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Tuition, living expenses & scholarship

The tuition fees to participate to the two-years MSc course are 9,050 Euro per year. Note that this amount does not include living expenses, health insurance…

You will find below the additional expenses and the average cost of living in the different countries of studies.

There are also several possibilities of tuition waiver and scholarships. Some of them are listed below.

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Tuition waiver & scholarship

SFS International Scholarship

Candidates can request the “SFS International Scholarship” while filling out the online application. 
The SFS International Scholarship is an annual tuition fee reduction promoted by ISARA to foster the access of international student to the degree programmes. 

The discount covers about 28% of the total cost. 

Applicants are notified of the award by email when they receive an offer for admission. 

For academic year 2025/26, the tuition fee applicable to students who receive the SFS International Scholarship is €6,400.

Successful candidates must maintain full-time enrolment status in order to finish their degrees on time. Should the candidate be unable to graduate on the expected date, all additional costs will be at the student’s expense.

Terra Isara Foundation

Terra Isara Foundation’s scholarship is only for the second year of the programme.

Terra Isara Foundation /!\ only after submitting the application to the program. The application form is available while applying to the MSc programme.

After consideration of the student situation by the Terra Isara Committee, and according to the funds available and number of applicants, a tuition waiver or scholarship can be offered and may take several forms.

The amount of this tuition waiver or scholarship is subject to change if the student situation does change between year 1 and 2.

Deadline for this Terra ISARA tuition waiver or scholarship: April 6th 2025.

Only a limited amount of tuition waiver or scholarship is available. Isara cannot guarantee that all applicants will receive financial support.

Testimonial of a beneficiary of the Terra Isara Grant

Campus France & French Embassies

More information: here !

Erasmus+ Master Loan

Erasmus+ Master Loans allow students to apply for support for their Master’s studies abroad. Loans will be offered by participating banks and student loan agencies on favourable conditions to mobile students, including better than market interest rates and up to two years to allow graduates to get into a job before beginning repayment.

More information on Erasmus+.

Erasmus+ Scholarship Internship

Before the start of your Master Thesis work (4th semester), you’ll have the possibility to apply to the Erasmus+ scholarship Internship (Ulyss scholarship). It is a grant proposed to students completing an internship in a company or a university during their studies.

To apply for this scholarship you will need to meet some requirements:

  • First of all, your internship must have been validated by an agreement and signed by ISARA.
  • If the internship does not take place in a company, you must ask an attestation confirming that your work is not funded by European funds.
  • It must take place in a European country (except in Switzerland).
  • Student cannot benefit from more than 12 months of Erasmus+ scholarship Internship (studies and internship) within the 2 years of the MSc programme.
  • According to the amount of the internship allowance, student might not be able to benefit from this scholarship.
  • You need to have a French or European bank account.

To apply or if you have any doubt about your eligibility do not hesitate to contact the education office. Your situation will be evaluated by the Scholarship Committee and you will be given a feedback as soon as possible.

Master thesis in a French institution

If you take a master thesis work in the 4th semester which is offered by a French institution (even if this work is carried out outside France) then you are eligible to get a salary at a minimum of 550 Euros per month (for 6 months). This is a French law which applies also to foreigners. Several offers are proposed every year by different French institutions, however you may have to be flexible in your choice of topic and geographical area.

Living expenses in the different partner countries

Susfood universities help all international students to find an accommodation which is well-adapted to student life and that will help them succeed in their studies.

France

Average monthly budget

  • Accommodation : around 650 euros/month
  • Living expenses : 250-400 euros/month – does not include travel expenses, VISA expenses
  • MSA accident insurance which costs 130 euros and only applies when the student is at ISARA
  • CVEC: Student Life Contribution Tax which costs 103 euros and is mandatory for all students registered in a French institution (even if not physically at ISARA)

Accommodation

There is no student hall on ISARA campus so CROUS is the institution providing student accommodation. ISARA has a convention with both CROUS residences (public) and private residences nearby.

The price is around 200€ – 400€ /month depending on the type of residence (studio, room, shared flat).

Advantages ISARA accommodation include:

  • Great studying conditions
  • Furnished accommodations (bed, table, chair, wardrobe, sink)
  • Proximity to the school
  • Utilities are included (water, heating, electricity, Wi-Fi)
  • Access to different events
  • Vending machines for food and drinks

There is also the possibility of applying for a housing allowance known as CAF and the amount of aid provided depends on the location of the flat, its surface area and the revenues of the student.

Health insurance

Non-European students:

Students must be enrolled in the French General Social Security scheme. All students will be able to register for free at the French Healthcare Scheme to benefit from the basic social healthcare. You must register on the Social security website: https://etudiant-etranger.ameli.fr

It is a free healthcare system that allows you to benefit from advantages concerning illness, accident, medication (usually free), etc.

European students or non-EU students living in Europe:

You are eligible to ask for the European Health Insurance Card at your national health care provider. Note that you will be covered for the same risks as in your home country, therefore you have to check that your insurance is covering the following items: medical costs & hospitalization, civil liability, repatriation, work accidents.

It is important to keep all your receipts to be reimbursed once back in your country.

Italy

Average monthly budget

Depends on the type of accommodation (around 300-350 euros/month), food and beverage but is around 500 to 700 euros/month.

Follow the link below for more information about the costs of living.

Accommodation possibilities

  1. Student dormitory:
  • Collegio Quartier Novo: Single and double rooms with an average price of 300 euros/month for a single room and 250 euros/month for the latter. Kindly note that this establishment closes during Christmas break for a duration of 3 weeks. So students have to either go home in the meantime or find another accommodation.
    Students have to reserve as soon as possible since the number of rooms is very limited.
  1. Renting a flat: Real estate agency Progetto Casa. Assisting agents can speak English or French.

For more information kindly contact the International office in Cattolica that would assist you further and refer to the following link for additional information: here !

Health insurance

Different options are available to keep you covered and insured:

  • Italian National Health System: 150 euros for a whole year
  • International health insurance, such as Waitaly : 71 euros for 6 months or 120 euros for a whole year
International students of the MSc Sustainable Food Systems

Belgium

Average monthly budget

Around 600 euros/month with no additional expenses since this is part of an exchange programme.

Follow the link below for more information about the costs of living (housing, restaurants…).

Health insurance

The university of Ghent only offers students accident insurance which only covers them in case of personal accidents during university activities, personal accidents on the way from and to university activities and is a civil liability during and through university activities.

So students also need to have another health insurance policy:

  1. Students from the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland
    They are insured by their homeland medical insurance company during their stay in Belgium. They should ask the insurance company for a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). It is advised to register with a Belgian health care fund in order to receive reimbursements of medical expenses immediately in Belgium.
  1. Students from outside the European Economic Area and without a European health insurance card
    It is legally mandatory in Belgium to have health insurance. It is advised to take one directly with a Belgian health fund such as the National Alliance of Christian Mutualities, National Union of Neutral Mutual funds…

To look for all the options available kindly follow that link: https://www.riziv.fgov.be/fr/professionnels/autres/mutualites/Pages/contactez-mutualites.aspx .

Then make an appointment with one of these funds upon arrival to receive personalized advice concerning health insurance.

Accommodation

  1. University halls – 4 homes available with single rooms plus:
  • Includes a furnished room (sheets and blankets included) private bathroom, refrigerator and a shared kitchen
  • Price: 459 Euros/month
  1. Flats: Home Heymans, Home Fabiola or Home Astrid which are more suitable and reserved for couples or families.

For more information follow the link: https://www.ugent.be/en/facilities

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