Extra information for students coming from outside Britain, regarding the cost of taking the course.
Students coming from outside Britain pay exactly the same course fee to the school and the same rent to families offering accommodation (if applicable) as do students from within Britain.
However, the final cost will be a little more. Exchange rates constantly change and making a payment to another country incurrs a cost in itself.
Nearly half of our students come from countries other than Britain. So, based on past experience, here are some notes and suggestions that might be helpful. They are:
- The cost of the course in other currencies - approximately
- Costs other than the course fee and materials
- Methods of making a payment from outside Britain
The cost of the course in other currencies - approximately
PLEASE NOTE that "approximately". Because exchange rates do change all the time, the information here can only be an approximation. It will be kept as up-to-date as possible. Payments are due in Pounds Sterling. If a payment is made in another currency, the amount paid will be the Sterling that it is exchanged for in England.
The first table shows the course fee, materials budget and accommodation. The second shows the sequence of payments for the deposit, balance of fees and accommodation. The totals are the same in both.
Course Fee, Materials Budget and Accommodation
Exchange rates updated: 22/04/2024
* Notes
1. Course fees. The prices above apply to courses up to May 2018. Subsequent courses are subject to small year on year increases. Full details are on the Dates / Fees page.
2. Materials Budget. This is the initial budget, not necessarily the final cost. Full details of materials cost are on the Dates / Fees page.
3. The Accommodation cost here is that for staying in lodgings with a family. That is not the only possibility. See Notes on Enrolment for a more details.
Costs other than the course fee and materials
Accommodation
The School itself is not residential, and the course fee does not include accommodation. Most students choose the simple option of lodging with a family in Totnes, which is a small and friendly town. Details of this (and other) accommodation is in the Notes on Enrolment. Independent (ie self-contained) accommodation tends to be more expensive.
Bank Charges associated with making a payment to another country
As mentioned above, banks make a charge for arranging a payment to another country, extra to the amount being paid. There are several ways it can be done, and the charge can vary a lot. We reccommend using a wire transfer, which is described below.
Notes on making a payment from outside Britain
Wire Transfer of Funds
For most people, whether outside Britain or within, the easiest way to send funds is by a wire transfer. This will transfer funds directly from your bank account to ours. Note that some fees may apply, particularly if sent from abroad.
To do this you will need the correct bank details, which are:
Bank: National Westminster Bank Ltd.
Branch: Totnes Branch
Address: 9 Fore Street, TOTNES, Devon. TQ9 5DB, England
Branch Code: 60 - 21 - 48
Account Name: Totnes School of Guitarmaking Ltd.
Account Number: 59002492
Bank Identifier Code: NWBK GB 2L
IBAN (International Bank Account Number): GB43 NWBK 6021 4859 0024 92
Cashiers Cheque
An alternative way to make a payment from outside Britain is to use what is known here as a "Cashier's Cheque". This is normally easy to obtain from your own bank, and it should be issued in Pounds Sterling (GB Pounds; £) and must be "Drawn on London".
If you use this method, you will be buying from your bank a cheque payable to us in Pounds. Crucially, it behaves like a cheque written on an account held in Britain, which means we receive exactly the amount it is written for, and it is cleared in the normal few days. You will pay a commission or charge to buy it, but our experience suggests that it is as cheap or cheaper than other methods (for these amounts of money).
To pay your deposit, the Cashier's Cheque should be made payable to "Totnes School of Guitarmaking Ltd., account number 59002492". We have been advised that including the account number on the cheque is a simple and effective way to ensure security.
Other
If neither of these methods of payment is appropriate and you intend to use another, please let us know in advance what to expect. Many thanks.
