5 THINGS TO TAKE CARE OF BEFORE STUDYING ABROAD.

Many of you might have wondered about what life is like as an international student? You might’ve read thousands of articles, watched countless videos, and heard an earful of stories from those who’ve experienced it themselves. But you’re still unsure about the quality of life overseas.

You might also be overthinking certain scenarios – playing them continuously in your head, like being unable to adapt to the new environment, language, and culture or finding the task of making friends a bit too hard. Or, on the contrary, you might be pretty positive and eagerly looking forward to your stay. You might be in a dilemma right now. It’s okay to feel that way; we all have felt what you’re feeling right now.

Hence, this blog will help you clear your foggy view and make a choice.

Choose the right course

The first action you need to take before anything else is to ask yourself a few questions. What course is profitable for your future? Why shall you do this particular course? Which university offers the best teaching of this course? Are you willing to pursue it because it’s currently trending, or do you feel it will be valuable in the long run? Think calmly and be honest with yourself. Once you’ve all or some of the answers to your questions, you’re good to move onto the next step.

Some tips for choosing the right course and university;

• Evaluate your strengths and weaknesses and choose the course which suits you the best.
• Research about which countries are renowned for the course of your choice.
• Shortlist and compare a few universities that offer the course.
• Note down your priorities and privileges of studying in that particular country or university.
• Contact the university administration for more information or queries.
• Find and approach former alumni or take advice from a friend or relative who has studied in a foreign land.
• Compose a list of priorities- the university ambience, level of education,  placement facilities, etc.
• Attend education fairs.

Departure Plan

Studying overseas is like a dream come true for almost every student, but it can also be one of your life’s most financially challenging periods. After all, it’s no easy task to leave your friends, family, and the city behind.

There are so many memories you’ll be leaving behind to make some more with new people in a new city. You’ll also face numerous problems, managing funds is one of them. Nonetheless, you can preserve funds on foreign exchange while studying overseas to ease off the stress.

Here are a few points on how to save money while studying in a foreign land:

• Stay updated about the rates and purchase forex from local providers
• While overseas, keep a Forex card
• Review and analyze funds transfer rates and charges
• Keep an eye on the forex rates routinely
• Buy second-hand course books
• Purchase student travel cards
• Live in a PBSA
• Make a local bank account as an international student

Have an accurate budget

Before you decide to fly overseas, calculate your funds. After your budget is determined, you can proceed ahead, notably more steadily. Research every minute details regarding your course fee, visa, and student accommodation.

If you lack resources, you can also opt out for an education loan. While an education loan covers the course fee and associated expenses, there are additional costs, such as food, travel, medicines, etc. To meet all the daily expenses, you can start a part-time job.

Find a part-time job

It’s known to all of humankind that time is our most valuable asset. As a student, we often get plenty of time after college hours. Most of us use it to relax, read a book, watch a film, or lay down indolently.

While it’s true that the notion should be ‘Work to live’ and not ‘Live to work,’ sometimes we all have to walk out of our comfort zone and use those extra hours to put in some work to continue living in comfort.

Here are a few active and straightforward jobs to convert your free time into a cheddar:

• Be an online tutor
• Become a freelance writer
• Work for call centres
• Help local Bars/café/restaurants grow
• Do an internship
• Be a store associate, etc.

Finding a part-time job will become easier if your student accommodation is near the city centre or any other convenient location.

Book the right student accommodation

Before booking a student hall, enquire thoroughly about the facilities and amenities provided by them.

Run research on the surrounding areas of the shortlisted accommodations- supermarkets, restaurants, hospitals, bars, and transport services. Of course, you also have to take these expenses into account as they can critically influence your maintenance cost. Although such costs seem petty, they can be hefty, considering that you’ll be staying there for a minimum of 2 years.

Finding a perfect stay- especially student accommodation in the UK, USA, and Australia, can often turn out to be a hefty task, but worry not; some websites can take off your burden and provide you with the best.

How can AmberStudent help you?

We at AmberStudent are dedicated to giving you the best experience and option for student accommodation worldwide because we understand its importance. We have updated ourselves continuously with the COVID policies and would be more than eager to assist you in those.

About Author

Suvrahadip Ghosh is a civil engineer turned writer whose work has been published in many books, including one with Durjoy Dutta. Dubbed as ‘the man of metaphors’, he published his debut poetry book on a global scale- ‘RUINS.’

Weaving magic with words became easier for him as he accumulated experience working with major web companies like Terribly Tiny Tales and The Scribbled Stories. He has also been named amongst the top 50 national Wingword poetry competition. He’s currently providing his services to AmberStudent as a content manager and copywriter.