| COSTS BILLED BY HOME SCHOOL |
Tuition and Fees: BCGS Consortium students pay their home school's tuition rate directly to their home institutions. It covers tuition, course excursions, most course materials, some local transportation and cultural activities. It does not cover housing, meals, airfare, medical insurance, course materials, extra-curricular activities, personal travel, and personal expenses.
Tuition and fees are subject to approval by The Trustees of Columbia University and may change.
Estimated Out-of-Pocket Expenses are not billed by Columbia. The estimated amounts in this section provide a basis for students to determine their individual budgets for expenses related to their time overseas for the duration of the program. The below estimate is an average of what students say they actually spend. These expenses are NOT paid to the program.
| OUT-OF-POCKET EXPENSES NOT BILLED TO STUDENTS (ESTIMATED) | |
Meals | $2,100-$3,000 |
| Housing | $3,000-$6,000 |
Local Transportation | $100 |
| Visa | $0-$110 |
| Books and Course Materials | $210 |
| Cell phone | $262.50 |
| Airfare | $1,200 |
| Personal Expenses | $2,890 |
| Total Estimated Out-of-Pocket Expenses (range, depending on housing choice) | $9,872.50-$13,772.50 |
Meals: The cost for meals and food will vary widely depending on individual spending habits. Costs can be kept down by preparing their own meals and only eating out occasionally. This is based on 5 months.
Housing: All students will live in pre-arranged housing. The figures above reflect an estimated average for the various housing options noted on the program webpage. This is based on 6 months, which is a required amount of time that is needed to book housing.
Local Transportation: Students will be responsible for paying for transportation to and from the airport in Berlin at the start and end of the program. Students pay for their first month of local transportation and then it is covered by the program for the rest of the semester.
Visa: Students are responsible for visa fees, which vary in cost depending on citizenship.
Cellphone: All students are required to have a working cell phone capable of making and receiving both local and international calls throughout the duration of the program.
Airfare: Estimated cost of one round-trip airfare from NYC to Berlin. Students are responsible for making their own travel arrangements from their preferred departure city to the program.
As part of the program, you will be covered for urgent and emergent care while you are abroad. Routine and preventive care is not included so you should maintain a health insurance policy that will provide coverage outside the U.S. or your home country. This cost is not included in the chart above.