors programmes |
20,000 - 45,000 |
Masters programmes |
22,000 - 50,000 |
Doctoral programmes |
18000 - 42,000 |
Universities Application Fees |
50 - 100 |
Visa Application Fee |
630 + 470 |
Yearly Cost of Living Expense |
18,000 - 27,000 |
Cost of Studying in Germany for Indian Students
Famously known as the land of poets and thinkers, Germany is also one of the most attractive and affordable study abroad destinations for international students. The country is known for its affordable cost of studying, high ranked universities, affordable cost of living, a plethora of work opportunities and quality education. Hundreds of universities in Germany provide free or very low-cost tuition programmes to international students.
The Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Technical University of Munich, Humboldt University Berlin, Technical University of Berlin, Free University of Berlin and more are some of the highly ranked prestigious universities that are attracting a huge student population from abroad. Germany is the place to be if you want to study a course related to STEM, Engineering, Medicine, Architecture, Business, Aviation, Artificial Intelligence, Computer Science, Data Science and many more.
The main reason that young people from all over the world come to Germany is to integrate a high-quality education with a unique cultural experience. Here is a quick overview of the average cost of studying abroad for Indian students studying in Germany for higher education:
Type of Expense |
Average Estimated Cost (in EUR) |
Bachelors programmes |
200 - 20,000 |
Masters programmes |
3,500 - 18,000 |
Doctoral programmes |
800 - 5,000 |
Universities Application Fees |
15 - 50 |
Visa Application Fee |
70 |
Yearly Cost of Living Expense |
9600 - 12,000 |
Scholarships to Study Abroad for Indian Students
One cannot deny that studying abroad can create a big hole in ones pocket while arranging all the finances to kickstart the study abroad journey. Having said that, we must also appreciate that foreign countries are also coming up with more and more scholarships to help students finance and fuel their study abroad dream.
These scholarships are a great way to attract and motivate more international students to think about studying abroad in countries like the UK, the USA, Canada, Australia and more. Having seen a detailed overview of the cost of studying abroad for Indian students in different countries, let us refer to the list of some of the most popular international scholarships that help students finance their costs of studying abroad:
International Scholarships |
Country Providing the Scholarship |
Eligible Study Level |
Australia Award Scholarship |
Australia |
Bachelors and Masters |
ACU Destination Australia International Scholarship |
Australia |
Bachelors |
Australia Research Training programme (RTP) Scholarship |
Australia |
Masters |
Scholarships by Australian Embassy |
Australia |
Bachelors, Masters, MBA, and PhD |
British Council GREAT scholarships for Indian Students |
UK |
Masters |
Charles Wallace India Trust Scholarships |
UK |
Doctoral and Research students |
Saltire Scholarships |
UK |
All degree levels |
British Chevening Scholarships for International Scholarships |
UK |
Masters |
Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters Degree Scholarship |
UK |
Masters |
A.S Hornby Educational Trust Scholarship |
UK |
Masters |
Rhodes Scholarship |
UK |
Masters |
Dr Manmohan Singh Scholarships |
UK |
Doctoral |
Inlaks Scholarships |
UK |
Masters |
Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship |
Canada |
Masters |
IDRC Research Awards |
Canada |
Masters and Doctoral |
Vanier Graduate Scholarships |
Canada |
All degree levels |
Canadian Studies Post-Doctoral Fellowship |
Canada |
Doctoral |
Ontario Trillium Scholarship |
Canada |
Doctoral |
Hubert Humphrey Fellowship programme |
USA |
Non-degree graduate coursework and related practical experience for 10 months |
Fulbright- Nehru Fellowships |
USA |
Masters and Doctoral |
AAUW International Fellowships |
USA |
Masters |
#YouAreWelcomeHere Scholarship |
USA |
All degree levels |
DAAD WISE Scholarship programme |
Germany |
Masters |
Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung Scholarship |
Germany |
Doctoral |
Heinrich Boll Scholarships |
Germany |
Masters and Doctoral |
Kofi Annan MBA Scholarships |
Germany |
MBA/MIM |
So this was all about the cost of studying abroad for Indian students in countries like the USA, the UK, Canada, Australia and Germany. One must also acknowledge and understand that there are numerous aspects to consider before moving abroad to study. However, once students have completed this planning, they will accept the fact that all of their efforts were worthwhile.
The experience of studying and working with individuals from all over the world, as well as learning about different cultures and ethnicities, will enrich students perspectives on life. In conclusion, obtaining a degree from another country would undoubtedly help Indian students stand out from the crowd while also bringing them closer to their career goals.
You can be the next to kickstart your study abroad journey in 2022. Get in touch with our expert counsellors via writing to us at abroad@collegedekho.com today!
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