Counseling Education

Study Abroad Prep - 10 Things You NEED to Know

With so many opportunities to study abroad more and more students are not thinking twice about ditching traditional studies and opting for a more exciting academic life in a foreign country. In fact, according to BBC Travel there are currently 3.7 million students in the world. However, international studies need a lot of preparation since you want to make sure that you will be safe and comfortable in your chosen country once you arrive. Here are the top 10 things you need to know when you prepare for study abroad. 

Choose the right scholarship. 

This means doing your homework in researching the scholarships that you want to apply for. There are many scholarships that offer attractive benefits for applicants but they differ in so many areas such as amount of allowance, coverage, duration and courses covered. 

Get all your documents in order. 

Make sure that you have your scholarship documents ready including copies of your application, approval letter and other papers related to your travel. You may be asked to present these by airport officials once you land.

 Figure out your expenses ahead of time. 

Know how much pocket money you need to bring and how much you can expect to spend in a day. This way you can budget your allowance and avoid the fear of running out of money in the middle of the semester. (Learn more about budgeting while abroad) 

Learn the language. 

Although you do not need to be fluent, having some sort of understanding of basic words and phrases can help you meet new people and be able to function in the city even if you are on your own.

 Pack wisely. 

How much you pack will really depend on how long you stay. Experts suggest only packing the essentials since you can always buy the other things you need when you arrive. 

Learn the money system before your trip. 

Learning about the currency will really help avoid the stress of having to learn it the first time you arrive at the airport. This way you will also avoid scammer taxi drivers and other vendors who may try to sell you things for much more than they are worth. 

Use a smaller bag to store all travel essentials like your money, wallet and passport.

If you are traveling with more than two pieces of luggage or with one giant backpack, you need to have your travel documents and money in a bag that is easily accessible. You are also less likely to lose your important items if you carry them in the plane instead of checking them in. 

Save in moving costs by opting for self storage providers. 

Self storage providers such as Kennards offer inexpensive storage options that are ideal for students. The company buys back used boxes and allows returns for unused ones. 

Seek assistance from people you know. 

If you have friends in the place where you are studying, contact them. They are good sources of information for anything from finding an apartment to what restaurants have the lowest prices and great food. 

Know how to take the subway. 

If you are expecting to take the subway to and from school, get familiar with the system they have. The subway is an inexpensive way to travel and will help you save your scholarship allowance for more important things.