Affording School

[noodle]

After reading how much Gwen_goth spent/spends, I feel that I should describe the student expenses here in France, Paris (35 mins away by Train from Central Paris).

Tuition fee's + Health Insurance (NHS equivalent) + Access to IT rooms and Library etc + Culture pass (Allows you to go to Museaums, theatres, Cinema's etc for really cheap or free) = 371.57 euros exactly.

Rent:

First two year I had a studio apartment. Single room with mini Kitchen, shower and toilet. Fairly large. Enough space in your room for a double bed, a single bed, a table, a two seater sofa, book shelf and TV table. Wardroab was built into the walls. This apartment costs roughtly 410euro's a month, but the government paid 250 euro's towards it (i.e. 160 euro's out of your pocket a month). This prices includes Electricity and water. TV, Internet and phone (with unlimited FREE phone calls to all of europe and a number of other countries around the world) is 30 euro's a month. So, all together, roughly 50 euro's a week, which at the time was roughly £35.

This year. I live in a shared apartment with 3 other people. Big spacious room (can see pictures in the post your bedroom pictures thread), Big Kitchen, big living room, 1 public toilet and 1 public shower, with one of the rooms having it's own toilet and shower. So, end up sharing the toilet and shower with 2 others. Rent before government help is 375 euro's, and after the help it's 133.34 exactly per month. This also includes electricity, water and there is a handy-man working here (in the previous place also). Via the handyman, you get lightbulbls changed for free, you get plumbing problems fixed for free etc etc. This apartment, also includes free breakfast everyday. Breakfast includes Cereal, half sized baguettes, jam of your liking (like the hotel ones), tea, coffee, hot chocolate, Orange juice, apple juice and of course milk. You can have as much as you like, but people never take the piss, lol.
We have two internet, telephone and tv connections here, so we end up paying 15euro's each. So, it works out to roughly 37 euro's a week. With today's exchange rate, it's roughly £35. lol. so even though I've saved money in euro's, it feels the same when I change to pounds, lol, oh well.


Food:

Breakfast - included in rent

Lunch - 14 euro's a week during week days by eating at Uni canteen.

Dinner - We buy family sized portions of everything, so it works out cheap.

All together, I'd say, I spend roughly (max) 30 euro's on food a week.


Travel: First two years, Uni was my neighbour, so no travel expenses. This year however, I'm a bus ride away from Uni. One month travel card for zones 4 and 5 of Paris comes to 30 euro's a month. With this, Travelling into other zones is free at weekends and holidays.
I also own a car, but this is a luxury, not really needed for this.

Socialising: Unfortunately, the atmosphere isn't as good as the British atmosphere. However, there are regular parties if you hang around Spanish people, lol. You can go to Paris night clubs at weekends. The prices are pretty much identical to England. As for beer prices etc, I don't drink, so I don't know. I'm sure it's not more expensive than England though.



SO!! To all of you that speak another language, it might be a good idea to look at courses in European countries. Heck, even if you don't know a second language, lots of uni's (especially in France and Germany) have courses in English. Like this you CAN learn a second language

At first, life may be a little difficult, but you'll notice, at least in France, there are many foreign students in the same position as yourself. You end up making really good friends with them. As for french people... Well, it depends. They are not as open as British people, but they are very kind. Most people know basic english, so they can communicate with you a little.

Life in general is fun. Here were I live, it's calm, there are lots of parks, a lake, lots of shopping centres etc. A nice place to live and study.

So, all in all, I spend roughly 325 + socialising money a month. Lets round it off to 400 euro's a month. 9 months of uni + tuition fees comes to 4000 euro's a year (This is including 70 euro's of socialising a month... hmmm... so basically what people in Britain pay for Tuition fees... o_0 )

[dogsbody70]

Originally Posted by MissMisa

University is a whole completely different thing to college here. I got into university but it's £3500 every year. And I'm doing 4 years. I HAVE to go to get the job I want [not to mention my parents would be like D:< if I didn't.]

I am afraid that apart from Scotland And Wales the the possible cost of UNI fees could esily be as much as £9000 per year which is why there have been recent student protests this is since the new coalition government entered the scene.

