Reply to Are We Crazy for Questioning a $250k US Degree and looking abroad?

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]

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Thank you. OP here. Yes my son was also looking at Trinity College. How big is their 1st year entry class? Are there a lot of Americans there?
If you have an EU passport does that change anything as it relates to fees?[/quote]

NP with kid at TCD who had similar views to those in PP 16:06. According to the latest TCD info (2022-23), they've got about 15,000 undergrads, so I'd guess roughly 3500+ first years. My kid reports classes tend to be quite large, with professors and TAs expecting students to do the bulk of their study/research on their own. (An aside: There is very little handholding/spoon feeding - and you/your kid should be aware of the different grading system as well. This pamphlet covers grades, as well as the expectations. It's not enough to study what the professor covers - in many courses, kids need to demonstrate wide-ranging critical analysis to get a 70+. https://www.tcd.ie/study/assets/PDF/StudyingAtTrinity_Dec18_Web.pdf)

I don't think they publish the breakdown of student nationality beyond EU/non-EU, but will say my kid has many American and/or dual-national friends, several of whom are also EU passport holders.

You can see the fees breakdown here, as it varies my major: https://www.tcd.ie/courses/undergraduate/fees/, but yes, fees for EU passport holders are much cheaper than for other international students.

Hope this is helpful. My kid is so happy with their decision.[/quote]

DP: Are you sure that fees are based on nationality and not residence? I think it's the later.  It's not enough to hold an EU passport (or even as Irish passport), you need to be an active resident in an EU territory for three (or five?) years prior to entry . . . . [/quote]

Tuition — UK/Ireland:

Universities in the UK and Ireland tend to charge non-resident prices equivalent to OOS costs for UVa., with tuition category based on location of residence, not passport. So, UK-US dual nationals who grew up in Bethesda pay a lot. Dual nationals who grew up in Dublin pay $2,500 per year.

Tuition —  The Continent/English bachelor’s:

English-language programs “on the Continent” (example: the Netherlands) tend to charge what they think are exorbitant non-EU student prices but might only be $15,000 per year, or something like in-state UMd. tuition.

The Netherlands, at least, bases the tuition category on the student’s passport, not the student’s location. So, Dutch universities are a great deal for Dutch dual nationals.

Tuition —  The Continent/Non-English bachelor’s

Bachelor’s programs in the EU that aren’t in English or aren’t flooded with international students may charge international students about $2,500 tuition per year.

Tuition —  Housing:

Even in the places with expensive dorms or student apartments, the costs might be comparable to what you’d pay at UVa. or UMd. So, $18,000 per year all in for housing and food — if you can find the housing.

The problem isn’t the cost as much as the difficulty of finding any room in a place with a dysfunctional housing market. And, obviously, if Covid flares up, WWIII starts, etc.

Aid:

One huge problem is that many countries in the EU and elsewhere have cheap university tuition for their nationals and no tradition of providing financial aid.

Because of that, a lot of non-U.S. schools that are perfect for families that can pay $30,000 per year are terrible for families with budgets under $25,000 per year.

Some of the non-U.S. schools are set up in such a way that they can use U.S. student loans and 529 plan cash.

But many non-U.S. schools can’t connect with U.S. aid programs at all, and they may make it difficult or impossible for international students (or, in the case of EU schools, non-EU students) to work for pay.

Broke students:

Say there are good, organized, high-stats students who have some savings or family financial support, are up for an adventure and will do anything to get a bachelor’s degree without going to community college.

I think it’s possible to get a bachelor’s degree from an English-language program in a country like Slovenia or Greece for less than $10,000 per year, all in, not including travel. This might not be a very good degree. No one in the United States will have heard of the schools. But that might be an option for students who want to break away from
the pack. [/quote]

My kid went to Bocconi. Fraction of the price of any American or UK unit. 16 to 17k Euros. His dorms were amazing, better than his sister at brown. Milan was amazing for 3 years. Super international class. He had an amazing experience. He is now at LSE pursuing his masters.[/quote]

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