The typical budget seems to be around 150 Euros. But this can vary depending on how much one likes to spend on foods, drinks, shopping and travel. Expenses are always higher at the beginning of the semester due to initial settling expenses such as clothes to fit the weather, extra furniture and decoration for one's room, text books and readers, paying for one's residence permit, etc.
What is the cost of basic necessities like printing, cleaning supplies, and laundry?
Printing is free in the residential colleges and research buildings. Some colleges has colour printing facilities at a very low cost. One is expected to bring one's own paper - you can buy paper for 4 euros at Pulse Express (a convenience-store located in the Student Activity Center on campus) or in any department/stationery store in the mall.
Major cleaning supplies (broom, mop, vacuum cleaner) should be located in one's floor kitchen. As it is commonly used by all floor members, it is the duty of every floor member to maintain these supplies. Other cleaning supplies (trash bags, room fresheners etc.) can be purchased at any local supermarket.
All residential colleges are equipped with laundry machines and driers. They are located in the basement of each block. Laundry costs 1 Euro and drying costs 50 cents.
Are there any ‘unexpected expenses’ that come up in the year that I should expect?
One will definitely have to buy a LAN cable at the beginning of the semester. It can be purchased at the electronics store in the mall or from other students who might be selling their spare ones.
At the beginning one encounter lots of unexpected expenses:
- residence permit at 60 Euro
- semester fee for our gym and swimming pool at 15 Euros and 20 Euros respectively
- health insurance at 57 Euro each month (it is deducted automatically from one's bank account)
Will I have to pay for the meals that I do not eat?
Yes, this is a university policy. The fee for board is paid once each semester and it is non refundable irrespective of our consumption.
What exactly does the Room and Board Cost cover?
Room and Board covers your room, and all cafeteria (aka servery) meals. It also covers electricity, internet, water, maintenance and most basic amenities.
What is the typical cost of books and readers?
The price of a reader depends on its size. They can be purchased at the Pule Express and generally the prices range between 10 Euros and 30 Euro. Oftentimes, 2nd and 3rd year students sell their old readers at much cheaper prices. (But keep in mind that sometimes professors change the content and the latest one needs to be purchased)
Text books come in wide range of prices. New books can range from 80 or 100 Euros, but these also can be bought second hand from other students or from second hand websites at cheaper prices. One must regularly check one's Jacobs e-mail for emails and ask second and third years from to get the best deal on books.
Oftentimes books can just be checked out from the library. Course books (i.e. those related to specific classes) are kept on reserve, i.e. they need to be returned within four hours of borrowing, for the convenience of all students
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There should be a correction. The shop is called "The Pulse Express". "The Pulse of the World" is the newspaper :D haha
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