Terry Pratchett: “Why do you go away? So that you can come back. So that you can see the place you came from with new eyes and extra colors. And the people there see you differently, too. Coming back to where you started is not the same as never leaving.”
Studying abroad is an enriching experience that offers a plethora of educational and personal growth opportunities. However, it also involves significant preparation and adaptation.
I know.
I was a student studying abroad myself.
And at Global Admissions we’ve helped thousands of students study abroad.
Here are 100 essential things to know before you embark on your educational journey overseas:
Pre-Departure Preparation
- Choose the right program that aligns with your academic and career goals.
- Research the destination country extensively, including its culture, laws, and customs.
- Understand visa requirements and start the application process early.
- Secure funding through scholarships, loans, or personal savings.
- Apply for a passport or check if your existing one is valid for the duration of your stay.
- Arrange accommodation well in advance, whether on-campus or off-campus.
- Book flights early to get better rates.
- Attend pre-departure orientations offered by your home and host institutions.
- Check luggage and customs regulations for airline and country.
- Get an international student identity card for discounts.
Health and Safety
- Visit your doctor for a check-up and discuss vaccinations.
- Arrange for international health insurance that covers you abroad.
- Register with your embassy upon arrival in the host country.
- Know the local emergency numbers and important addresses.
- Understand local laws to avoid legal trouble.
- Prepare a first-aid kit for basic medical needs.
- Learn about the healthcare facilities available near your accommodation.
- Maintain a list of emergency contacts both at home and abroad.
- Stay updated on travel advisories from your government.
- Plan for mental health resources, like counseling services available through your school.
Financial Management
- Open a local bank account to avoid high fees on international transactions.
- Inform your bank about your travel to avoid fraud alerts on your account.
- Understand the currency and conversion rates.
- Budget carefully to manage daily expenses and travel.
- Keep multiple forms of money—cash, cards, and electronic.
- Know the cost of living in your host city.
- Plan for unexpected expenses.
- Use budgeting apps to track your spending.
- Learn about tax obligations in your host country.
- Save receipts for major purchases or expenses.
Academics
- Understand the academic system of the host country.
- Be aware of class registration processes and deadlines.
- Meet with your academic advisor regularly.
- Know where to buy or rent textbooks.
- Utilize the university’s resources like libraries and labs.
- Join study groups to enhance learning.
- Respect academic integrity and understand what constitutes plagiarism.
- Keep track of your academic progress.
- Be open to different teaching styles.
- Manage your time effectively between study and social activities.
Cultural Adaptation
- Learn basic phrases in the local language.
- Respect cultural norms and practices.
- Try local food.
- Make friends with locals as well as other international students.
- Participate in local festivals and events.
- Be patient with yourself as you adapt.
- Stay flexible and open-minded.
- Use cultural misunderstandings as learning opportunities.
- Maintain a sense of humor.
- Document your experiences through a blog or a journal.
Communication
- Get a local SIM card or a suitable international phone plan.
- Stay in touch with family and friends back home regularly.
- Use social media responsibly.
- Learn the nuances of local communication styles.
- Use translation apps if needed.
- Keep regular contact with your home institution.
- Network extensively.
- Seek mentorship from professors or peers.
- Be clear and direct in academic and personal interactions.
- Practice active listening in conversations.
Personal Development
- Travel as much as your budget and visa conditions allow.
- Take up a new hobby or sport popular in the area.
- Volunteer for local organizations.
- Reflect on your experiences and growth.
- Stay open to new experiences.
- Maintain a balance between personal time and socializing.
- Set personal goals for your time abroad.
- Seek out internships or part-time work if permissible.
- Attend workshops and seminars beyond your course requirements.
- Embrace independence and learn to solve problems on your own.
Practical Tips
- Pack wisely, balancing between essentials and overpacking.
- Learn to cook basic meals.
- Understand public transportation systems in your host city.
- Keep digital copies of important documents in secure cloud storage.
