You get the best dark chocolate in Belgium. The European country is famous for its architecture and environment. You will see a mix of cultures in Belgium, and it will make you feel at home. Belgium is one of the few European countries that offer very low tuition fees for international students.
The Belgian government and Academy of Research and Higher Education have made a rule that fees for international students shouldn’t exceed five times the fees of EU students. It goes to as high as 4700 euros.
Here is a breakup of monthly costs that a student has to go through as an international student:
Rent
Belgium is a big country, so the rent differs accordingly. If you live in student accommodation, you will be charged between 300 to 600 euros a month. Student accommodations are very cheap in Belgium, so you end up saving a lot of money.
If you rent an apartment, remember that most homes don’t have a living room. So it is only a bedroom, kitchen, and bathroom. A shared apartment will cost you around 300 to 400 euros. Electricity and gas are included in it.
Monthly grocery costs per person are around 150 euros. Total food costs might go up to 300 euros monthly if you eat out frequently. Some of the cheapest supermarkets to buy groceries are Red Market, Lidl, Aldi, and Colruyt.
Transport
The train is the cheapest way of traveling in the country. Students can avail themselves of a monthly train pass that costs 20 euros. Taxi is pretty costly in Belgium, going up to 25 euros for a 40-minute ride.
Study material
Since you don’t need to buy stationery every month, this cost varies. However, on average, it can cost you 30 euros a month. You don’t need to buy textbooks or anything because the university professors provide everything and you always go to the library to find references.
For a long time, the United Kingdom has been every Indian science student’s choice for further studies.
Four out of six top universities of the world are in the UK. Even after its exit from the European Union, the count of international students hasn’t gone down.
The UK offers some of the most affordable courses all across the world. The biggest advantage is that post-graduation is a one-year course. It saves a lot of money and time, and you can also start working earlier.
Average tuition fees in the UK are around 13538 euros per year. The following list doesn’t include the college fees.
Here’s what your monthly cost of living in the UK looks like:
Rent – most students share apartments in the UK. On a sharing basis of three students living in a 1BHK, it will cost you £395 per month. If you want to rent the apartment on your own entirely, the cost goes up to £1050 per month.
Food – home-cooked meals are the best, and they also lower costs. If you do most of your cooking at home, it will cost you £145 a month. But if you eat out more often, the cost goes up to £250.
Gas and electricity – both total up to £70 a month. If you stay on the university campus, the electricity cost is included in your monthly rent. Usually, college accommodations are costlier, and students don’t prefer them because there are a lot of restrictions.
Mobile bills – on average, it goes up to £10 – £12 a month.
Stationery and study materials – students often get gift cards from universities to buy stationery. The costs aren’t that high without a discount either. You don’t need to invest in study materials because all universities have massive libraries from where you can take textbooks for studying. Also, professors do mail you study material to support your study.
Most international students think that travelling while studying abroad is not feasible. To think that in the beginning is okay because you have a difficult time adjusting to the currency changes, but as you get used to it, travelling isn’t difficult.
Studying abroad (in Europe) gives you a great chance to visit different countries. It is the perfect time to explore the world around you,
Plan where all you want to travel right at the beginning of the year. It will give you a fair idea of where you want to travel and how it will cost.
Always have two plans for one location so that in case one messes up, you can go for plan B. Your total budget shouldn’t exceed 200 pounds for three day and two nights trip.
2. Book the Cheapest Flight
Book your flights a minimum of three months before your vacation. Keep an eye on the carrier rates. Always fly by cheaper carriers like EasyJet and Jet 2. Don’t spend more than 80 pounds on a return flight.
3. Always Travel in a Group
Group travels are cheaper and safer too. You can roam the streets without any tension, even at 3 am in the night. Group travels are more fun than travelling solo.
4. Hostel Accommodations
Hostel accommodations are famous in Europe. They cost you as little as 15 to 20 pounds. And if you are travelling in a group, you can ask for a discount and have an entire hostel room to yourself.
Hostel accommodations come with a lot of benefits, so for young travellers, it is the best choice.
5. Always Carry Your Passport and Visa
Some people disagree with this tip, but you should have your passport and visa with you when you travel. Take multiple photocopies of the two documents and keep your passport and visa in the hostel locker safely.
6. Select the Right Day
Travelling is more fun when done on the right days. Whenever you plan to travel, check if there are any local events or festivals happening around your chosen destination. That way you get to enjoy unplanned events too.
This can work the other way round as well. During events and festivals, fares and hotels rates are extremely high, the roads are usually crowded. So, if you want to avoid that, select the right day.