[JohnBraden]

I know you started this thread quite a long time ago, but I haven't seen anywhere any mention about you getting a job. Have you found one? I sure hope you have. I see you're in college, but a source of income would be nice too!

By the way, nice change of avatar. Though I love to see Belldandy, I'm sure everyone would much rather see you!

[Umihito]

Are you finding Uni good now MissMisa?
You've got a good thread here with lots of good information for people.

I'm probably taking a Gap Year before I even start thinking of Uni, I'm not even on track for very good grades from college so far :/

Also, like JohnBraden said, hope you've had luck getting a job around there

[dogsbody70]

Originally Posted by MissMisa

Wow this thread is old, forgot I wrote this!

I'm at University now, in my second year. I'm going to just miss out on the fee hike.

I'm glad to hear that
Missmisa. what apretty girl you are.

I feel sorry for students now--although I hear that Universities are in dire straits also and need the money. If not perhaps their services could not be as good or cover enough subjects.

They do say the loan can be paid back once a graduate is earning over £21'000 a year.


If it enables a graduate to get a really good position so they earn top wages hopefully it will be worth while.


Not alll parents can afford to pay out especially if their son or daughter is a UNI some distance away.

I do believe that tuition fees for overseas students will be extremely high also.

One aspect that worries me though is that if too many students go for the same subject--

then the competition out there will be vast.

I would think it is necessary to get part time work as well .

[princessmarisa]

Originally Posted by Thief

when I grow up I'll marry MissMisa and work so hard to get her enough money so she can afford anything she wants

hands off my wife.

Photo proof of wedding:

[Suki]

Originally Posted by MissMisa

How did you afford school and/or university?

My parents pay for it.

It's around 1300€ a year (~1115 British pounds). And that's public university, so it's relatively cheap and affordable. Doing the same degree at a private uni would cost 5 times more. Here public unis have more resources and more qualified teachers, so it's always everyone's first choice and not only because of the cost difference.

Misa, are you considering going on an Erasmus year abroad?

[Suki]

Originally Posted by MissMisa

Ah I see, we don't have public/private Uni's so atm its £3000 a year. But will be £9000 starting 2011.

As for taking a year abroad, as much as I'd like to, I just don't have the funds to do it.

£3000! That's a lot. No wonder students all over the UK went wild about this. You guys have it rough.

[dogsbody70]

Originally Posted by Suki

£3000! That's a lot. No wonder students all over the UK went wild about this. You guys have it rough.

actually the latest proposals ar for UP to £9'000 per year if you want the better Universities.


Out govt is changing so many things at the moment in order to try to recuperate the massive losses generally which the Labour government left.

But I believe its bankers and big business responsible.

Its not only University students that will suffer.

we are told they can pay back through their working lives once they are earning over£ 21'000. But £21'000 earnings is paltry considering the cost of living which is extremely high.

Now our VAT has gone up to 20% which will affect all of us.

[Umihito]

Originally Posted by MissMisa

I did have a job yes, for a year and a half~ I worked at McDonalds as a customer care person... blowing up balloons, talking to kids, taking food out to the cars. It was pretty lame, but it paid £6 and hour (nearly $10) which paid for my first year of Uni.

Since then I've quit to concentrate on my second year and have more time for other things. I've also decided to get a student loan this year and I'm using a small part of that plus some inheritence to go to Japan!

I'm liking Uni at the moment, I'm doing something that I love (Computer Animation) and I've learnt a lot so far.

Picking yourself up from dissapointing grades is hard - but Uni is a worthwhile experience so I recommend trying your hardest to do so.

£6 an hour is pretty good for McDonalds! I know my friend (granted she's under 18) that only gets paid like... £4 an hour! All I do in my current job is stock shelves and make sure the products face front, it's the most boring job I could've got.

Good to hear, what does computer animation include? If I had to take a guess, I'd say its something like working with 3D models and editing together tones of frames? XD It looks great and I couldn't even imagine how long it takes to create some of the things I've seen.

Thanks for that.
I'll try the best I can, even if I have to take a year out or retake a year, I'll try to get into university somehow! XD