USA or Ireland: Which is more expensive to study in?

by XL P. Educational Consultant

Among the chief barriers to a student going for overseas education is the high associated costs of studying abroad. The tuition fee and the cost of living represent the major costs a student will have to bear. Expenses relating to study material, transportation especially airfare, and personal expenses can also add to the total bill of an overseas education. There are other minor expenses which are incurred in the application process which include: GRE/GMAT/IELTS/TOEFL exam fee, college application fee. The total cost of studying abroad can vary from country to country.

USA and Ireland are two countries students often compare with each other.

The cost of studying in the USA varies greatly depending on the course as well as the city. Tuition fee can range anywhere between $5,000 and $50,000 per year. Meanwhile, cost of living generally falls between $8,000 to $12,000 per year. With all things taken into account, the average per year cost of studying in USA can be estimated to be $70,000 for an MS program. An MBA program would prove to be nearly double than an MS.

The tuition fee in the top colleges of Ireland are: Trinity College Dublin– average tuition fees 7,500 EUR/year. University College Dublin– average tuition fees 6,700 EUR/year. National University of Ireland, Galway– average tuition fees 6,000 EUR/year. Further, estimates suggest that a student will spend between 7,000 EUR and 12,000 EUR per year as living expenses.

This clearly suggest that pursuing overseas education in USA is way more expensive than overseas education in Ireland.

However, scholarships are the ideal solution for getting funds. A scholarship may be offered to a student on the basis of merit or on the basis of their needs. A number of colleges also have an in-house scholarship program encouraging students to apply. The universities set a few benchmarks and eligible students are given financial aid.

At XL Pathfinders, our team has first-hand experience of all the nitty-gritties associated with studying abroad. We seek to simplify your path to getting a scholarship to study abroad so every student can achieve their dream of overseas education.