7. Choose Public Transportation
Whenever you are travelling in some other country, always use their public transportation. It is a cheap means of travel, plus it is safe.
When it comes to solo travelling, you need to have a good plan set in mind. Since you are travelling alone you have to defend yourself and look for your safety. And it doesn’t make sense to go all alone to a dangerous country, where you will surely fall into trouble. Travel safe and enjoy the most out of it.
Now that you have some travel tips, check out the 3 best travel destinations for solo travellers:
Three reasons to visit Cuba – beautiful colonial architecture, salsa, and 1950s Chevys. The political situation is going great in Cuba and many small enterprises are opening up. There is no better time to visit than right now. Cuba has several tiny restaurants with the most delicious food ever.
It has also negligible crime rates and is safe for solo travels. Places to visit in Cuba are Viñales Valley, Morro Castle, Che Guevara Mausoleum, Gran Teatro de La Habana, and Museum of the Revolution.
Spain is a dream country with boulevards lined with cafes. The public system is super cheap and has great connectivity. Definitely visit Spain’s capital, Barcelona.
If you are a history lover, there are a lot of things to see in Spain. Some places you can’t miss when in Spain are Sagrada Família, Casa Milà, Ibiza, Gran Canaria, and Costa Brava.
Ireland is a perfect blend of modernity and traditions. Irish people are very friendly and you won’t feel like you are travelling solo. Drink some Irish beer while listening to traditional Celtic music at bars in Ireland. The European country has rugged terrain and is a trekker’s paradise.
Places you should definitely visit in Ireland are Cliffs of Moher, Guinness Storehouse, Guinness Storehouse, Blarney Castle, and Bunratty Castle.
All these countries are very safe for even women to travel alone. At least once in your life, take a solo trip. Just be yourself and do what you want, you’ll learn so much more than what you did in school.
Are you looking to relocate to another country? Are you tired of the intrusion of authorities and discouraging policies that your government has passed to restrict your freedom? Don’t be discouraged by Brexit or the Trump-led USA, as there is a way out!
The British relocation service MoveHub published a list of the “most liberal countries you could move to in 2017”. The ranking was assigned according to the data collected from three global studies – the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap report, last year’s Social Progress Index, and Yale University’s 2016 Environmental Performance Index (EPI).
Sweden ranked as the third most liberal country in the world based on factors such as gender equality, minority rights, safety, and environmental measures like the quality of its soil, water, and air. Sweden also scored high points for economic participation, sanitation, and biodiversity. It is an ideal choice for women especially, those who are looking to move to another place for its safety.
Sweden is the first country to be governed by feminists, and therefore, gender equality has never been a topic of concern. Harriet Cann, an employee with MoveHub, recommended that if you’re a broad-minded individual looking to migrate to another country, Sweden would be a great option.
However, Iceland will be an even better option to consider, scoring high marks on gender equality and percentage of renewable energy use, therefore, topping the list, followed by Finland.
Bear in mind that even though it is a great place to consider moving to, it has a few shortcomings. There is a scarcity of affordable properties in some parts of the country. As a result of this, over half a million are forced to wait in line for a long-term lease agreement with Stockholm’s Housing Agency.
The Top Reasons to Study in Sweden
Sweden is progressive all across the world for its progressive politics. It is home to the most famous YouTuber in the world – Pewdiepie. The Scandinavian country is also home to some of the best universities in the world. All universities in Sweden give importance to holistic education. It is informal and has a non-hierarchical education system. Sweden ranks 14th in e QS Higher Education System Strength Rankings.
1. Lots of Scholarships for International Students
Education is free for EU and EEA students. The government of Sweden has the universities themselves give a lot of scholarships to the international students. You can get a scholarship on three bases – merit, nationality, and economic background.
2. Fall In Love With the Environment
Swedish people love nature and are always finding out ways to protect it. Sustainability is the center of all Swedish values and customs. The government has developed breathtaking national parks and reserves. It also has stunning beaches, which are super clean. The citizens consider themselves as primary carers of nature and work together, to reduce pollution as much as possible.
3. Live In a Versatile Country
In Sweden, you can be whatever you want. People encourage each other and those around them to fulfill their dreams. The country has a small population of 9.9 million and most of it stays in the larger cities like Stockholm, Lund, and Uppsala. All support the LGBTQ community and almost 15 percent of first-generation Swedish are immigrants.
4. The Perks of Working in Sweden
Well, the perks of working in Sweden are plenty and will spoil you. If you work in Sweden you get free healthcare, free childcare and education, and small compensations here and there that make life very inexpensive. And, the biggest perk of working in Sweden – you get a paid parental leave of 18 months per child. Both parents can utilize it at the same time.
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