Costs / travel grants
The cost of living while on exchange will depend largely upon your destination and personal expenses. Personal expenses are those costs that an "average" student might incur, such as toiletries, snacks, entertainment and travel while at your exchange university.
What Do I Pay For?
Students who are accepted into the Curtin Exchange Program do not have to pay any tuition fees at the partner university, they simply continue to pay tuition fees to Curtin as usual. Students will, however, be responsible for meeting all other costs associated with their exchange. These costs include:
- accommodation
- airfare
- books
- fines
- health and travel insurance
- living costs
- spending money
- transport costs
- visa costs
It is likely that accommodation will be the most expensive item and may require payment of a bond and the entire costs of the duration of your stay paid in full at the start.
Living costs will depend upon your type of accommodation. Does your exchange university offer a meal plan where you can elect to have a set number of meals per week or is your accommodation self-catering? On campus accommodation costs may include the cost of meals. If you are living off campus preparing your own meals is usually much cheaper than eating out.
Other expenses include the cost of utilities (electricity, water and telecommunications) as well as transportation expenses. You may be also required to pay for health insurance before you can commence your exchange. Additionally, some of the classes you take while on exchange may mean you will also have to pay for material costs, lab fees or other costs associated with excursions, camps or fieldwork.
Actual expenses will vary form country to country, and also depends on the exchange rate. Typically, big cities will be more expensive than smaller towns or college towns.
With the exception of air travel, costs associated with student exchange are all expenses you would meet attending university anywhere. So for the "investment" of an airfare you get to experience a university abroad.
Many host institutions and host countries will require proof of funds, usually in the form of a bank statement in your name or your sponsor's name, before visa documents can be issued. For universities which are not formal exchange partners, you will also need to pay for tuition costs at the host university.
For specific funding information for each partner institution, download the relevant information sheet from our Destinations page.
