Independent comparisons and figures compiled from official reports, updated as new data is verified. These aren’t live-detected rule changes; for those, see Latest changes.
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🇯🇵
Japan’s national universities start charging international students more
Tohoku University: ¥535,800 → ¥900,000 a year (about $5,700) for international students starting a bachelor’s or master’s from April 2027; students already enrolled keep the old fee. Okayama University: ¥1,339,500 a year (about $8,500) for international students entering from April 2027, against ¥642,960 for Japanese students.
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🇬🇧
Students must show more money to live on
Living-cost requirement outside London: £1,171 → £1,203 a month. In London: £1,570 a month. Applies to Student visa applications from 30 November 2026.
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🇯🇵
Japan’s residence-permit renewal fee jumps from ¥6,000 to as much as ¥75,000
Extending or changing a residence status: ¥6,000 → ¥33,000 for a 1-year permit (¥27,000 online), and from ¥10,000 to ¥75,000 depending on length. Permanent residence: ¥10,000 → ¥200,000.
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🇨🇦
Proof of funds for a study permit goes up
Living costs to show outside Quebec, single student: CA$22,895 → CA$23,448 a year, on top of the first year’s tuition and travel. For applications from 1 September 2026.
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🇦🇺
Student and graduate visa fees rise again
Student visa: AU$2,000 → AU$2,500. Graduate (485) visa: AU$4,600 → AU$5,750. Both changed the same day; some passport holders are exempt.
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🇸🇪
International student work hours capped at 15/week
Previously unlimited. The cap applies during term time; work is unlimited in June, July and August. Permits issued before 11 June 2026 are not affected until they are extended.
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🇬🇧
Student visa fee rises again
The application fee rose from £524 to £558, the immigration health surcharge not included.
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🇫🇷
Same French degree, up to 16 times the fee for non-EU students
Public university, per year: a licence (bachelor’s) costs €178 for EU students and €2,902 for non-EU students; a master’s €255 against €3,950. Many universities waive part of the higher fee, so check yours.
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🇺🇸🇩🇪
Same degree, very different bill
Average US public out-of-state tuition: $32,730 a year, tuition alone. Most German public universities charge no tuition, only a semester fee. Exceptions: Baden-Württemberg charges non-EU students €1,500 a semester (€3,000 a year, about $3,400), and TUM in Munich charges new non-EU students €2,000 to €6,000 a semester, rising from winter 2027/28.
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🇺🇸🇯🇵
Private US tuition vs. Japan’s national universities
A private US university: $45,000 a year in tuition alone. Japan’s national universities: ¥535,800 a year (about $3,400), though some are raising it for international students from 2027 (see above).
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🇺🇸
"Staying home" isn’t cheap either
US public in-state tuition: $11,950 a year, up from $11,610. With housing and food: $25,850 a year.
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🇺🇸
30 years of US tuition vs. income
Public four-year in-state tuition is 101% higher than 30 years ago after inflation ($5,940 → $11,950 in 2025 dollars). Median family income rose 39% over 1994–2024.