Studying abroad is not only a great opportunity but its also an enriching experience that will help you grow as an individual and gain new perspectives. However, there are a lot of things to consider before you decide to go abroad. If it is something you want to pursue, make sure you begin actively researching and planning for your trip at least six months to a year in advance. The whole process is going to take a long time and you definitely don't want to wait until the last minute which could make things extremely stressful not to mention expensive.
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Finances- There is a common misconception that in order to study abroad you have to have a trust fund or wealthy parents. However, if you start the process early you can look at different funding options such as getting scholarships or using student loans. I was able to fund my study abroad experiences with a combination of a scholarship, student loans, and working. If you are paying out of state tuition or if you are thinking of getting your masters you may even find that a semester or year abroad ends up being cheaper than what you pay at home!
2. Duration- One of the major concerns I hear from individuals who are considering studying abroad is that they are afraid that if they go abroad they won't be able to graduate on time. During my undergraduate study abroad experience in China, going abroad helped me graduate. The program I participated in was a faculty led program through my university in partnership with a local university. All the credits from my classes abroad transferred to my home university. I was even able to take some classes that were not offered at my school along with studying Chinese and learning about the local culture! There are a variety of different study abroad programs that I will discuss below and they run from a couple months to a year. Even if you are bit wary, as long as you do your research you should be able to find a program that meets your needs, and helps you graduate on time.
3. Program Types- There are several different program types for students who want to go abroad such as: faculty led, exchanges, direct enrollment, internships, or third party programs.
- Faculty Led: Conducted and supervised by the faculty at your educational institution for its students to study abroad. It's an attractive choice because the credits from your courses are more likely to transfer along with your grades.
- Exchange: Allows you to trade places with another student from a university abroad. Exchange programs usually fill up fast and have a limited number of places. The tuition is generally the same as what you would pay at your home institution.
- Direct Enrollment: Studying at a foreign institution and gaining admission by directly enrolling in your chosen course or program. Your course fees are set and collected by the institution you attend abroad.
- Internship: Gaining valuable work experience and sometimes academic credit abroad.
- Third Party Programs: Educational programs run by companies usually in conjunction with a foreign academic institution.
4. Destination- Picking a country is one of the most difficult decisions when deciding to study abroad. My main concerns were finances and safety when it came to my first time studying abroad so I was automatically able to rule out developed countries and countries with a lot of crime. I remember spending a lot of time looking up countries by homicide rate, researching different countries, and looking at exchange rates before I finally decided on studying in China!
5. Language-If you are keen on learning a language studying abroad is a must. It's a lot easier to learn a language when you are forced to speak it all the time versus studying at home or in a classroom.
6. Student Visa-Depending on where you go, getting a student visa can be a major hassle. Make sure you don't make any travel arrangements before you get your visa, or if you do make travel arrangements, give yourself plenty of time. When I worked as a travel agent I had plenty of students who had to change their flights because of visa issues. Flights can get expensive. If you do book your flights before you get your visa make sure you read your ticket rules carefully. Even if it is a bit pricey, try to purchase a flight that has low change fees or is refundable.
7. Travel Insurance & Health Coverage- You are probably going to get sick at some point when you go abroad. Make sure to look at your program to see if health coverage is included. In some countries you may even qualify for universal health care coverage since you are a student. Depending on your existing health insurance policy at home you may even get reimbursed if you get sick abroad so it doesn't hurt to call your insurance company. If you aren't covered make sure you purchase travel insurance. Most travel insurance policies include health coverage as well as protection for stolen possessions or lost luggage. You may want to purchase travel insurance separately if your program already includes health coverage. There are several different travel insurance policies so make sure you do your research and carefully check the policy rules before you purchase.
