How to Save Money When Booking a Study Abroad Course

Studying abroad can be a life-changing experience. It provides you the opportunity to explore corners of the world you’ve never been to and live life like the natives do, all while gaining valuable skills in your studies that can benefit and boost your future. With Kaplan, you have the chance to study English in one of over 40 schools, which are located in some of the most beautiful and interesting locations around the world.

So how can you book a study abroad course without draining your bank account? If you plan and research accordingly before you book your trip, you can save a good amount of money. These are some things to consider before you commit to an English course overseas.

1. Book in advance

It seems like a no-brainer, but researching all your options way in advanced can be one of the best ways to cut costs. For many programs, prices change on a yearly basis, so if you book your course before the fees increase, you can still pay the lower prices. Check if the program you want to enroll in offers any special deals.

Planning your course 6 months or a year before you attend gives you the time to save up for visa fees, flights, and tuition. Many programs even allow you to pay for your course in installments, as long as the price is paid out in full 30 days before your start date.

2. Book your course and accommodation at the same time

When you pay for all the bits and pieces of your trip separately, the prices begin to add up quickly and you might end up spending more than you intended. Figure out exactly which course you want and try book your accommodation at the same time.

Pick your accommodation based on your personal preference; living in a homestay will provide you with more home cooked meals, which allows you to save money on eating out and spend more time with your host family while practicing your English. However, our residences are in close proximity to our schools, which will not only give you a bit more independence but you’ll save on transport costs as you could probably walk to your classes! If you are booking directly, purchase the course and the accommodation together to avoid a large cost later on.

3. Get travel insurance

You can never know exactly what is going to happen when you travel, so it’s best to be as prepared as possible before you go. Travel insurance covers you in case of emergencies, making your experience in another country cheaper in the long run. In some countries you will not have access to free public health care, and it could be quite expensive to visit a doctor, whereas travel insurance is a much cheaper cost. It’s always a good practice to be extra careful and consider the safest options. Check with the sales advisors before you book the course. You may be able to add on health insurance at an additional fee rather than paying for it separately.

4. Approach your Parents

It never hurts to ask your parents for a bit of assistance. Learning English is an investment in your future. Much like gaining a university degree, taking an English course abroad will build valuable skills that will increase your future potential, whether it aids in getting a better job, being able to work and live abroad, or continuing your education at an English-speaking university. And learning English amongst native speakers and other international students requires you to constantly practice the language, ensuring that you retain the skills you learn while improve your speaking and comprehension capabilities at a more rapid rate.

“From my own personal experience in learning a language, the most important factor is having an all-English language environment. You have to live there in order to improve your abilities faster.” – Fei Tong, China

With the assistance of your parents, the overall costs of your course, accommodation, and expenses once your abroad will decrease and become much more manageable!

5. Chose your Location Wisely

Depending on where you chose to study, the costs for your course, accommodation, and flights will vary. Life in a big city will be much more expensive than life in a smaller town. Day-to-day expenses in each city may differ as well; where as a cup coffee in New York will be more expensive than a coffee in Liverpool. Although both are amazing cities, if you are price conscious these are definitely factors you have to keep in mind.

Each one of our locations has it’s own charm and benefits, enjoy the English countryside of Bath or the quirky city of Portland. Do your research and figure out which destination is the right one for you!

Want to find out more about how you can study English at Kaplan and save on courses next year? Contact one of our advisors to find out more about our costs and course options.