How Much Does A YWAM DTS Cost?

If you’re looking to do a YWAM DTS (otherwise known as a Youth With a Mission Discipleship Training School!) then one of the first questions you probably want the answer to is how much is this going to cost you. Below, we have hopefully given you the answer you’re looking for.

So, how much does a DTS cost?

A YWAM DTS here at Marine Reach New Zealand costs $11490 (NZD). This cost is split between the lecture phase of the DTS, which costs $6495, and the outreach phase of the DTS which costs $4995. This cost covers teaching, food and accommodation for the duration of the DTS.

Although this is the cost of taking part in a DTS here at Marine Reach, the price of a DTS at another YWAM base may vary significantly.

Breakdown of the cost of a DTS

If this cost surprises you, that’s OK! Let’s have a look at what’s involved in a DTS and why the cost is set at the price it is.

I remember when I first saw how much money I would have to pay to do a DTS. I was fairly overwhelmed with the amount. I knew it was going to be a challenge for me to get all that money together. But I also knew that it was something I was willing to commit to.

Since then, I have completed a DTS and returned to staff 4 more DTS’s. This has helped me to understand why a DTS costs as much as it does, as well as being fully convinced that it is worth every penny!

Whenever a cost is attached to something there are a number of factors that go into deciding where to set the price point. And with a DTS it’s no different.

The cost of a DTS includes:

• Accommodation
• Food
• Tuition
• Running costs of your chosen location
• Travel costs

Accommodation: Wherever you stay for you’re DTS you’re going to want a bed, a bathroom, and a roof over your head. The cost of your DTS will cover all of this.

Food: Good food is good for the soul! At Marine Reach we value good food. The cost of the DTS will cover all your meals each day. But you may decide to buy your own snacks for between meals!

Tuition: Bringing in some of the best speakers to teach during the DTS costs money. The cost of the DTS allows us to financially bless these speakers for giving of their time and energy to share with you.

Running costs: Every DTS location requires money to be able to keep running. Bills need to be paid, maintenance needs to be done, vehicles need to be in working order. The cost you pay for a DTS goes towards supporting the ministry in this area as well.

Travel costs: Every DTS includes an outreach. And this outreach is often overseas from the location of the lecture phase. These travel costs will include flights to the outreach location as well as covering all your costs while there.

With all of this, remember this is just an overview. There are a number of smaller details that all work together to give you the best possible experience during a DTS.

Why is YWAM so expensive?

Hopefully this also goes some way to understanding why a DTS costs so much.

YWAM is expensive because of the costs involved in running an all-inclusive program for 5-6 months at a time. The costs including accommodation, food, tuition, and an overseas outreach all add up over the duration of the program and are reflected in the overall price of the course.

As a comparison, just imagine how much it would cost you to rent your own place for 6 months, then add on the cost of food for that time, add the cost of 3 months worth of daily teaching, a contribution to the overall running of a YWAM location, and finally include flights to another country, you will quickly see why a DTS costs as much as it does. 

Scholarships at Marine Reach

We don’t want money to be a barrier to you coming to join us at Marine Reach. 

If you are concerned about this, then there are a variety of different scholarships we offer at Marine Reach to help you out. Check them out on our scholarships page. And feel free to contact us if you have any questions about this.

Why the cost varies at different YWAM locations

In all of this, it’s worth remembering that each YWAM location is unique and will allocate their funds differently.

One of the great things about YWAM is that each location has its own flavour and unique structure. But this also means that there is no universal cost for a DTS. 

The reason for this is that each YWAM location has different running costs determined by factors as varied as the country the DTS is in, to how many students they expect on a school.

For the exact cost of a specific DTS check out the YWAM location’s own website.

Is a YWAM DTS tax deductible?

One last thing to mention that people often ask is whether a YWAM DTS is tax-deductible.

A YWAM DTS is not tax-deductible in most countries around the world. The cost of a YWAM DTS must be processed as goods or services rendered, meaning it doesn’t qualify for a tax deduction. However, you, or someone you know, can give a gift to a YWAM ministry or an individual that may be tax-deductible.

It’s best to contact the individual YWAM location for an answer specific to the location you are inquiring about.

Conclusion

Hopefully, this post has been helpful to you and you feel as though you have a better grasp of what a YWAM DTS costs.

Check out this in-depth testimony about how God has provided more than enough finances for one of our staff to be on the mission field.

Or for a helpful process on how to choose your DTS have a look at our blog post – How to choose your YWAM DTS.