Study Life Abroad | A Useful Guide For Students And Parents

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All You Need to Know About Study Life Abroad

The prospect of studying abroad is a thrilling one, but it can become a complicated and overwhelming process over time. The changes and adaptation needed in this phase can be managed with proper planning and preparation.

In this article, we would be discussing how to prepare and what to expect when moving abroad for study.

What to Expect As an International Student

Accommodation

The first and major challenge you would need to get solved while studying abroad is your accommodation. Your university may have provision for accommodation facilities in dormitories or student residences, therefore, you might want to look for offers open to international students, and apply early.

There is also the possibility that you will have to plan your accommodation on your own. You can start by contacting your destination university for guidance on recommended places to rent accommodation.

Adapting to the University Culture and System of Learning

A major change you should expect while going abroad to study is the difference in school culture. Your prospective university may have a more formal school culture compared to whatever you are familiar with.

Some schools may have a more student-driven learning process where the students would have fewer classroom activities or have a different method of evaluation and grading system.

You should also expect a difference in levels of formality. Certain universities might allow students to relate with their lecturers on a first name basis and some may consider it impolite.

Meeting New Friends

Studying abroad is a great way to get to make friends from different parts of the world, as you would meet students with different cultures. Starting new friendships are a key part of studying abroad, and in most cases, they end up being extremely helpful to access information.

Most universities organize activities at the beginning of the session to allow international students to get to know each other and to familiarize themselves with the school, either through orientation activities or student group organizations.

A New Language

If you move to study in a country speaking a language different from yours, you will need to learn the native language of your host country. You might be taught your courses in English for instance but would certainly need to understand whatever the native language is to make communication with your community easier and give you a better understanding of their culture.

You could sign up for language classes or download language learning apps to fast track your learning process.

Adapting to a New Culture

Studying abroad would expose you to a different culture and way of life. Before moving abroad for study, you should research the culture of your destination country to allow you to get acclimated to the culture before your move. You could research its government, economy, popular food and transportation means, benefits available to students and its social norms, to help offset the culture shock you are likely to experience, no matter how similar your destination country may seem.

You must also have an idea of the different laws and regulations in your destination country before moving, this would prepare you as you would make your study life plans around these. For instance, if you intend to work while studying, it would be useful for you to do some research on jobs you can take, how many working hours are allowed and any laws concerning your work-study option as an international student.

Learning to Become Independent

Studying abroad means you would learn to be more independent and self-sufficient. This process on its own can be a major challenge, as studying abroad can be expensive. A particularly useful tip to help you manage your finances would be to open a bank account in your destination country, create a budget that prevents you from overspending and stick to it.

You could also adopt certain budget tips to reduce your expenses, like using your student ID to get some discounts, preparing your meals, using a cheaper transport facility, and finding out which phone plan is cost-efficient and works for you.

It is also important that you have some local currency in cash for when things do not go as planned.

Visa Application and Documentation

Now, while preparing for your big move to study abroad, ensure you go through your study destination’s passport and visa requirements for international students and start your application process early. It is also necessary to check what health insurance you might need while studying abroad and if your destination country requires you to take any vaccinations before heading there.

It is also worthy to note that you must ensure you have all the documents you would be needing in your destination country, from your certificates, travel documentation and any medical report that would be relevant in an emergency.

We understand that you can never be fully prepared for study life abroad, therefore, if you require certain clarifications and guidance on your application and documentation, you can click here to speak with one of our International Education Counsellors

Study Life Guide For Parents

Studying abroad is not only challenging for the students but also for their parents. As much as sending your child abroad for study would expose them to international experience that will widen their knowledge, it can also be a tough experience for you, the parent, who may be overwhelmed with concern for your child’s welfare.

Here are some tips to help you handle these concerns and assist your child in their study abroad process:

Do some research on the courses your child is interested in, the university, and the study destination.
Learn about their culture, government, the requirements demanded by the university, and accommodation options available for international students. This allows you to offer proper guidance to your child. Having some knowledge of the typical study life experience your child could face, may ease some of your concerns.
It is also important to have an estimate of the entire costs involved in their study abroad (tuition, accommodation, health coverage included) to allow you to make provision for these expenses in your budget.
A good way to manage your concerns for your child would be to speak to either family or friends who may have children studying abroad to understand the challenges. Your conversations with them are likely to give you an insight into their own experience and lessons you could learn from it.
One of the major concerns you would have is how your child would be able to cope in an emergency, considering the distance from home. To handle this, you can prepare your child for these emergencies, explaining to them certain procedures that should be followed if the need arises.
Educate your child on how to be safe and how to manage their expenses and give them the needed resources to make better decisions while moving to their study destination.
Design a sound financial plan with your child for their study life abroad and look out for various ways you can help them reduce expenses they would have to incur.
Ensure you work out a communication plan with your child. This keeps you connected with your child to offer guidance and emotional support when they move abroad for their study. However, try not to come off as over-demanding.
Understand that settling in a new country can be difficult and overwhelming for your child.
Be supportive, and rather than being a decision-maker in their new life, be a guide to help them through their transition into an independent phase of their life.