The Students Trust International Plan is a long term savings plan for parents and others to save for a child's college or university education. The Plan is currently available in two currencies - US or Canadian $.
You can sponsor a child age 0 to 12 by making deposits to the Plan either annually or as a lump sum. The principal you contribute to the Plan is always returned to you and the income earned on investment of the principal accumulates for the benefit of the child when they qualify for college or university.
This plan is designed primarily for individuals who wish to send a child to college or university where the quality (and consequently, cost) of education is highest - the U.K., the US, Australia or Canada. However, a child can attend any qualified education institution anywhere in the world and still receive the benefits they are entitled to under the Plan.
The chart below shows the annual cost of attending university in the most popular countries for international students.
Average tuition fees per academic year for international students | Average cost of living per academic year | US | Cdn | ||||||
 | Canada | $13,000 | + | $11,500 | = | $24,500 | $23,400 | ||
 | Australia | $13,000 | + | $13,000 | = | $26,000 | $24,450 | ||
 | United Kingdom | $24,600 | + | $18,000 | = | $42,600 | $40,100 | ||
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United States (public) | $15,000 | + | $11,000 | = | $26,000 | $24,450 | ||
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United States (private) | $25,000 | + | $12,000 | = | $37,000 | $35,100 | ||
Figures correspond to average projected costs over an academic year (nine months) | |||||||||
These figures have been obtained from government and education web sites for each country which post data on tuition and living expenses and represent figures for the academic year 2009-2010. The figures do not include travel costs from your home country or visits during the school year for the student. While many people consider these costs unattainable, education savings plans have proven over time that a disciplined savings approach with prudent and conservative investment strategy can make the dream of an international education a reality.
Contributions are invested in government and government guaranteed bonds, a very safe investment choice that focuses on preservation of capital and healthy returns over long periods with very little risk.
As further protection, all deposits and income are placed under the control of an independent trustee, HSBC International Trustee(BVI) Limited, a registered Trust Company approved by the Financial Services Commission in the British Virgin Islands and the Bermuda Monetary Authority in Bermuda. All investments are held by the Trustee in the name of the Students Trust International Plan.
The Plan is classified as a Collective Investment Scheme and is registered with and regulated by the Bermuda Monetary Authority. To verify that the Plan is on the current list of Authorised Funds please go to http://www.bma.bm/investment/investment-funds/licensed-entities.asp and look under letter C for the Canadian $ Plan and letter U for the US $ Plan.
The Plan is also registered and regulated by the Monetary Authority of Singapore as a Restricted Collective Investment Scheme. See https://secure.mas.gov.sg/apps/go/index.jsp?app=cisnet and look under C and U for the listing of the Plans. Our registration in Singapore requires us to provide the following disclosure for Singapore residents only:
The Offering Memorandum document for these Plans has not been registered as a prospectus with the Monetary Authority of Singapore. Accordingly, this document and any other document or material in connection with the offer or sale, or invitation for subscription or purchase, of Units may not be circulated or distributed, nor may Units be offered or sold, or be made the subject of an invitation for subscription or purchase, whether directly or indirectly, to persons in Singapore other than (a) to accredited investors and certain other persons pursuant to Section 305 of the Securities and Futures Act, Chapter 289 of Singapore (SFA), and in accordance with the conditions specified in Section 305 of the Securities and Futures Act or (b) otherwise pursuant to, and in accordance with the conditions of, any other applicable provision of the SFA.
The plan structure is similar to Registered Education Savings Plans (RESPs) that are offered to Canadians in Canada. This vehicle has been offered in Canada for over 40 years with industry assets under administration of over $8 billion Canadian. If you are a Canadian resident or want more information on the RESP, visit one of the following web sites: www.cst.org, www.usc.ca or www.universitas.ca.
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