10 Must-Know Tips for Studying Abroad
Studying abroad is an amazing way to broaden your perspective, embrace new cultures, make new friends, and even find yourself. Not only does it give you a unique outlook on life, but it also will enhance your personal growth and open your eyes to new ways of thinking.
Although studying abroad is an exciting experience, there are some things you should know before planning your trip. From culture shock to expenses, to school work, and more, you should be well-prepared for your studies and new life abroad before you leave home.
10 Tips for Studying Abroad
As someone who’s studied abroad in 2 countries, here are some of my essential tips you should know for studying abroad.
Things to do before Studying Abroad - Tips for Students
1. Research Your Study Abroad Destination
First and foremost, you should research your study abroad destination. Before packing your bags, I’d recommend really getting to know the new country, so you aren’t so shocked when you get there. Do a few searches on Google and take a look at social media to get a good idea of the local culture, customs, and lifestyle.
It’s also helpful to learn about the education system and the differences in schooling from your home country. Keep in mind that each country usually uses its own grading system. A 4.0 GPA in the USA is a 1.0 in Germany, for example.
2. Plan Your Finances Way in Advance
The most important tip for studying abroad is to have your finances fully planned before you move. Once you get abroad, you’re going to be busy settling into your new city, making new friends, studying for your classes, and traveling. The last thing you want to do is worry about money.
I’d recommend saving a good amount of money so that you will be comfortable and feel relaxed knowing that you have enough money to survive, have fun, and enjoy yourself. It’s also important to know that most student visas don’t allow you to work while you’re studying. For this reason, it’s crucial to have money saved beforehand.
To help plan your study abroad finances, create a detailed budget for your stay that includes tuition, accommodation, food, transportation, travel, and miscellaneous expenses. Don’t forget about the currency exchange rates! Try to be as realistic as possible when planning your budget and estimate a bit more, so you have wiggle room for fun experiences.
3. Choose your program wisely
Although the focus of studying abroad isn’t just schooling, it’s important that you choose your study program wisely. Don’t just choose any kind of program for the sake of moving abroad. Before deciding on the university and program, make sure that the curriculum interests you and aligns with your future goals.
Not only is studying abroad occasionally expensive, but it’s also a huge commitment. Yes, you will be traveling and meeting new friends, but you have to remember to take it seriously. More times than not, your classes will have mandatory attendance, and the courses will require a ton of hard work. If you aren’t interested in the courses and thus, don’t attend courses, your grades could really suffer and this can negatively affect your graduation and overall study abroad experience.
Other factors to consider when choosing your study abroad program are the duration of the program, the location of the school, and the extracurricular activities available. Look for programs that provide a balance between academics and social/cultural events, to make the most of your time abroad.
Prepare to Study Abroad
4. Learn the basics of the local language
Another helpful tip for studying abroad is to learn the local language! As someone who’s studied in 2 countries without knowing the local language, I cannot stress this enough! It will make your life so much easier.
Although most international programs are conducted in English, making an effort to learn the local language will help you more than you can imagine. Yes, you will be speaking English in your courses and with your classmates, but ignoring the local language completely will not only make your life harder but will also make you seem ignorant to the locals. Not the best feeling if you ask me!
Learning a new language is not easy by any means, so I’d recommend learning months or even a year in advance before your study abroad program starts. Nowadays, there are many apps and YouTube channels to learn the basics. Once you move abroad, most schools will offer beginner language courses for free which will be a huge help as well.
5. Be prepared for culture shock
If this is your first time going abroad, be prepared for a bit of a shock when you first arrive. Every country has its own culture from the people, the food, the way they do things, the fashion, and more. You will get used to the culture shock adjustments after a few weeks and months, but it’s important that you keep an open mind and never disrespect the local culture.
It might be easy to judge local customs if they are different from what you’re used to, but it’s important to realize that you’re no longer at home. You should try to understand the perspectives of those around you and approach new things with kindness. For example (from personal experience lol) we Americans can be extremely loud when we’re in public, and we don’t even realize it. While in public in France or Germany, for instance, they are quiet, and it’s considered rude to speak loudly in places like museums, restaurants, or even on public transport.
