International School in Your Home Country or Residency by Investment for Education Abroad?
June 5, 2024 · Residency by investment · 10 min read
Many parents today spend thousands to tens of thousands of US dollars a year on international school fees in their home country. For a comparable sum, families may also consider residency by investment for education in a developed country, giving their children access to high-quality public schooling free of tuition.
Many parents today spend thousands to tens of thousands of US dollars a year on international school fees in their home country. For a comparable sum, families may also consider residency by investment for education in a developed country, giving their children access to high-quality public schooling free of tuition.
Schools play a central role in how children learn to think, acquire knowledge, discover who they are, and develop their character. Seeking well-rounded physical and emotional development for their children, many parents choose international education programs that give them a solid foundation for later life and career.
The international school boom
Responding to demand, many school systems in Vietnam now teach curricula from developed countries with leading education systems, such as the UK, the US, Australia, and Canada, under licenses from government authorities. These internationally benchmarked programs take a fresh approach to education, with several notable advantages:
- Curricula tend to emphasize hands-on experience and practical activities. Rather than learning new material only from textbooks, students practice and apply what they are taught in real-world situations. Subjects are therefore highly practical, designed to ensure that students gain not only essential knowledge and skills, such as analysis, reasoning, and creative problem-solving, but also a genuine interest in learning.
- Teaching respects each student’s individuality and encourages critical thinking. As a result, students tend to be sharp and quick-thinking, confident in expressing their views, and poised when speaking in public.
- A strong foreign-language foundation, as lessons are taught in English.
- A well-balanced timetable that combines core subjects, sports, enrichment classes, and extracurricular activities. Students therefore do not need extra tutoring after school; instead of feeling pressured or stressed, they stay relaxed and engaged in the spirit of “learning through play,” which helps them absorb and retain knowledge.
- Modern, fully equipped facilities designed to provide the best possible learning environment.
- Class sizes of only around 20 students, giving teachers and teaching assistants more time for each student and allowing them to spot and resolve issues quickly and effectively.
Beyond internationally benchmarked programs at home, many parents also send their children to study in the US, Australia, Canada, and elsewhere, so they gain life experience and exposure to different cultures around the world — a foundation for becoming “global citizens.”
The cost of investing in your child’s future
Tuition is one of parents’ main concerns when considering an international education. In Vietnam, for example, fees at many international schools currently range from approximately US$12,000 to more than US$35,000 per year from kindergarten through high school. Moreover, once students are used to the culture and learning style of an international school, it can be very difficult for them to adjust to a public school. International education is therefore a long-term commitment: parents need to plan their finances so their children can stay in an international environment throughout their schooling or go on to study abroad.
The total cost of an international education through high school can run to several hundred thousand US dollars per child, or approximately US$771,000 to US$1.16 million for an average family with 2–3 children. Parents may then need to budget for 4 years of university tuition abroad, starting at around US$30,000 per year.
For a similar outlay, parents could instead consider residency by investment programs in developed countries such as the US, Australia, and Canada, giving their children access to high-quality public education free of tuition.
Residency by investment: an option worth considering for your children’s future
Compared with paying international school fees at home, US residency by investment, Australian residency by investment, Canadian residency by investment, or European residency by investment offers several advantages:
- Tuition-free public schooling through high school, and university and graduate tuition at domestic rates, typically only a half to a third of what international students pay.
- The whole family relocates together, so parents can be there to support and care for their children instead of sending them abroad alone.
- Education quality is regulated and held to consistent standards by the host country’s authorities.
- Children interact every day with local classmates and teachers in an international environment, at school and in everyday life, so they adapt and integrate into a global setting naturally.
- Greater freedom to choose schools, without the restrictions that apply to international students.
- After graduating, children who hold permanent residence can continue living in the country and seek employment on largely the same footing as citizens, without needing an employer to sponsor them as foreign workers.
- They can also pursue opportunities around the world with confidence and reach their full potential.
- Beyond education, the family may also gain access to healthcare, social security, and other benefits available to citizens and permanent residents, depending on the country and their residence status.
If you are interested in investment migration programs, contact IMM Group or leave your details below. Our experienced advisors will provide detailed guidance and help assess the prospects of your case. We will keep your personal data confidential and use the information you provide only to advise on your family’s case.
IMM Group
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