Updated for 2019-2020
Did you know that some study abroad locations can cost you less than remaining at your UC campus for a year? It’s true! Check out these countries where you can save money.
1. Thailand
Average savings for a year abroad: $9,141
Just above the equator, this independent southeast Asian country offers a tropical climate, spectacular landscapes, and welcoming people. When you study abroad in Thailand, you’ll join students from around the world in various themed studies at Thammasat University.
- Learn how fair economic competition, sustainable development, and equitable economics translate into the global economy
- Visit the Thai-Burma border communities to confront public health challenges faced by migrant populations
- Immerse into Thai society with a language and etiquette class then venture into the provinces outside Bangkok
STUDY ABROAD IN THAILAND ❯
2. Hong Kong
Average savings for a year abroad: $8,986
Save money while taking classes in Hong Kong. Tour the city, its distinct culture from mainland China, favorite local dishes and more in this 3-minute guide to Hong Kong.
- Investigate the pharmacological effects of Chinese herbs to treat health conditions
- Work on policies governing cross-border water services
- Volunteer in a local school and teach English
Bonus: See the Top 5 Reasons to Study Abroad in Hong Kong
STUDY ABROAD IN HONG KONG ❯
3. Taiwan
Average savings for a year abroad: $8,683
Immerse in the language as you read Chinese news, watch Chinese shows and interact with local students in Taiwan.
- Work on a team using remote sensing to study the impacts of climate change across forest monitoring sites
- Grow your Mandarin phonetic and Pinyin spelling skills
- Learn the meaning behind Buddhist art in south, central and southeast Asia
STUDY ABROAD IN TAIWAN ❯
4. Singapore
Average savings for a year abroad: $7,042
Experience the ultimate Southeast Asian blend of food, art, culture and language. Singapore is an ultra-modern city set within a tropical landscape.
- Perform aquatic data analysis while snorkeling through corals, sea fans and sea sponges
- Discover the forces behind urban transformation through traditional, medieval, garden and ecological city models
- Study microorganisms in indigenous foods and their effects on food preparation and preservation
STUDY ABROAD IN SINGAPORE ❯
5. China
Average savings for a year abroad: $5,818
Study abroad in China and you can save money while upgrading your undergraduate experience. Learn more from the 3-minute Travel Guide: Beijing and see the photos from Anna Lai’s study abroad trip to China.
- Compare modern and classic versions of Chinese fairy tales and their continued cultural impact
- Learn the business tools that support making good corporate financial decisions
- Examine transnational relations between North and South Korea from a new vantage point
STUDY ABROAD IN CHINA ❯
6. Mexico
Average savings for a year abroad: $5,110
Climb a pyramid, trek a volcano, wander a floral paradise and discover magic in ancient Aztec temples.
- Observe the factors that shape a community’s response to illness
- Work with those shaping California policies on social justice for migrants
- Study the evolution of Mexican film as art, industry, entertainment and social testimony
STUDY ABROAD IN MEXICO ❯
7. Sweden
Average savings for a year abroad: $4,628
The Scandinavian town of Lund offers a medieval architecture and modern coffee houses. Lund is also one of the most affordable study abroad options in Europe.
- Progress from basic to advanced Swedish language skills by immersing in Swedish life in Lund
- Evaluate the quality and chemical properties of pharmaceuticals and international legal regulations on the industry
- Design your own independent research project!
STUDY ABROAD IN SWEDEN ❯
8. Canada
Average savings for a year abroad: $3,071
Two different universities on opposite sides of Canada offer a variety of study abroad opportunities while saving you loads of money.
- Learn the science behind natural disasters and how we can predict and minimize their impact
- Join a coastal research facility
- Get field experience in topics such as aquaculture, climate change and fish physiology
STUDY ABROAD IN CANADA ❯
9. Netherlands
Average savings for a year abroad: $2,713
Study abroad in student-friendly cities like Utrecht, The Hague, Maastricht or Wageningen. Discover a different interactive education style focused on teamwork and group projects.
- Study foodborne disease and spoilage agents for the food industry
- Explore how modern world governments are encouraging public entrepreneurship
- Investigate the socioeconomic and political transformations that have led to conflict
STUDY ABROAD IN THE NETHERLANDS ❯
10. Barbados
Average savings for a year abroad: $2,125
Get an authentic Caribbean experience and insights through field courses, lab work and independent research on the sunny island of Barbados.
- Share your pre-health skills with the local community working at a clinic or hospital
- Examine the blending of indigenous, African, French, Creole and Spanish words and how they shaped the Caribbean lexicon
- Review findings from cognitive research on the role of technology and experiment with new media in classrooms
STUDY ABROAD IN BARBADOS ❯
11. Ghana
Average savings for a year abroad: $1,820
Visit one of Africa’s rising economies and the first independent state–the ideal place for global and development studies, public health and social services, or environmental sustainability studies.
- Join students from around the world on community projects in rural villages
- Participate in field work, community health fairs, and service learning projects with West African foundations
- Take popular courses for international students in Twi language, African dance, and tribal drumming
STUDY ABROAD IN GHANA ❯
12. France
Average savings for a year abroad: $1,789
Study abroad at a French university in either Paris, Bordeaux or Lyon and you can:
- Discover how jazz has been reinvented by musicians in France
- Write news articles for an online French newspaper
- Learn the logic, methods and tools of web marketing
- Analyze the Internet’s influence in international advertising
STUDY ABROAD IN FRANCE ❯
13. Norway
Average savings for a year abroad: $1,603
At the University of Oslo, there is a range of academic options as you discover the uniquely Norwegian places and ways of life that make this an amazing study abroad experience.
- Explore the stars, planets and galaxies and the electromagnetic radiation they generate
- Learn about music-related body movements in performers and analyze music-related motion
- Study the fundamentals of health economics and efficiency of health care providers
STUDY ABROAD IN NORWAY ❯
Savings compare UC Berkeley undergraduate rates (currently $34,295 per year) with the average cost of year-long study abroad programs. Undergraduate rates are for California residents living off campus. Median costs for year-length options based on 2018-19 UC Berkeley budgets.
Source: UCEAP Research, July 2019
Leave A Comment