Most people who have studied abroad will tell you that it’s equal parts terrifying and exciting, especially the parts leading up to it, as you will likely have no idea what to expect.
While everyone and their situation will be different, there are a few steps that you can take if you want to study abroad, and this post will be walking you through four of them. So, if you’ve ever dreamed of pursuing your studies in a different part of the world but you don’t know where to start, you’ve come to the right place!
Decide what you want to study
Before you get caught up in all the excitement of planning where you will be living (but don’t worry, we’ll get to that!), you need to focus on your studies.
After all, you may not have control over many things when it comes to studying abroad, but you can control what you apply for. Try to think about what you will enjoy as well as what you are good at, as this will help you narrow down which subjects you should apply for. Also keep in mind whether you will be doing your undergrad or postgrad degree, as this will determine things such as whether you are eligible for qualifications like MBA degrees.
Figure out where you want to study
Now that you’ve narrowed down what you want to study, you need to figure out where you want to study. Since not all universities in all countries will offer the subjects you are interested in, you may have a smaller pool to choose from.
You also need to consider things like living costs as well as the safety and climate to help you determine the best country for your studies. Regardless of where you end up going, you will likely struggle to adjust at first, so click here for some tips on that.
Get the right documents
Whenever you enter a new country – whether for work, to study, or to travel – you need to have the right documents ready.
Which documents you need will depend on where you come from as well as where you will be studying, but you will likely need proof of acceptance at a university as well as proof of financial means to support yourself. You may also need a study visa, in which case you should ensure that you look into some visa application tips.
Plan your finances
As mentioned, most countries will require that you provide proof that you can support yourself for the duration of your studies. And of course, you will also need to pay your study fees, which tend to be higher for international students.
Because of this, studying abroad isn’t something you should rush into. You should take the time needed to research it and start planning your finances so that you have enough money saved up by the time you want to apply. Preparing your future finances may be intimidating, but it’s certainly worth it.
