Actual Affordability of EU Education
Posted by layered-drink@reddit | expats | View on Reddit | 17 comments
Hello all, I'm an American currently living in the US. I have limited experience with EU visas (was part of NALCAP in Spain, which was technically a student visa) and I'm realizing it may have given me false standards for how easy it actually is to get other types of students visas in the EU (NALCAP was a breeze)
I have my bachelor's from a US university and would love to go to the EU for a master's, partially because of the affordability and partially for a change of pace. I got so far into looking into a social anthropology program at KU Leuven and then discovered the concept of a blocked account, something I never had to do for Spain, but that looks like a standard practice for EU student visas otherwise. Basically you would have to deposit a year's worth of expenses into an account before you can receive your visa.
When I did NALCAP I went with the bare minimum savings to get by and got under the table tutoring jobs to make ends meet while in country. I cannot foresee a scenario in which I would be able to cough up a year's worth of expenses before arriving in a country.
In short, my questions are:
- Are there any countries/programs within the EU that do not require a year's worth of expenses in a blocked account?
- Are graduate assistantships at all a thing?
On paper, it seems like going for a master's in the EU would be cheaper because tuition is cheaper. But if you need to have a crazy amount of savings beforehand and there are no graduate assistantships available to waive tuition costs, then is it actually more cost effective to go to the EU? Asking genuinely, in case I'm missing some essential info.
I understand why the blocked accounts exist, it's just not realistic for me as someone who earns a very low wage by US standards. Was planning on saving $4-5k for plane fare and initial expenses, and then working a job while there (which is exactly what I did in Spain before). Perhaps this isn't possible.
Thanks!
gootchvootch@reddit
If you need to have a blocked account as a condition of your student visa, the consulate will want to see those funds held in that blocked account for a certain number of days/months before they will grant you a visa.
They don't really want students coming to their country to fund their education while they're supposed to be studying. Many Western countries (e.g., Canada, the UK, etc.) have had massive issues with false students who have arrived under false pretenses only to enter full-time employment and/or disappear. As a result, there has been a significant crackdown.
layered-drink@reddit (OP)
I completely understand. So is it not common to work while studying generally? Do people get graduate assistantships? In the US I don't know a single person in graduate school who isn't either working, on an assistantship, or both. I may have falsely assumed I could do something similar in the EU.
gootchvootch@reddit
It is okay to work, but some countries (and academic programs!) might limit you to 20 hours or so a week. However, this is after you've already demonstrated that you can meet your financial requirements for the visa. You can't put the cart before the horse.
Masters programs are tricky. Some are taught programmes. Some are research-based. Taught programs (i.e., you get your degree by doing many classes and an extended paper) don't usually have students doing assistanceships, but there might be the odd exception. It is more likely for research-based Masters (i.e., you take fewer classes and do more research), but again, the number of working hours is usually capped.
Taught programmes don't usually attract funding from the host institution/country, although there might be exceptions, especially for students from low-income countries. Research-based programs are more likely to have funding, but it is rarely as generous as in the US.
layered-drink@reddit (OP)
Fascinating, thanks! Yes, I'm looking for a more research focused position.
gootchvootch@reddit
Try as hard as you can to get funding. The amount of funding you get will decrease the amount you will have to show in your blocked account to get the visa.
Ultimately, (your savings) + (any grants/scholarships) + (program funding) must be equal to or greater than the legally-required blocked account value to secure your student visa to enter the country and study.
layered-drink@reddit (OP)
This is so helpful, thank you
Sufficient-Job7098@reddit
People here do not look kindly on illegal shenanigans no matter where you are from and what is your destination country.
So we are not going to advise, where it will be possible for you to move without enough money, with plans to work under the table.
When choosing between US and Europe I send my kids to US. They stayed at home, went to CC, then to local state school. They worked when they could find work but when they couldn’t find jobs they still had home, food and family support. This was very reasonable even by my European standards.
layered-drink@reddit (OP)
I'm less looking to move "without enough money" and more of seeking areas with different requirements on what they consider to be enough money. I didn't have to have a year of expenses up front with the program I did before, so I'm just curious if others have found similar programs elsewhere in the EU.
As far as "illegal shenanigans," sure, teaching English lessons to children and their parents paying me in cash was technically illegal, but no more nefarious than a part time babysitting gig in the US, and is pretty standard expat practice. I had a regular salary and made up the gaps with the English lessons.
I understand that studying in the EU isn't possible for everyone and I'm realizing that it probably isn't possible for me either. I was just a little taken aback to learn about blocked accounts, because my previous experience moving to the EU had been much more straightforward. Only posted to see if there was some essential info I was missing.
Sufficient-Job7098@reddit
I tried to phrase this politely and kindly.
Keep in mind that as US citizen you are welcome to behave the way you want in your own country.
Abroad you are a guest. We all are. Especially those of us who are temporary. I recommend do not draw parallels
I have kids your age, so I have no judgment for younger people trying to make sense of very complicated problems they are facing.
Good luck.
Jolly_Conflict@reddit
This is what my parent told me to do (CC then finish at a 4 year school) but I was young and dumb and didn’t do it.
yeahthatsnot1@reddit
Blocked account requirements and limitations on working hours are in place to ensure that a) students actually use their study visa to study and not to work and b) won't be requesting financial aid funded by local taxpayer money in case they run out of funds.
Just make sure until you have saved enough money to meet the financial requirements or look into scholarship options before planning to a Master's abroad. In the end, studying abroad is considered a luxury, not a necessity - most countries' visa requirements reflect that.
layered-drink@reddit (OP)
This makes total sense, thanks!
Eska2020@reddit
Double check the requirements. Often for Americans, an affidavit of financial support or other proof of means from family with enough income or a cushy 529 account in your name can suffice. Blocked accounts are something that are stricter/less avoidable depending on where youre from.
layered-drink@reddit (OP)
This is good to know, thank you!
noctorumsanguis@reddit
The savings aren’t that crazy for some countries tbh. It’s to get you time to find a legit part time job. In France for a student visa, you have to prove that you have at least €615 per month and I had no issues getting a visa and renewing one when I showed that I had a work contract for a job I got upon arriving. But €615 is merely a legal threshold. Between my American student loans and living costs, I need at least €1000 a month. Student visas here let you work for up to 964 hours per year. You’d be better off trying to do au pair work for housing and then keeping living costs low. It is an option. The job market is abysmal though
layered-drink@reddit (OP)
So that was for a year though? So, to clarify, you'd need to give them €7380 up front? That's honestly still a little more than I was initially planning on having saved, but I'm trying to start Fall 2027, so I have time to grind with some side gigs.
gootchvootch@reddit
In Luxembourg, for instance, they want a certain multiple of the average monthly benefits payment to what they pay their own poorest residents/citizens. This works out to approximately 20.000,- EUR per year. That's the amount that students have to have yearly in their blocked account.
20K might not be a lot for some, but it could be a fortune for others.