Want To Study Abroad? Don’t Do It Until You Read This!

A study abroad is not all it is cracked up to be! Hear me out.

The allure to study abroad can be great. With the ever-growing population of young adults moving to other countries to further their education and seek greener pastures, the pull on you still back home can be intense. What we don’t end up considering enough is just how expensive making the big move can be. On your mind, body, and certainly on your money!

Research shows that many international students get into the country of their institute of study only to experience a rude awakening and get slapped with unanticipated culture shock! Sometimes, they are unable to adjust completely. I’m sure you don’t want to cross the border and be in for the shock of your life!

So, without just hopping on to what’s trending now and seems good, you need to analyse what such a move means for you.

If you are very sure this is the path for you and you want to further your education abroad for your own personally-set life goals, it is crucial that you go through the following five steps.

1. Count the cost to study abroad

Everything has a price, even the good stuff. So you need to count the cost of studying abroad not just financially, but psychologically, and relationships-wise too. Do you already speak the language there or do you need to learn it? Can you live with the weather? Does anyone you know live there? How much do things like food, rent, and transportation cost?

Do your research and speak to people on the ground with recent experience. Discover how much you need to save specifically.

2. Consider studying in a more affordable country and school 

Many students choose their universities because they afford them the chance to apply for a post-study work visa after graduation. Canada, the UK, the US, and Australia are popular destinations but they can also be the most expensive education to fund.

Some European countries such as Germany, France, Sweden, and Greece offer free higher education to students in their public universities which is worth considering. Undergraduate degrees are usually in the native language but there are many post-graduate level degrees offered in English.

3. Have a good plan and spend wisely

After assessing things, making your school applications, and deciding on the institution of study, the next step is to create a plan. Design a road map of how the whole journey to your new home would play out and create a budget for it.

Have a dedicated savings account for this study abroad dream of yours. If you need more funding, there are great ways to raise money to study abroad. Also, make moves to save money by securing things like cheaper airfares early.

4. Always have extra if you want to study abroad 

Plan for the unplanned and unthought-of. If there’s something you can rely on in this, it’s that unexpected costs can and do pop up. Making sure you’ve included some extra padding in your budget that ensures a stress-free move is a wisdom.

5. Get part-time work while you study abroad

This might seem obvious but it’s worth iterating. Though there are often University jobs such as Assistantships available for grabs, one can also indulge in other work like social welfare and industry jobs. Just be sure to check exactly what work specifications you are allowed to do on your type of visa. For instance, certain students in the US and UK are permitted to work for a maximum of 20 hours per week in certain fields. 

I hope these put things into perspective for you and gives good guidance as to how you should navigate a study abroad. If you have problems with funding, here are the best ways you can explore to raise the money you need.