Prepare / budget

Make a budget before you make a promise.

Separate the costs you can verify from the costs that depend on your choices. A useful budget is a set of assumptions you can revisit.

Put costs in four groups

Tuition: course fees, duration, deposits and possible changes.
Living: housing, food, utilities, transport, phone and everyday needs.
Setup: travel, deposits, furniture, administration and initial supplies.
Contingency: room for exchange-rate changes and unexpected costs.

Questions worth checking

Which figures come from the provider? Which come from current official guidance? Which are your own estimates? Write down the source and review date beside each number.

Include uncertainty honestly.

The planner lets you choose an unsure option. That is more useful than creating false precision before you know the course or city.

Build a budget starting point ↗