- Check compatibility of electronic devices with local electrical standards.
- Manage jet lag effectively during your initial days.
- Learn local shopping tips to save money.
- Stay organized with a good planner or digital calendar.
- Know your rights as a student and tenant in the host country.
- Be cautious with personal safety especially at night.
Returning Home
- Prepare for reverse culture shock.
- Keep connections with friends and contacts made abroad.
- Share your experiences with future outbound students.
- Evaluate how the study abroad experience has impacted your career goals.
- Update your resume with your international experience.
- Use your improved language and intercultural skills to enhance your employability.
- Continue practicing the language you’ve learned.
- Integrate the habits you appreciated from abroad into your lifestyle at home.
- Reflect on what you’ve learned about yourself.
- Plan your next steps academically and professionally.
Miscellaneous
- Take plenty of photos but also enjoy the moments without a lens.
- Keep backups of your work and data.
- Be proactive in dealing with homesickness.
- Join alumni networks of your study abroad program.
- Keep a list of emergency phrases in the local language.
- Have an open-door policy to make new friends.
- Explore responsibly and sustainably.
- Use student discounts to your advantage.
- Stay aware of your surroundings.
- Enjoy every moment—studying abroad is a unique, often once-in-a-lifetime experience.
This comprehensive list will help ensure that you’re well-prepared for a fulfilling and successful study abroad experience. Embrace the journey with an open heart and mind, and it will undoubtedly be one of the most memorable chapters of your life.
Inspirational Quotes About Studying Abroad
- Maya Angelou: “Perhaps travel cannot prevent bigotry, but by demonstrating that all peoples cry, laugh, eat, worry, and die, it can introduce the idea that if we try and understand each other, we may even become friends.”
- Saint Augustine: “The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page.”
- Mark Twain: “Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one’s lifetime.”
- Terry Pratchett: “Why do you go away? So that you can come back. So that you can see the place you came from with new eyes and extra colors. And the people there see you differently, too. Coming back to where you started is not the same as never leaving.”
- Gustave Flaubert: “Travel makes one modest. You see what a tiny place you occupy in the world.”
- Erasmus: “The main hope of a nation lies in the proper education of its youth.”
- Hans Christian Andersen: “To travel is to live.”
- Clifton Fadiman: “When you travel, remember that a foreign country is not designed to make you comfortable. It is designed to make its own people comfortable.”
- Susan Sontag: “I haven’t been everywhere, but it’s on my list.”
- G.K. Chesterton: “The traveler sees what he sees, the tourist sees what he has come to see.”
Helpful Resources for Students Studying Abroad
- Global Admissions: Provides a comprehensive platform for students to explore and apply to universities worldwide. Offers personalized advice and has extensive program listings.
- EducationUSA: A U.S. Department of State network of over 400 international student advising centers in more than 170 countries. The network promotes U.S. higher education to students around the world by offering accurate, comprehensive, and current information about opportunities to study at accredited postsecondary institutions in the United States.
- The British Council: Provides resources for international students looking to study in the UK, including details about scholarships and living in the UK.
- Campus France: The French national agency for the promotion of higher education, international student services, and international mobility.
- DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service): A German organization that provides information and financial support to over 100,000 German and international students and researchers around the globe each year.
- Fulbright Program: Offers scholarships for graduate students, young professionals, and artists to study and conduct research in the United States.
- GoOverseas: Community reviews and insights on study abroad programs, volunteer opportunities abroad, internship abroad, and more.
- Chevening: The UK government’s global scholarship program that offers future leaders the unique opportunity to study in the UK.
- CIEE: A nonprofit study abroad and intercultural exchange organization that helps people gain understanding, acquire knowledge, and develop skills for living in a globally interdependent and culturally diverse world.
These resources provide valuable support for students looking to study abroad, from choosing a program to settling in a new country, and ensure that the educational journey is as smooth and productive as possible.
