University can be considered one of the most intense as well as most fun times in your life. You may get the chance to study abroad for part of your degree, and if so then here are the 10 best tips and advice on studying abroad during your time at university.
1: Planning earlier than you think is not silly
Most of us are guilty at leaving things to the last minute until they cannot be put off any longer, but securing things early like accommodation and optional modules should be a main priority. Most places offering accommodation for students receive an influx of applications for limited rooms in the couple of months before students are due to arrive. Looking at potential places to live while you’re abroad should be done well in advance so you can make a rough check list of a few potential places. If the application process is available to complete online then applying between 4 and 6 months before you are due to fly out is a good time frame – That way you have a better chance of getting yourself at the top of the list before the influx of later applications. As long as you state your time period of stay then you should be fine to apply a bit sooner. As for emails from your host university, you will have a lot of documents and paper work to fill in that they require to fully process and get you in their system so you should try to complete any documentation ASAP and email it back. If you do it as soon as you receive the email you wont run the risk of accidentally forgetting about it and jeopardising the whole process.
2: Stay in a student accommodation, don’t privately rent
Most private landlords require you to commit to a minimum length tenancy, and as one semester is only a few months and a full school year being 7-9 months this will mean that you might end up paying extra on a place that you will move out from before the tenancy expiration date; thus throwing a lot of money away. Most student accommodations end their tenancies around the end of the school year to compensate for the university lifestyle, so financially speaking living in student accommodation is cost effective.
Apart from making more financial sense it will allow you to meet lots of new people who will be in the same situation as you. You will share this in common and will be able to build friendships from the start. It will also help you to not feel lonely day to day, as living in a new country for a while can be challenging if you feel like you have nobody to talk to and overcome cultural hurdles with.
3: Organise a debit/credit card that you can transfer money to so you don’t have to open a new bank account abroad
Taking a wad of cash abroad might be okay for a week long holiday, but this is not ideal for extended periods of time. If you already have access to a credit card such as Capital or American Express then these can be used abroad in most countries however you will receive added charges on every purchase depending on the rate of exchange.
A highly recommended option is a card from Thomas Cook called a ‘Cash Passport’. It requires a minimum amount to be loaded onto the card when you open it in store, and then you can transfer more online when you need to. There are no charges when using it to pay for things in stores but withdrawing from an ATM and every time you transfer money online incurs a very small charge depending on the amount. For convenience purposes it helps to have one of these cash passport debit cards so you don’t need to worry about opening a foreign bank account.
Once your trip has come to an end you can return to Thomas Cook and cash out the card’s remaining balance and close the account – simple and effective.
4. Save up as much as you can, as soon as you can
An important part of while you are there is seeing the area and what it has to offer. You want to enjoy yourself during the spare time you will have and not be stuck in your room because you can’t afford things like transport. The chances are that as much as you budget each month you will overspend on things like trips to other cities and any extra things like souvenirs, keepsakes etc.
As soon as you know you want to study abroad get saving straight away.
5. Plan how to get from the airport to your accommodation
Cities like New York and Los Angeles have subway connections that go to the main airports, however there are some cities that don’t – Toronto is an example. If the city you are studying abroad at has an airport that isn’t reachable by subway then this could create major complications if you don’t research this. Sometimes airports in larger cities provide shuttle bus services from outside arrivals to the nearest subway stop to provide a link to the main city.
Make sure you form a solid plan to get from the airport to your accommodation, as paying for a taxi door to door will set you back an extortionate amount that you could do with not spending unnecessarily.
6. Calculate beforehand how much you will be spending every month on the bare necessities for the total length of time you are abroad
Knowing your financial situation inside out while you study abroad is crucial. Make sure you have a roof over your head for the entire time you’re there and you live within your means in terms of day to day living. Calculate per-month how much your rent, transportation, and budgeted groceries will set you back. That way you will know how much miscellaneous cash you have left every month. Check out if where you stay has bills included in the rent or if you have to pay for them separately.
As a student an all inclusive rent is a better option as you can feel comfortable at home without always having to be conscious of your water or electricity usage.
7. Research the area you are travelling to before hand to become familiar with the surroundings
Look at your host university as well as where you will be living on Google Maps to get an idea of what the specific buildings look like so you recognise them once you arrive. Look around the general area on Google’s street view and start to familiarise yourself with the surrounding areas so you won’t feel too isolated for the first few days. Use the map to find out where the nearest local amenities are like the nearest bus stop, subway station and supermarket. Perhaps print off part of the map and use it to get around the area until you form a routine that you know off by heart around the city.
8. Search Facebook for any groups especially for upcoming exchange students
Most universities allocate a student ambassador as a go to person for all incoming exchange students. As a way to communicate between everyone there is most likely a Facebook group dedicated to the upcoming year/semester that you can post comments in and meet new people. This gives you a chance to meet other exchange students who may be taking the same classes as you or just other students in general to make acquaintances with. Checking for these groups by typing in related words in the top search bar is very quick and easy to do.
9. Really consider what you pack in your suitcase
We’ve all been in a situation where we just can’t seem to fit everything into one suitcase. Most of the stuff we bring with us anywhere we never end up using as it is a psychological trait to bring as much of our belongings as we can in order to still feel our whole self. When packing clothes only pack what you know you will absolutely use and wear on a day to day basis. We all have a bunch of shirts, jeans and underwear that lay in the deepest part of our draws that we never wear so don’t be afraid to leave them at home just because you have never been without them. Also make sure that you bring weather appropriate clothing depending on the season and the climate of where you are going. Perhaps you can put aside a small amount to buy a weather appropriate pair of shoes and coat after you arrive to save on suitcase space. Things like cutlery, washing products and bedding should be bought after you’ve arrived as you won’t be able to physically carry a duvet with you halfway around the world (Cutlery and bedding should also be considered as a one-time purchase necessity as part of your prior budgeting).
When you book your flight make sure you find out what your baggage allowance is. If you are flying long-haul then it is usually one suitcase and two pieces of hand luggage but this may vary depending on the airline or destination so it is important to check.
10. Go out, explore, and have fun!
Part of the whole experience is to have the time of your life. Let’s face it, it will probably be a very long time (if ever again) that you will get to live in another country for a lengthy period where you have enough free time to experience a new culture and visit lots of destinations. Take advantage of this and go and see as much as you can. There will most likely be other exchange students that wish to do the same so you will have the chance to organise trips with your new friends. Most countries have national rail networks as well as bus and coach companies such as Megabus and Greyhound. These modes of transport are often far cheaper than flying and the road trip aspect of a coach journey can add to the experience.
When you end up with that feeling of having nothing else that has compared to your experience you will realise all the planning and paperwork for your study abroad program was worth the tediousness and the wait!
Watch the video below on what you could get unto on a trans-Atlantic study abroad!
Words and pictures by: Peter Tillyer
Audio courtesy of: Patrik Gesko