The hardest part about studying abroad is finding the right program for you. Learn how to search for programs, find scholarships, and organize your trip.
Welcome to an exciting chapter of your life: studying abroad! There are so many destinations and programs to choose from, so finding the perfect one can be overwhelming. There are so many factors to consider: tuition, housing, flights, and visas, to name a few. I'm going to breakdown the steps to make your decision a bit easier and give you some ideas on what to expect when going through this process.
Choosing your destination:
“I grew up telling everyone that I was going to move to Europe one day. Whether it be for a year or the rest of my life, it has always been my life goal.”
Is there a place you have always wanted to live? Maybe you saw it on social media, in a movie, or you went on vacation and said "It would be so cool to live here." I knew growing up that I wanted to move to Europe at some point, so I searched specifically for cities in Europe when deciding where to study abroad. If Europe isn't your dream, maybe Asia, Africa, South America or Australia is! The first thing you need to do is narrow down your list to 3 cities you could see yourself living in.
Once you've picked your top 3, do some research on the average cost of living in those cities and see if its something you could afford: housing, groceries, public transportation, restaurants, and what kind of currency they use. I mention currency because your money could go farther in countries such as Mexico, Czech Republic, India, or China so its a factor to consider.
If you're interested in traveling to other countries while you're abroad, check to see if there are trains available or an airport in/close to the city. When I was deciding where to live in Europe, I checked out the average cost of a flight/train to different cities and found that living in Central Europe gave me a higher accessibility to destinations compared to living in the UK.
Selecting your program:
Once you choose your top 3 cities, its time to find your program. Keep in mind that you could find your program first and then narrow down by city, but I feel that choosing the cities first helps to reduce the amount university websites you have to sort through. The cost of your program's tuition can ultimately sway your decision, so here are some countries that offer very cheap (or close to free) tuition for international students: Germany, Norway, Sweden, Austria, Hungary, Finland, Czech Republic, France, Belgium, Greece, Spain, Mexico, Brazil, China, and India.
The easiest method for program searching is to use Google, but simply typing in "Business Masters in London" will result in 215,000,000 results. There are many websites to help, but I highly recommend using "educations.com" because it allows you to select your category and the city. The website gives you basic information, but links directly to your selected program's homepage where you can find admission requirements and scholarships.
Find Housing:
“Avoid living in student dorms and start joining Facebook groups for apartment searching.”
Once you get admitted into your program, it is time to search for housing. Your university will most likely suggest for you to look into student dorms- DON'T FALL FOR IT! Although it is a great way to make friends in your university, do your research because most of the time they are expensive, ask for a large security deposit, and require you sign a lease for X amount of time. I highly recommend joining groups on Facebook like "Student Housing in London," or "Apartments, Sublets, and Rooms in Barcelona" to find the best deal that fits your budget & lifestyle. Usually if you type in your city name + apartments on Facebook, you will be able to find the right group for you.
When looking for a roommate, you can find someone in your program to share with, or you can find someone on Facebook (and heavily research their page). I loved rooming with people that were from the city I was studying in because they knew the language, had local tips, and always invited me to group events with people outside of university. As well, if you choose a roommate from that city, you make friends that you can visit/stay with the next time you come to the city once your semester/program is done!
Student Visa/Student Permit:
This is the single most important part of the study abroad process- securing your student visa so you don't overstay your visa free days. Most countries require the same documents:
- Confirmation of studies/acceptance letter
- Passport
- Passport sized photo
- Proof of approved health insurance
- Proof of financial means (bank account statement)
- Proof of housing
- Proof of no criminal record
The requirements vary from country to country, so look to see what you need specifically for your study abroad country!
Scholarships:
Finding scholarships is often difficult, and they are competitive. It's best to look for scholarships through your home university (if you're doing only a semester abroad) or on the host universities website. There are websites as well to help you narrow your search [for scholarships] and this is the one I found mine on: https://www.goabroad.com/articles/scholarships-abroad/scholarships-for-study-abroad-around-the-world
Getting Ready:
Book your flights, pack your bags, and start looking up sights to see in your new city. I always find the best way to search for a flight is to use Google and book directly through the airline's website to make sure it is not a scam. You can use the Hopper app to track the flight price fluctuations. Check the weather for the city you're going to live in by searching for example: "Weather in Istanbul during May" to give you a better understanding of what kind of clothes to pack. Make sure you have the correct adapters/converters for your electronic devices! Start doing research on places to visit and things to do in your study abroad city as it will help you get a better understanding of the city!
