Studying abroad is both an exciting and stressful experience. Excitement is at its peak as you are going to study abroad, however, the anxiety of living all alone in a foreign land soon overtakes it.
But you can make the entire process a bit less scary and be prepared for the next leap by taking care of certain things. Here are some tips every student must know before studying abroad.
1, All Paperwork Should be Done Right
Double check that your passport is ready and its expiration date is far away. If you need a Visa, make sure that you have it ready well in time.
2. Courses, Flights, and Accommodation are Secured
Once you have secured your passport and visa, it is necessary to have in-depth insight into courses, flights, and accommodation.
Know about your course and class schedule beforehand to plan your journey accordingly. To be able to get your preferred course or degree, you might need to secure certain cut-off marks. It is highly recommended to start your preparations beforehand and perform well in the respective exams. You might also need to hire tutors in Singapore to perform better in entrance tests.
Also, look for decent accommodation where you will be staying. Book your flight tickets well before time to get them at cheap rates. This will eliminate more than half of your anxiety.
3. Be Well-Acquainted With the Exchange Currency Rates
This is one of the most important criteria to consider while deciding to study abroad. Students usually consider the countries with the least daily expenses. However, countries that are cheapest to visit are often the most volatile due to their low currency value.
Also, don’t base your expenses based on the value of the currency that you viewed a few months back. The expenses are likely to go higher when it’s actually time to leave for the country due to the devaluation of currency and unstable economy.
Even a small change in currency can affect a lot when you are planning for months and not for days. So, calculate your estimate based on the current value of the currency to find the right overall expenses.
4. Keep Yourself Updated with the Latest News of Your Destination Country
It is natural to get worried if the country you are going to study abroad is in the financial crisis, or having political conflicts, is facing an epidemic or its transportation system is on the verge of a breakdown. However, don’t get panic over such matters.
The best countries to study abroad are usually facing such economic and political issues. You just simply need to modify your plans a little, if required, taking in view such situations. Get updated with such news and act accordingly.
In worst case scenarios, your abroad trip can get suspended if the country has put restrictions on crossing the borders. That’s a rare happening but you can choose to have a student travel insurance to prevent loss in such situations.
5. Get Your Semester Registered by the Home Government
Miles away means a lot more uncertainties, loss of communication and being all alone to handle adverse situations. Studying abroad means gaining a lot more freedom to be yourself but it also comes with its own drawbacks.
Having yourself registered in Singapore can provide you a sense of security and above all, it provides a sense of relief to your parents that you are under the radar of the government, if by any means the communication is lost, in case of emergency.
6. Be Fit and Fine Under All Aspects
Make sure you visit your family doctor before going abroad. Get a full health check-up and vaccinations required, to avoid any hassle in a foreign country.
If you have health insurance, visit the company and let them know where you are traveling to and get all the necessary prescriptions in advance.
7. Keep the Flight Details and Itinerary Handy
Keep all the important tickets, maps, itinerary within your hands reach and safely in your bag so that you don’t leave them behind in any case.
For stress-free and efficient travel, it is advisable to have all your paperwork handy with you. Instead of running your mind over things, again and again, be organized and manage things flawlessly.
8. Don’t Cut Off From the World and be in Contact
Make your friends and relatives know that you are studying abroad. However, just do not stop there. It is important to keep in touch with them and tell them about your whereabouts frequently.
You are not required to keep them updated with every extracurricular activity, but make sure that they know about your major locations.
9. Know How the Banks Function Overseas
Visit your bank and get knowledge about how credit and debit cards are permissible overseas. If you have a bank with international reach, it is likely to have its own ATMs in the country you are visiting or have regional partners there.
However, if your bank doesn’t extend its operations abroad, you will have to plan more. In such situations, you can get a traveler’s credit card issued and withdraw cash when required urgently.
10. Know the Rules of Your Home University for Studying Abroad
If you are planning to get back to your home university and not settling abroad permanently, it is highly recommended to know in-depth about your chosen study programs in the other country and communicate about it at your university in Singapore.
The least you would expect is that all the classes you attended abroad are not useful and would not help you in getting a degree.
Your Turn
These were some of the things to consider as a student if you are planning to study abroad. Undoubtedly, this is a big decision, and it is natural to get scared. However, keep calm and be positive!
For any queries, write to us in the comments below.
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