STUDENT SCOTLAND
Dear editors! Please write how much on average tuition (as well as accommodation and food) costs in Scotland. Svetlana GOLUBEVA, Melitopol
This question cannot be answered unambiguously: it all depends on the institution itself, the number of subjects studied, the rate of inflation, etc. We will give only average figures.
A year of study at a private school costs about 10,000 pounds sterling, at a university – from 6 to 15 thousand pounds (the most expensive courses are in medicine); the cost of postgraduate programs is practically no different from undergraduate programs. Accommodation in a student dormitory will cost you 30-67 pounds per week, in private apartments – 35-110 pounds. Moreover, dormitories are equipped with all opportunities for sports - there is a football field, a basketball court, you can play tennis, board games and the like. As for food, everything depends on your appetite. If you wish, you can quite manage on 40-60 pounds a week, if you do not indulge in various ales, whisky and other traditional Scottish drinks. Just in case, we give prices for the most "vital": a pint of beer will cost 1.7-2.3 pounds, and a glass of wine – 1.5-2 pounds; for a fairly decent dinner in a restaurant you will have to shell out 10-15 "pounds".
You can get more detailed information by visiting the following websites: www.scotland.gov.uk (the Scottish government website) and www.educationukscotland.org (an educational website with a list of school addresses).
STUDENT PART-TIME JOBS IN IRELAND
Hello, editors of "Zagranitsa"! I really want to study abroad – in Great Britain or Ireland. It is known that in Great Britain foreign students have the right to work. What about Ireland? Can foreigners work part-time while studying? In this country, as far as I know, tuition, food, and housing are significantly cheaper. Konstantin GALUCHKO, Lviv
Firstly, in Great Britain students have the right not to WORK, but to WORK PART-TIME – that is, to work in their free time from studies (20 hours during term time and 40 during holidays). As for Ireland, literally a month ago a law was passed allowing foreign students from non-EU countries to work part-time (before this, only lucky ones from the EU could combine studies with work on the Emerald Isle). But, again, it is part-time work, not working "full throttle".
WHO WILL HELP A FOREIGN STUDENT
Hello, editors of our favorite newspaper! Please tell me, is there an organization in Germany that provides assistance to foreign students? Denis SEMENCHUK, Zhytomyr
Yes, such an organization exists. It is called the Student Mutual Aid Society (SMAS). The task of this organization is to ease the difficult student life in every possible way. They provide free legal consultations and help find cheap accommodation in dormitories. You can also contact the SMAS in a crisis situation for advice and support from a psychologist.
The organization also "mutually assists" foreign students. The "service package" includes a room in a student dormitory, supervision by senior students, cultural events, and an additional service of your choice (lunch at the student cafeteria, a sports club, or language courses). The cost of such a "package" is 300-650 marks per month (each student pays semester fees, and part of this money is transferred to the SMAS). More details about the SMAS can be found on the website www.studentenwerke.de
However, not only the SMAS takes care of students. The United Student Committee Asta (in Bavaria – the Council of Student Elders) is an organization that represents the interests of students at each university, and it also has its own department for foreign students. Here, for foreigners, cultural and socio-political events are organized, and legal advice is provided, etc.
First-year students receive important information and advice during the preparatory week, which is organized by special student associations by academic discipline (Fachschaft). During the preparatory week, which usually takes place before the start of studies, newcomers get acquainted with the university and the student cafeteria, with the city and its sights, including favorite student hangouts. Almost every university has a very cheap or even free opportunity to do sports – an excellent way to stay fit and meet new people.
HOW MUCH DOES FREE EDUCATION IN GERMANY COST?
Dear editors!
"Zagranitsa" has repeatedly written about free education in Germany. But how much do accommodation, food, textbooks, and other things cost? And a second question. Are foreign students allowed to work part-time during their studies? Ekaterina NAGUEVICH, Zaporozhye region.
Life in Germany is not cheap. According to studies conducted by the Student Mutual Aid Society (SMAS), a student at a German university needs between 1,100 and 1,300 marks per month to live. This amount covers housing, food, transport, and health insurance. It does not include expenses for vacations or expensive hobbies, nor visits to pubs and clubs. True, students enjoy many benefits, such as discounts at cinemas, theaters, museums, and sports clubs.
Paid education at universities in Germany is extremely rare. Mostly – at private institutes. Preparatory courses are also free. However, every semester students pay the so-called semester fee – depending on the university – from 30 to 250 marks. This amount includes both document processing fees and contributions to the Student Mutual Assistance Society, which offers students various types of services and consultations. In many cities, this amount also includes contributions to public transport. In this case, the student ID is also a transport ticket, which is much cheaper than a regular monthly pass.
And now – the answer to the second question. Foreign students are also allowed to work while studying in Germany. However, for students who are not citizens of EU member states, there are restrictions: they are allowed to work only 90 days a year. With the consent of the local labor exchange, the Foreigners Authority may extend a student's work permit by an additional 10 hours per week.
However, finding a suitable job for a student is not easy. If you were not lucky enough to get one of the student jobs at your university, you can seek help from a special department of the labor exchange that offers jobs for students and is usually located on the premises of the Student Mutual Assistance Society. The classic ways for students to earn money in Germany are the following types of work: tutor, waiter (server), babysitter (nanny), or office assistant. Relevant offers are often posted on special bulletin boards at universities.
Those who have knowledge, for example, in the field of computer science, can try to find a job on the local labor market. In Saturday editions of major regional newspapers, you will always find a lot of job advertisements. Searching for work via the Internet is also often successful.
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