Choosing a study abroad program is no easy task. Sure, it’s fun to get lost in the daydream of learning French in the South of France or strutting about in London. But when it comes down to it, most students hardly have any idea what they want specifically.
To realize your dreams, you need a plan. Follow our 8-step guide to carve out your plan of action today and get started on making your half-cooked dreams a reality.
Step 1: Determine Your Goals And Preferences
You need to narrow down your potential options. Start by asking yourself which country you want to study in and which state or city attracts you the most. Then, ask yourself which programs you’re interested in.
Now you know where you want to study and what you want to study. That’s a great start.
Step 2: Research Study Abroad Options
It’s hard to research universities located far away from you. Visiting campuses is a big part of choosing the best institutions at home. Sadly, traveling abroad just for research may not be an option for most.
Luckily, you have many online resources dedicated to comparing colleges. Educations.com, mastersportal.com, and JEDUKA are good places to start. You can compare universities worldwide with these tools.
For students who’re interested in UK schools, the following tools are great.
Take advantage of your school’s career counseling programs. They’ll help you a lot in your research.
Step 3: Seek Advice And Guidance
Once you have a list of universities that meet your standard in terms of tuition fees, the programs they offer, campus, living facilities, etc., it’s time to talk to people who have gone to those universities.
Check to see which of your school’s alumni went to the same universities, and seek out their advice and ask them about their experience.
You can also talk to the admission staff of the universities you’re considering. It’s their job to clear up any doubts potential students have, and you can trust them to get you through the ropes and offer sound advice.
Step 4: Consider The Costs
The tuition fees and living expenses are the first things to consider. You should also consider the opportunities you’ll have to earn money in your country of choice. Working part-time can help you pay for your monthly expenses at the very least.
Research on scholarship programs available. Inquire about student aid and grants at the universities you’re considering. Carefully analyze the finances before making a decision.
Step 5: Check For Credit Transfer
There are some practicalities you have to consider before going off to study abroad. It may be that you need to return to your home country before you plan for unforeseen reasons.
You’ll need to consider home universities that you may transfer to later. Check that credits from the universities you chose abroad are transferable to the home universities you’re interested in. Better safe than sorry!
Step 6: Obtain The Necessary Documents
You need certain documents to enroll in a program abroad. The exact documents will vary based on the country's requirements or specifically for that program. However, the following documents are common.
- Application form
- Your passport
- Statement of purpose
- Academic certificate/transcript
- CV/résumé
- Portfolio
- Essays
- Letters of recommendation or academic references
- Language proficiency test results. (For example -TOEFL/IELTS certificate)
- Admissions test results (GMAT/GRE results)
Step 7: Make Arrangements For Housing And Travel
Once you get admitted to the program you chose, the next step is to figure out where you’ll live and how you’ll get there. When going to an unfamiliar country, it’s best to initially live in your school’s dorm facilities. You may later move to a space close to campus with people you meet on campus.
It’s better to get to your dorm a couple of days before classes start. Book tickets that allow you to have that extra time to get comfortable. Here’s how you can book the cheapest flights.
You can save a lot of money if you’re willing to book connecting flights and travel by mixing and matching the most budget-friendly airlines.
Step 8: Prepare For Your Trip
This can mean anything from shopping for necessities or saying goodbye to the people you’ll be missing. Visit a travel doctor. You may need to get vaccinated depending on the immunization policy of the country you’re going to.
Arrange for travel insurance, consider how you’ll contact people back home, prepare your bank account, and have cash on hand. Research the things that aren’t available or are expensive where you’re going. You want to buy such items to take with you.
Learn about the culture and get familiar with the local language to prepare yourself mentally a bit. Finally, pack up.
Conclusion
Studying abroad is great for cultural enrichment and the experience of living on your own. It’s also looked at positively academically as well. So, your CV looks more impressive with a foreign degree.
However, making arrangements can be daunting, and you’ll probably feel lost if you don’t have a support system. Focusing on one step at a time is the best way to take down this mammoth task.