Exchange: an (un)affordable experience?

Studying for a semester in a foreign country is one of the best and most valuable experiences in a student’s life. It gives you the possibility to study at a different university, yet that is not all: getting to know people who become friends for the rest of your life, exploring a new country, and planning spontaneous trips are just a few examples of the advantages an exchange semester offers you. In addition, it allows you to further develop yourself; you become more independent and will better understand the culture and norms and values of international students. However, an exchange semester needs to be financed as well. For some students, this is the deciding factor whether they are going on an exchange or not . Therefore, this column draws attention to the financial side of an exchange period. Four students, who each studied in a different country, will share their experiences and dive deeper into exchange expenses. 

Jönköping, Sweden
Romano Ruijtenburg 

Sweden, and Scandinavian countries in general, are known for being expensive. In 2017, I studied for one semester in Jönköping. A financial windfall when doing an exchange within Europe is receiving an Erasmus grant; I received 270 euros per month (5 months in total). I lived in a spacious apartment in a small flat which I shared with two other international students. Monthly rent expenses were 3300 Swedish crowns, which equals about 330 euros. In Swedish terms this is a fairly low amount, so I was lucky when it came to accommodation expenses. In Sweden, students often receive discounts on gym memberships and public transport; this cost me about 35 and 40 euros monthly, respectively. As expected, everything in Sweden is a bit more expensive compared to the Netherlands. Groceries cost me around 25% more than in Tilburg. However, especially going out is costly in Sweden; in a bar, a beer costs about 7 euros, and in clubs 10 euros. Luckily, student bars and some clubs give discounts to students, yet still going out was way more expensive than it is in Tilburg. During an exchange, chances are pretty high that you will do some trips to different cities and countries. Not surprisingly, these trips bring expenses with them. However, since student organizations often organize these trips, they are still relatively cheap. Altogether, studying in a Swedish city is more expensive than Tilburg. Nevertheless, it is a great country to spend your semester abroad, and if you handle your money and expenses smartly, the additional financial burden remains reasonable. 

Monterrey, Mexico
Roel Elissen

I left for Monterrey, Mexico, in July 2018. I studied there for one semester at Tec de Monterrey. Unfortunately, I did not receive a grant to study in Mexico. So naturally, I continued borrowing money from DUO during this period. In Monterrey, I lived in an independent studio with my own bathroom and kitchen. This furnished studio cost approximately 375 euros, which is relatively expensive for Mexican standards; however, in the Netherlands I would have paid at least 1.5 – 2 times that amount for such a studio. It would have been possible to find a room costing 250 euros, yet that would have been less luxurious than my studio. Life in Mexico is way cheaper than life in the Netherlands, such as lower grocery expenses. However, as an exchange only takes half a year, you want to make it an amazing time by travelling and going out. Obviously, this brings expenses with it; especially going out is different than here in Tilburg. In Mexico, you usually go to bigger clubs where you pay quite some money for a drink (or bottle). Altogether, I have probably spent more than I typically  do in Tilburg, yet compared to other destinations, Mexico is definitely a great option if you want to go on exchange and limit your expenses. However, you have to be lucky to find a cheap flight!  

”However, the experiences that you receive in return are beautiful, and therefore I do not have any regrets from my choice of going on exchange to Australia.”

Sydney, Australia
Wouter Janssen 

During my exchange I studied at Macquarie University in Sydney, Australia, from July 2017 till December 2017. I did not receive any grant for my studies in Australia, since studying in that country does not receive any financial support from Tilburg. Of course, you have fixed monthly costs, which were often higher compared to Tilburg. For my room, which had its own shower and toilet and was 16 square meters, I paid about 850 euros per month. Groceries were 200 euros, costs for a sports membership were 40 euros and public transport near 45 euros. Going out and trips cost me approximately 250 euros per month. As mentioned, costs in Sydney were higher than in Tilburg, yet if you go on exchange, you know in advance that it is going to cost more than studying in the Netherlands. However, the experiences that you receive in return are beautiful, and therefore I do not have any regrets from my choice of going on exchange to Australia. 

Victoria, Canada
Maarten Zandvoort 

In 2017, I studied for 5 months (from August till December) at the University of Victoria on Vancouver Island, Canada. Unfortunately, I did not receive a grant, since there were no specific grants available for Canada. Some of my fixed expenses were the following: accommodation costs were approximately 600 euros (900 Canadian dollars). I lived in a one-person studio, and the monthly expenses included gas, water, and electricity costs. Groceries cost me about 220 Canadian dollars per month, which is roughly 150 euros. Another cost was my gym membership, which cost 30 Canadian dollars.  Additional costs came from travelling (in total, I traveled five times), going out (which I did almost every weekend) and activities such as sports games. This cost me on average 1000 euros per month. Altogether, I estimate that my expenses were approximately 2000 euros per month. 

Hopefully, the above information provides a useful insight into the expenses that are part of an exchange semester. As you could read, expenses can differ greatly per country; this difference is caused by various factors such as costs of accommodation, travel expenses and prices of drinks when going out. Although an exchange brings (high) expenses with it, still such a study semester in a foreign country can be a once in a lifetime experience. It is recommended to start saving money on time and to make an overview of expected expenses. By doing so, you are better prepared, and it reduces the chances of having a financial setback!