Studying Abroad? Here Are The Top 12 Things To Know
6 minuteRead
Travelling abroad has been a dream for most of us here and not just only for a vacation but to study and do our masters. Studying abroad is something many people dream about, right? We all love going abroad, living a life free off restriction and most importantly become independent, which comes with a lot of responsibilities.
And many people think studying abroad is a good idea to take their career to the next level. Most of the people who are planning to go abroad don’t really know the procedures or things that are needed to be kept in mind before going there, this creates a lot of confusion for them and things can get really chaotic over there.
Here are a few things that we all should keep in mind before planning to go to do our masters abroad:
- In-depth research–
Going to a new place and living all by yourself can get difficult if you don’t know know about the country that you’re going to live in. You have to do a thorough research about the place that you are going, their culture, the language spoken, the courses and universities offering you education and specializations that you prefer.
Having a proper knowledge and a good research can help you decide better on which country you want to pursue your masters in, some universities have a separate department dedicated to student queries from foreign countries. Conducting an in-depth research will help you select your course and country accordingly.
- Confirm your course and accommodation –
Courses abroad are way different from what Indian courses have to offer, it is very important that you choose the right and appropriate course for yourself while you’re applying for masters. Most of the time, you are interested to cover a broad subject but most of the courses that are offered are specialized courses of that particular subject, which is why you should wisely choose your course.
Once your course is confirmed the next step is going to be Accommodation. Accommodation is provided by the universities itself, but if you aren’t willing to stay in the university dorms then you can get a place for yourself.
- Produce Precise Paper work –
It is not as easy as it looks to study abroad, there is a lot of paper work that goes behind a perfect stay, some applications are rejected because of no clear documentation of papers. Important documents like Visa and Passport should all be up to date and ready, visa procedures and tenures differ from place to place which is why you should double check such things to avoid confusion in the process later.
If you have written tests like TOEFL, IELTS, GMAT or GRE, then keep all of those documents handy as well because you might never know when you will be asked to produce those documents.
- Have an up to date knowledge about currency exchange –
We need money to meet our daily needs and would have a plan or a budget on how much money we need to have in our pockets for the first few days or even months. The currency value varies from country to country and keeps changing according to the economy.
It is necessary to be up to date with the recent trends in currency value of the country you are going to as well as your home country because this may have a drastic effect on your budget later, which may arise in shortage of money or huge expenditure. A small change in the currency value will leave you re-budgeting your entire expense.
- Register your course with home government –
Studying and living in a new country is very exciting but there are a lot of cons that follow with it. The first few days can get eerie because of no proper facilities like Wi-fi, cell coverage or for that matter even your safety and it can become very difficult for your family to be on the lookout for you.
Registering with your home government will have you on their radar and always have you being kept under their nose. Any emergency or matter of concern will be immediately taken into notice by your home government.
- Up to date with health check-up and vaccinations –
When you’re going abroad for your masters or even a small trip, you have to visit a travel clinic in order to get yourself checked and vaccinated according to the place you’re going to be living in or visiting. Many places have diseases existing in only their country and might have no sign of it in the country you live in, that’s why if you’re planning to live there or go there then you have to get yourself vaccinated to get immunity from those diseases. If you fail to get yourself vaccinated and fall sick, then you will be sent back to home and all the expenses will be bared only by you.
If you have any health complications or already existing diseases, then make sure you notify them well in advance and have your prescriptions and medical certificates ready, so that when you are questioned about the medicine you’re carrying then you can produce the prescriptions and documents.
- Organize your travel expenditure and itinerary –
Flying abroad is very expensive and you have to book your tickets well in advance and plan your flights schedule. Maintaining and itinerary can be really resourceful at this time, it helps you get a clear-cut vision as to what you want to do and how to do. It navigates you through your entire schedule and saves you a lot of time. Organizing all of these things well in advance will avoid last minute chaos and also save a huge amount of money when it comes to tickets.
- Inform your near and dear ones –
Living independently is one of the best feelings ever, but so is remaining safe. When you’re living alone, keep your family members or close friends up to date about your whereabouts as it is easy to locate you wherever you are. This doesn’t mean updating everything on your social media as this can be dangerous for you, maybe just giving a call or leaving a message to your close one can be very helpful.
- Talk to your bank –
This is one of the most important steps because you obviously cannot survive without money. Your debit or credit cards might not work abroad if your bank does not have an access in those countries, which is why you should talk to your bank and enquire about their foreign branches and procedure required to continue using the facilities of your bank there as well. If your bank doesn’t have a branch abroad, make sure you have all the necessary documents to create an account there and go on with the process without any hassle and get a quick bank account.
- Bag packing –
Backpacking is something that most of us do not consider important, but it can prove to be very helpful in the early days. Packing warm clothes or any necessary accessories that you require, yes you can buy clothes after going there but carrying a few is not a bad idea because you never know when you may need it. Your bag-packing should happen according to the place that you’re going to be living in, so make sure you have all your essentials packed accordingly, you can even carry your cute little cuddly bear or your favourite sweater that you always need.
- On arrival –
As soon as you reach the country, the first thing to do is registering yourself to the Indian Embassy. It is important to do this because you can reach out to them at times of an emergency or problem that you’re facing in the country. You must also report to the concerned department and register yourself there after landing, then head out to the university for completing the rest of the formalities. Following these steps on your arrival will help to make the process easier and settling in the place much more efficient.
- Be prepared –
When you’re going to a totally new place, you should be prepared with everything that comes your way. Being prepared for things gives you a lot of courage and confidence which is exactly what you’ll need when you decide to go independent. Firstly, gather all the information about the place you’re going to stay in, know about the lifestyle and people, research more about the place, mentally prepare yourself for doing this from the beginning to start a new phase in your life and you’re all good to go.
Studying abroad is not only about books and classrooms; it's about personal growth and self-discovery. Be open to trying new things, stepping out of your comfort zone, and making friends from all corners of the globe. You'll find yourself transforming into a more confident, independent, and culturally aware individual.
Studying abroad is a mix of challenges and triumphs, but it's all part of the incredible journey. Make sure you enjoy yourself out there and live a full-fledged life because every memory counts.
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