Checklist for International Students Planning to Study Abroad – 2024
Posted by: Smart || Categories: Guides
There’s no denying that studying abroad is a thrilling experience. What’s not to love about meeting people from all over the world, having unique experiences, and creating new memories? If you’re unprepared, though, you may find it unpleasant and challenging to make the move from comfortable family life to independent living in a strange nation. Therefore, to help with your study abroad preparation, we have put together this helpful checklist.
Furthermore, even if you would have to work extremely hard to pay for education, that doesn’t mean you can’t have an amazing trip. In order to minimize your expenses and maximize your quality of life throughout your study stay, you must be frugal and keep a close eye on your wallet.
You can even become sufficiently prepared when you know what to bring when studying abroad. During your visit, we want you to feel comfortable exploring the school and to leave with some money still in your pocket.
How to Prepare for Study Abroad: Practical Advice
1. Ensure that all of your paperwork is organized.
If you’re reading this and wondering, “Visa?,” get your passport as soon as you can, and submit your application for any necessary visas on time. What visa? Please check the requirements for your selected country’s visa right away. Verify your passport’s expiration date if you have one. Make sure it will serve you well after your time overseas.
2. Book Your Accommodation, Flights, And Courses.
While every study abroad program is different, most of them entail conventional courses. To organize your activities around your schedule, know what classes you’ll be attending, when they meet, and where you’ll be staying. This will also help you calculate your commute. It’s fantastic if you’re traveling before your semester starts! Just make sure your travel to your study abroad location is scheduled. That is the entire purpose of the journey; don’t wing it.
3. Speak With Your Bank
To learn how your debit and credit cards function abroad, schedule a meeting with your bank. Certain banks will have their own convenient products in your area, while others may have local partners who offer free cash withdrawals. Make preparations if your bank is a smaller one and doesn’t operate internationally. Use your traveler’s credit card as much as you can; only withdraw cash when absolutely required.
4. Create a financial budget
When your parents are present, you might not think about this all the time, but when you’re studying overseas, you need to be conscious of your financial situation and budget. Make sure you have a plan with your bank before you go, much like you do with your mobile service provider, to avoid them refusing payments when you’re purchasing coffee.
If you aren’t already, you should be aware of the following:
- The foreign exchange rate that applies to your bank
- The current rate of exchange between your home country and the country you are moving to
- The monetary system of your new residence.
5. Stay Current on Currency Exchange.
Many students think about everyday costs when choosing where to study abroad, yet some of the least expensive nations are also the least stable. For example, don’t expect that the US dollar will be worth the same when you study abroad as it was five months ago when you looked up the exchange rate, especially if your home nation has a very unstable economy. When you’re budgeting for months instead of days, even little adjustments might have a major effect, and you might find yourself spending Western Europe money in a place you had assumed would be affordable.
6. Plan Your Itinerary And Flights.
For a stress-free, effective trip, gather all of your travel documents, including itineraries, maps, and airline tickets, and have them close at hand (or in your bag, really—we don’t want any boarding cards or bus tickets left in seat pockets). You can relax and enjoy the voyage if you have everything planned ahead of time, especially when you take into account the money you have saved.
7. Feeling homesick and culture shock
Many of my acquaintances go through homesickness during the academic year, and I know a number of people who suffered culture shock when they first started studying abroad. Hopefully, if you heed the first piece of advice, culture shock will be avoided. But occasionally, unanticipated things might give you a hint, so you’ll have to adapt.
To accomplish this, get past this;
- Ask for assistance and maintain an optimistic and open attitude about what is going on around you.
- Instead of isolating yourself and waiting for the right person to come along.
- Make routine calls to your parents and household members.
- Recognize that your time overseas is limited, so make the most of it while you can because you won’t be back.
8. Clothing & Weather
The weather is something you may wish to take into account. Examine the area you have selected’s average temperature and climate. As you can see, it’s important to be aware of the local weather so that you can bring the proper clothing from home. This will assist you in making deliberate purchases.
9. Verify That the Course You Have Selected Is Well-Received.
If the study abroad program is pre-approved by your department, there shouldn’t be any issues; but, if you found it online or through another office, you should consult an academic counselor to ensure that you’ll be returning home on the right track. Finding out that none of the lessons you took while studying overseas would help you develop in your career is the last thing you want to happen.
10. Phone Plan
This is crucial for international research. You never know when you might need to look for information like a cab firm, use your data for Google Maps, or make an emergency call at the airport. Make sure your mobile phone company offers international plans to the country you’re moving to and that they’re still reasonably priced before you leave.
If not, make sure you register for a mobile plan at the airport as soon as you land, to relieve yourself of one less stress. If at all possible, bring along a cheap backup phone in case yours is lost or damaged. There’s never a too much caution.
11. Contact Information
Naturally, I’m not referring to the emergency numbers of various nations, as I’m sure we are all aware of those. (Note: If you are moving to a new nation, familiarize yourself with its emergency hotline.) What I mean is your school, college, or university’s emergency number so you have someone to call in the event that you get lost or have an incident upon landing at the airport.
In order to be ready, make sure you have the emergency number written down on paper and store it in your luggage in case your phone is lost or damaged.
12. Technology Instruments
However, as the majority of schools and universities these days are becoming more electronic by integrating e-learning and other online-based learning programs into their system, phones and laptops are very necessary. It will be challenging for you to type that 1,000 word essay on your phone’s screen or do a presentation on your tablet if you don’t have a laptop. Make sure you have the right electronic equipment and are familiar with your course or school.
Please share your thoughts in the comments area if you found this article to be helpful.
Can't find your desired song? SEARCH HERE
REQUEST ANY SONG? CLICK HERE
Subscribe For Our Latest Blog Updates. Join 28,343 Other Subscribers>