Although culture shock can be tricky, it’s also an eye-opening experience that you won’t forget during your study abroad. Embrace cultural differences, and keep an open mind, and it will truly impact your personal growth without you realizing it.
How to mentally prepare for study abroad experience
6. Get ready mentally for the upcoming change
While you’re prepping the exciting aspects of your move, it’s also important to know how to mentally prepare for study abroad. Make sure you’re ready to leave your comfort zone and friends and family before your move. One way you can mentally prepare is by creating a plan to connect with your loved ones regularly. Calculate the time differences between home and your new country, so you’ll have a good idea of when you can call your family and friends. You could also schedule weekly or bi-weekly FaceTime dates to catch up and talk about your new experiences.
Studying abroad can be mentally challenging, as you’re literally leaving everything you know behind. If you’re nervous about your move, remind yourself why you’re going abroad and focus on all the exciting adventures to come.
7. Be ready to manage your academic responsibilities
Balancing your studies while exploring a new country can be tough, so it’s important that you have a plan to stay on top of everything. Make sure you have effective time management skills, and you’re organized. If you’re not organized and focus too much on the social life side of studying abroad, you might experience challenges with your grades.
I’d recommend creating a study schedule, making study groups with your fellow students, and asking your professors as many questions as possible. Doing this will ensure you fully understand your studies, and you’re well-prepared for exams.
8. Don’t forget about health insurance
Next on my list of things to do before studying abroad is to prepare your health insurance. Health insurance is a must when traveling abroad, so don’t overlook it! Your study abroad application or visa usually requires health insurance, so you probably already have this covered. But if you don’t, make sure you find travel insurance that has decent coverage because you truly never know.
Before your move abroad, I’d also recommend searching and noting down local doctors you can visit in your new city, so you know where to go if a bad situation comes up.
9. Be open to new experiences
Studying abroad will be one of the most exciting times of your life! Be sure to approach your study abroad adventure with an open heart and a willingness to try new things. Taste local cuisine, participate in cultural events, and explore unfamiliar activities that you wouldn’t have tried otherwise.
Being open to new experiences will enhance your personal development and create memories that will last a lifetime. Staying indoors, saying no to invitations, and not taking advantage of opportunities to explore your new environment won’t add to your experience and will lead to regrets later.
10. Document your experience in a journal
One of the best tips for studying abroad is to document your experience! You won’t want to forget all the exciting times and amazing people you meet while abroad. There are many fun ways you can document your experience. For example, you can create a travel journal, start a blog, create a YouTube channel, or a photo diary. Or if you’re a content lover, you can even create social media profiles to showcase your amazing travels and adventures.
This is something I wish I had done more of when I studied abroad, so trust me, you won’t want to forget this tip! Capture all the moments that you can, so you can look back at those memories one day and share your journey with others.
Conclusion on tips for studying abroad
In conclusion, these tips for studying abroad are vital and could help in your journey. Studying abroad is an exciting experience that goes way beyond academics. By approaching your move abroad with preparation, organization, and open-mindedness, you can make the most of your time abroad and create memories that you’ll never forget.
Tips for Studying Abroad Q&A
How much money should you take to study abroad?
This depends on the city, your lifestyle, and the length of your studies. If you’re going for 3 months, for example, I’d recommend having a minimum savings of 3 full months of expenses plus extra for travel/leisure.
Expenses you should keep in mind for studying abroad include flight costs, visa costs, rent/housing, food, university fees, health insurance, and extra cash for eating out and activities with your new friends. Many study-abroad students travel around different countries and will likely invite you to join them, so I’d recommend having extra cash for this, so you can join them if you want!
How can I study abroad when I am broke?
If you are low on funds but still dream of studying abroad, don't worry! There are many options you can use to fund your program. If you're doing an exchange, for example, your university tuition will usually be the same cost and you would be able to use your financial aid that you use for normal courses. If you're moving abroad for a master's for example, you can find schools that have free tuition- check out public schools in Germany.
Moving abroad or moving anywhere in general can be costly, so I'd recommend saving money as soon as you can. Try not to spend extra money on useless things like coffee and eating out. Even small changes will add up over time!
