Here is a sample budget sheet showing the items you need to consider for a program. These budgets are estimates and intended for planning purposes only.

For exchanges and faculty-led programs, you pay your home institution. For Direct Enroll and provider programs, you pay tuition to the other institution or provider.

When choosing classes to take abroad, be aware of additional course fees for which you may need to plan. These additional fees may be those in courses with lab components, excursions/field trip fees, and internship/experiential opportunities.

Most programs offer different housing options, which can impact program costs. Shared housing is often the lower-cost option, while private housing is often the higher-cost option. 

Keep in mind that homestays and dorms/residence halls may decrease your food expenses, as food is often included in this kind of housing. 

On faculty-led programs, housing often includes hostels or hotels that are included in the package price. Numbeo is a website that can help you determine the cost of living for any given place.

The amount of financial aid applicable to education abroad will depend on your individual financial aid package.  Consult with the South Dakota Mines Financial Aid office to discuss your financial aid package. 

Take a copy of a program budget (official or unofficial) to the financial aid office to see how much aid you may be eligible for on a particular program. Contact the SDM Financial Aid office and set a time to meet.

Some countries have a higher cost of living than the U.S. You can use a cost-of-living calculator to see the difference in cost on items you buy every day. This will give you a good indication if you need to budget more or less money than you need on campus. Bigger cities tend to cost more than smaller cities. 

Numero is a good example of a cost-of-living calculator. There are many out there to choose from.

Remember to set aside funds for transportation costs. The international flight to your destination may be anywhere from $800-$2,500. Consider questions, such as:

• What transportation will you need to use within your host city?

• Can you walk between campus/home or will you have to use the subway, bus, or taxi?

• Will you want to do any personal travel on the weekends? 

Research resources in your host city to get a better picture of how much to set aside for transportation costs.

The type of program you choose can affect the cost. Exchange programs tend to have the lowest cost. However, provider programs often offer robust on-site services, resources, and experiential opportunities, and tend to offer additional scholarships to offset the higher program cost.

See our Programs Types page for differences.