<p>Why is it more expensive to study abroad via one's home university than to simply study at a foreign university as an international student?</p>
<p>I think this NYT article kind of embodies my confusion: Why</a> Study Abroad Costs So Much, What to Do About It - New York Times</p>
<p>It seems that if you REALLY want to study in another country, enrolling on your own rather than via a university is the best route. I mean I know that it's hard to just do that, and that there are "benefits" to studying via one's home university, and it's not really possible to enroll on your own while keeping your status at your home university...But I'm just wondering if anyone has any comments on this issue. So please, someone enlighten me.</p>
<p>Often this is because your home university charges you fees at their rate, which are generally much higher than the foreign university. For example, this year we had a foreign exchange student from the US in some of our classes - she was a bit annoyed that her home uni charged their fees (of which we get nothing), which were about 3 times our fees. University fees in the US are crazily high. But, well, I suppose the football coach needs his bonus, and the President needs his office remodelled…</p>
<p>If you go outside the system, and apply to the foreign university yourself, you would be charged the foreign school’s rates.</p>
<p>I went outside of my school’s system and applied to a school abroad directly. Worked out almost $40,000 cheaper.</p>
<p>dreaming92, how did you do that? Were you able to be a student at both?</p>
<p>& Thanks for your informative comments, biologyguy.</p>
<p>A lot of schools in the UK, where I’m studying abroad, have independent study abroad programs. So instead of applying through Universitas 21 or UVA, I’ve just applied directly to the study abroad program. I’m still enrolled at UVA, and I’ll only be temporarily enrolled at Birmingham.</p>