5 Tips for Studying Abroad You Should Know

Studying abroad can be a really exciting prospect, both because of the educational opportunity itself and because of the unique traveling aspect of it.

But it is a very big step to take, and thus, there’s a lot of planning and thought that goes into making and executing the decision.

After all, it’s stressful enough to start a new schooling experience and when you add in the additional stress from moving to a different country… It’s a lot!

Thankfully though, if you do your research ahead of time and know what steps you need to take in order to make this dream come true; it can be a much easier process.

Which is why today, I’ll be talking about five tips for studying abroad you should consider while planning a semester abroad.

As well as covering the answers to a few commonly asked questions surrounding this topic.

Is Studying Abroad Worth It?

Many people that study abroad feel positive about their experience, and for those people, it’s safe to say that it was “worth it” to them.

But the answer to this question won’t look the same to everyone, for some, it might feel as though the cons outweigh the pros.

Because everyone’s situation is different.

On paper though, studying abroad is a really great thing to do.

You get to experience a different country, a different culture, and gain your education along the way.

And as this article on Indeed covers, it looks great on your resume!

Which Country Is Best for Studying Abroad?

The answer to this question is subjective and really depends on what you’re looking for, if you’re willing to learn a new language, and what types of cultures you’re interested in.

But many people agree that the UK is an excellent country to study in.

And Australia is mentioned a lot as well.

5 Tips for Studying Abroad

Now for the five tips, I mentioned earlier…

1. Research The Country You’re Traveling To

First of all, although the unknown can be exciting, it’s generally a good idea to have some knowledge of the place you’re going.

This is particularly the case if you’re traveling to a country where the culture is very different from yours, or if there’s a different language being spoken there.

For instance, if you’re moving to a Spanish-speaking country, then learning a few phrases so that you can hold basic conversations could be really helpful!

Because although you may be attending a school where they speak English in the classes, if you want to explore the country you’re in, you’ll still need that knowledge.

2. Consider Your Housing

This may seem like a very straightforward step, but it’s very important, so I feel it’s worth mentioning.

While studying abroad, you’re going to need a place to stay! So you need to make sure that you have plans for accommodations well before you make the big move.

Are there accommodations provided by your program, or do you have to find them yourself?

How far away do you want to be from campus?

Do you want roommates?

These are all questions you should be asking yourself!

3. Get The Necessary Paperwork

Moving abroad also requires certain paperwork; namely, a passport and a visa.

Something to consider regarding the passport would be when you need to apply for one, if you don’t have it already, in order to have it by the time you leave.

Or alternatively, if you have one already, you’ll need to make sure it won’t expire while you’re abroad.

And as for the visa, you’ll have to research the visa requirements of the country you’re visiting. As well as actually apply!

Usually if you’re going abroad for studies, you’ll be able to obtain a student visa.

4. Have Plans To Contact Loved Ones Regularly

If you’re heading to a country where you don’t know anyone, it can be reassuring for you and your loved ones if you have a plan to keep in contact with them.

You’ll want to keep up with them not only for social reasons. But in this section, I’m referring more to the safety aspect of things.

For instance, you may want to have someone who will text once a day to make sure you’re ok. Like a scheduled check-in.

And you’ll want to be sure that this person, or those people, have all the information they need to send help to you if they notice you haven’t responded for a while.

5. Make Sure Your Finances Are In Order

You don’t want to be in a new country without any money, so before you ever leave your home country, make sure that you have access to funds.

Some banks are international, and you can easily get your money via their ATMs or regional partners.

But many smaller banks may not have that option.

And if possible, you’ll want to get a traveler’s credit card that you can keep handy as well.

Is Studying Abroad Hard?

Choosing to study abroad does come with its own unique set of challenges, but with the proper planning, it doesn’t have to be “hard”.

The key is to think ahead, that way you don’t come across a situation that you didn’t prepare for.

And the five steps I covered today should give you some idea of the considerations you need to make if your plan is to study abroad.

If you decide to study abroad, be sure to check out our article on Fun Ways to Network in a New City!

Over To You

Have you ever studied abroad, or do you plan to in the future? I’d love to hear about your thoughts and experiences in the comments at @netwerkmovement.

And if you know someone who this article could help, please send it to them!