7 Tips for Studying Abroad
Are you going abroad to study? Is it the first time you have gone so far from your family? Are you a little stressed? But what should you do when you get there? You’ve got no family or friends by your side? Lots of questions come to your mind, but you don't know how to answer them? How about reading the testimony of a former Erasmus student, Maxime?
Since the establishment of exchange education programs, millions of students have been able to study abroad. You can also be one of them and study in one of the foreign cities. Below, you can read some recommendations that a former international student decided to share with us.
1 — Find Out About the Place You’re Going to
It may seem too obvious, but you should find out as much as possible about your destination. You can find this information on travel sites or by asking someone you know who has already been there.
2 — Make Sure You Have All the Required Documents
It is the most unpleasant and yet necessary part of studying abroad! That is why it is better to take care of it before your departure, rather than after arrival.
In some countries, if you are leaving for less than 90 days, your Visa or Mastercard credit card will cover all your medical expenses. For longer stays, you may need to have the Insurance Card or other specific documents. You will need to find out about additional health insurance systems outside your country.
Don't hesitate to seek advice from your school or university. Its personnel will be more than happy to help you with any questions you may have.
3 — Enroll in Language Courses
If you already have a list of language courses you can take on-site, you should pick one beforehand. Even if it is not in your curriculum, it can still be interesting for you to discover a new field. While studying abroad, Maxime chose criminology. Rather surprising, especially if you learn marketing! He explains it like this: “To be able to learn the language quickly, I chose courses where I was surrounded by as many locals as possible. I talked to them all the time, trying to get to know them better. What is really cool is that people in your exchange country can be very friendly and responsive.”
4 — Organize Your Departure
Are you going alone? Are your friends/fellow students going to the same city as you? For example, Maxime knew that other students from his school were going to Sydney. They, therefore, plan to take the plane together (when your trip lasts, for example, for 2 days you should take care of having good company). So, make sure your fellow students are going to the same place and prepare for your departure: find out about the date, flight number, etc.
5 — Find Accommodation
If you have a friend who has studied abroad, you can ask for their advice about finding accommodation. You can also search on certain sites or consult with your college or school personnel. Yes, there's a lot of research to do. But don't worry about time — if you have too many assignments to handle while preparing for your educational trip, visiting websites like https://www.buy-cheapessay.com/buy-argumentative-essay can come in handy.
As for accommodation, we recommend staying in a hostel. It is an opportunity for you to meet new people and even find your future roommates. Here’s what Maxime says: “I was in total immersion, so I decided to share a hostel room with 4 people. None of them spoke English, but it didn’t really bother me. The advantage of living with them was that I learned a lot about their culture and increased my overall awareness of the country.”
If you are worried about having to speak in a foreign language on a daily basis, you can also share a room with English speakers. That way, you can immerse yourself in the new language environment at your own pace. Or you can choose to live alone — it’s completely up to you.
6 — Find a Job
It is a part that can be quite frightening. To find a job in Sydney, Maxime sent numerous emails to English-speaking schools, organizations, and companies from his country. A few days after his arrival, he landed a supervisory job. Some of his friends got jobs in sales or catering. If you’ve never been involved in anything like that before, you should prepare yourself physically and psychologically. Those are tough jobs, you know. You can also work as a babysitter, just like Maxime did. Learning a foreign language is even easier that way.
Again, ask around — what's the best way of finding a job in your destination country? Don't hesitate to inquire at your school or university — perhaps it offers jobs to researchers in that city?
Important: make sure you speak the language well or can learn it quickly. You’ll avoid a lot of problems and annoying situations this way.
7 — Be Sociable
The main objective of an exchange student is to increase their cultural awareness and gain maturity. To be able to do that, you should explore the city and talk to people that surround you.
It is likely that you will get homesick and depressed. It’s hardly surprising, especially if it is the first time you live your home for so long.
The first month is the most complicated one: you have to pick up new habits and learn to manage different issues on your own. Here are the top three tips for the first time:
- Don't stay alone
- Talk to people
- Find activities that will keep you occupied
- Do sports (gym, cycling, pool, football, etc.)
If you are a rather reserved or shy person, don't be afraid to face your fears. Say to yourself: “I’m in a foreign country where nobody knows me. I’m free to do whatever I want.”
You are going to experience one of the most beautiful periods of your student life, so make the most of it!
