Studying abroad is a huge decision. Regardless of where you relocate to; you’ll be learning a new culture, meeting new people and maybe grappling with a new language too.
Preparing for this can seem daunting. Where do you start? What do you look out for? And how long will it take to prepare? Here are four very general tips for before you commit to studying abroad.
Plan and research
Find out where you’re going, where you’re staying and what you will be doing in your spare time. Although you will only be studying abroad in one city, that doesn’t mean you are limited to just seeing one place!
Many students spend their free weekends in different towns, cities, or even countries (especially if you decide to study in Europe, where a lot of countries are just an hour or so away by plane). We suggest you investigate where you would like to go on weekends, popular spots to meet new people to gain the maximum amount of experience and create memories to take with you when it’s time to go back home. Research with websites like pinterest.com, Instagram hashtags and travel blogs.
Save up
No matter how much you save up, you’ll often feel like you don’t have enough. Besides, being shrewd is a good skill to learn while at college. On top of that, budgeting and saving up for the next few weeks/months could make the beginning of your stay a stress-free experience. Let travel be your motivation to work hard and save money!
Learn the lingo
If you’re studying in a place where you’re not familiar with the language, then it’s worthwhile to learn a little in advance. Getting by with a bit of simple English is very much possible; it’s likely your lectures will be in English for example. However, it goes a long way if you make the effort to speak their native tongue (even if your first attempts aren’t great).
Decide what you want to take with you
This one is simple. You may only be relocating for a temporary basis, but some things you won’t want to leave behind. You’ll be spending several years of your youth in new, unfamiliar dorms or other college accommodation for example. That gaming PC, reliable mattress or even the DJ’ing equipment you can’t live without. Don’t leave what you love behind!
All in all, this could be a massive learning experience for you, an opportunity to integrate within a culture you are unfamiliar with and will encourage you to go above and beyond to make the most of your university experience. Studying abroad is worthwhile considering and will help you stand out amongst other graduates in the future.
Got the itch to move abroad? get in touch with us, we can help move your world, from your belongings to visas to pets.