European Study Abroad Payment Guide｜Transfer Methods & App Recommendations

It’s that time of the year again—tuition and accommodation fees are due, and many students are researching the most convenient and cost-effective ways to transfer money.  
Today, let’s compare five common payment methods～

1️⃣ Credit Card Payment via School Website  

This is the most direct payment method. Simply enter your credit card information in the student center or payment system on your school’s website, and the payment will be processed immediately.  
Ideal for: Small payments with high urgency.  
Note: Handling fees are around 2%–3%, and exchange rate fluctuations may increase costs.  
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2️⃣ Flywire  

Many universities have official partnerships with Flywire. It supports various payment methods, including UnionPay and Alipay, and offers Chinese customer service, making it convenient for parents to handle payments from China.  
Advantages: Does not consume the annual foreign exchange quota, multiple payment channels available, transparent process.  
Ideal for: Large tuition payments or situations where family members in China need to assist.  
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3️⃣ Wise (formerly TransferWise)  

An international cross-border payment platform that supports multi-currency exchanges with exchange rates close to the mid-market rate.  
Advantages: Transparent fees, trackable transfer progress.  
Ideal for: Students and families with frequent cross-currency or international payment needs.  
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4️⃣ Remitly  

Known for its fast processing speed, it is suitable for temporary or urgent fund transfers. New users often enjoy handling fee discounts.  
Advantages: Fast processing, simple operation.  
Ideal for: Temporary fund needs or first-time users looking for discounts.  
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5️⃣ PandaRemit 

A cross-border payment platform that allows you to pay tuition fees and also convert euros into RMB to send back to China.  
User experience:  
• Supports multiple payment methods (Alipay, bank cards, WeChat, etc.), making it easy for family members to operate.  
• Exchange rates are locked in during transfers, ensuring the received amount is clear.  
• Fast processing—my experience was same-day arrival.  
• Low handling fees with no intermediary bank charges.  
• In Europe, you can directly convert euros into RMB and send them back to China.  
It is a licensed cross-border payment platform with a fully Chinese interface, making it user-friendly for family members who are not proficient in English.  
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Recommendation  

If you need to pay tuition fees or are in Europe and want to send euros back to China, it’s worth considering cross-border payment platforms like PandaRemit.  

After all, when studying abroad, every penny should be spent with peace of mind and value.