Total Cost of Studying Abroad Without Scholarship

Every year, many Indian students take a step further to manifest their studying abroad dream. Even though there are various scholarships for studying abroad, its good to get an estimate of the total cost of studying abroad without scholarship.

Scholarships are important to study abroad for Indian students as it is an expensive journey. This is because the total cost of studying abroad comes to around 15 INR 15 lakh to over 1 crore for the entire program.  These costs vary as per the destination, the university and the lifestyle that students opt for in the foreign country. 
The USA is often considered to be one of the most expensive study destinations for international students, followed by the UK, Canada, Australia and other countries in Europe. These countries are known for their quality of education, the research they provide and the high rank university that they’re home to. 

Scholarships - differentiated by funding source or type of support - can significantly ease this burden. Unlike loans, scholarships don't need to be repaid, whether they cover tuition or living costs. Hence, students with scholarships study abroad at discounted prices than usual. However they can always opt for education loans to study abroad - which offer them the immediate funds required in their bank accounts to start an educational journey abroad. 
In this article, we will break down the cost of studying abroad without scholarship for Indian students in the first year of their studies. Beyond recurring annual expenses, it also accounts for one-time costs - paid only in the first year - such as student visa fees, health insurance, airfare, travel insurance, university application fees and exam fees.

Average Cost of Tuition Abroad for International Students 

The average tuition cost for international students studying abroad without a scholarship generally ranges between USD 20,000 and USD 55,000 or INR 16 - 45 L per year for popular destinations like the USA and UK. This cost may go up to INR 1 Cr for a 3-year or a 4-year course in major countries like the USA, the UK, Canada and Australia. However, some countries in parts of Europe even offer courses with fees starting from near-zero (Germany, Iceland, Poland) and may go up to INR 10 L for a year. While most colleges and universities offer some waiver/scholarship to meritorious students while providing them with an admission offer, most students might have to bear the total cost of tuition for studying abroad. Below is a breakdown of tuition costs in different countries for Indian students- 

What is the Cost of Living Abroad for Students?

The cost of living is something that doesn’t get covered by universities unless you apply for scholarships. Students must arrange these funds for living expenses alongside maintaining a balance for tuition fees. Hence, the living costs are in addition to the tuition costs that students have to arrange. Below are the average costs of living in different countries for students.

Note that the above costs are inclusive of the costs of accommodation, food, bills, groceries and other miscellaneous expenses.

Health Insurance - Not Covered in Scholarships

Whether you receive a scholarship or not, health insurance and student visa fees are one thing that most scholarships don’t cover - except for a few highly prestigious fully-funded scholarships. Ideally, you must buy a health insurance plan (and a travel insurance plan for countries like the USA) while applying for a student visa. The amount of health insurance you need to pay gets counted on the basis of the number of years you’re going to stay in the country. While some countries allow you to pay these amounts gradually year on year (Canada), some other countries need you to pay for the health insurance for all study years involved in one shot, along with your student visa fees (for example, the USA, UK and Australia).

In Germany, as an international student coming for higher studies, you must buy a health insurance for a minimum period of 180 days - which may cost you around EUR 30,000 or USD 50,000. While in the UAE, students have to move there first and then their university arranges for a visa and health insurance for them. Basically, students have to bear the full costs of health insurance unless covered by a full scholarship. Below are the costs of health insurance in different countries for international students.

One-time Paid Expenses of Studying Abroad for Indians 

Certain costs involved in studying abroad are only one-time-paid expenses. Students need to bear their costs only in the initial year of their studies and not in the following years. These costs are elaborated in sections given below. 

Airfare

To calculate the total costs of studying abroad, airfare must also be included in the budget - as it carries significant weight. For Indian students, the average one-way airfare to most study abroad destinations ranges from INR 35,000 to INR 1 L. The airfare depends on the country you're travelling to, booking time and weight of your bags. Students generally book one-way tickets to save costs - as the return dates are uncertain during the initial travel period. Students may ask their universities if they can help them receive a special student discount package on airfare and lounge access. 

University and Visa Application Fees

The university application fee is almost always non-refundable, regardless of whether you are accepted, rejected or choose not to attend the university. It includes the administrative cost of processing your application (evaluating transcripts, background checks, etc.). Students must note that the application fees are not credited toward their tuition fee; they are an additional, separate expense. 

Along with the application fees, in many instances, students may also have to pay a caution/security money to the university - which is 100% refundable and returned to them after the course completion. 

It’s must be noted here that both university and student visa application fees are generally one-time payments per application. However they can become recurring if you change your plans or extend your studies. If you are rejected and decide to re-apply to the same university in a later semester (e.g., Spring instead of Fall), you must pay the application fee again in that case too.

Below are the estimated average application fees for universities and student visas in different countries. 

Standardised Exam Fees

There are different standardised exams that students must undertake to prove their worthiness and competitiveness for taking a course at their dream university. Universities decide the selection and award of scholarships for specific students based on the scores of these exams and other merit-based factors. 

Standardised exam fees are a significant one-time pre-departure expense. For Indian students, most of these fees are pegged to the US Dollar - meaning the exact amount in INR fluctuates slightly with the exchange rates. Here are the fees for each of these exams to study abroad for Indian students in 2026-27 - 

1. English Proficiency Tests (Most Important Ones)

The scores of these exams are mandatory for almost all non-native English speakers if their courses are taught in English. These requirements may be waived if the medium of instruction isn’t English or your university accepts your previous formal education in English as proof of your proficiency in the language. Always check this clause with your university before sitting for the exam. The fees for different English exams for Indians to study abroad are - 

2. Undergraduate Entrance Exams

The undergraduate entrance exams’ scores are required in some countries, such as the USA, for admission to their bachelor’s programs. The fees for the most popular undergraduate admission exams are given below. 

3. Graduate & Professional Exams

Just like the UG entrance exams, the graduate or professional exams are required for admissions to master’s, MBA or PhDs abroad. Here are the fees of some most sought after graduate exams - 

Summary 

It can be summarised here that the USA and Australia are among the most expensive destinations to study abroad for Indians without scholarships. The total first year costs that the Indian students must bear to study abroad in the above-mentioned countries, that too without scholarships, are tabulated below. 

After the completion of first year, students will only be required to bear tuition and living costs for the subsequent years of studies. 

This was all about the total cost of studying abroad without scholarship for Indians. For assistance on studying abroad, reach out to Shiksha’s Counselling Services for free. 

Total Cost of Studying Abroad Without Scholarship FAQs