9 Things You Should Know Before Studying Abroad

Posted September 20, 2021

Intelligent Overseas Education Study Abroad Tips: Before starting a fantastic trip, it is necessary to do some tasks. We’re here to help you prepare for your study abroad experience with our 9 Things You Should Know Before Studying Abroad, comprehensive guide. You’ve discovered a great study abroad program, gotten accepted, and can’t wait to get started. Congratulations! It’s now time to pack for the big vacation. What should I carry if I study abroad? Is travel insurance a must? How should you manage money and phones while going abroad? A passport may take 6-12 months to acquire, so get started right away. Fortunately, our staff has thought about and addressed similar issues previously. Would you please continue reading for our most definitive study abroad preparation tips?

Passport and Visa Applications

Yes, but there is a cost. Having a valid passport is essential for studying and traveling abroad. A valid passport is required if you are returning to the United States within six months. Check your passport for blank pages if you’ve gone overseas. The State Department accepts applications in authorized post offices, federal and state courts of records, and passport agencies. Passport applications take 6-12 months to process. If you are applying for your first passport, remember to include the following items:

Your certificate of birth
Two passport-sized photographs were taken recently (You may get them locally at Kinkos, Walgreens, or your nearest photo-printing shop).
Identification such as a driver’s license that is certified
Your application for a passport
Payment

If you’re renewing an expired passport, you may swap it for your birth certificate. If you want to study abroad, you may need a visa. Visa requirements vary per country, so visit the State Department’s website for details. Contact the closest embassy or consulate of the country you want to visit for information on visa requirements and travel restrictions. Visa and passport applications may take months to complete, so don’t delay! A summer or short-term study abroad vacation may not need a visa. Most countries allow students to remain for 90 days on a tourist visa. Make sure to confirm that this is true in all cases.

Consult a Travel Physician

Ensure your health by seeing your doctor before leaving. Bring a copy of your medical records with you in case of an emergency overseas. Make sure you’re up-to-date on the host country’s vaccination laws. You should also check with the CDC for the most up-to-date illness information. Most programs will tell you what vaccinations you need (if any). An airline ticket’s price depends on the date and location of purchase. You should always keep your prescription medicines handy if you have a medical condition that necessitates them (if possible). To avoid others believing their medication is illegal, people need to put their prescription drugs in labeled containers. You should also have your doctor’s written prescription.

Obtain Travel Protection.

An international student must have reliable health and accident insurance, including emergency evacuation and repatriation (but preferably not!). Even if your health insurance protects you while traveling (not all do), travel insurance covers certain things that health insurance does not. For instance:

If your flight is delayed or canceled, you’ll be covered.
Bags that have been lost.
Personal belongings were stolen.
For disasters and other crises, evacuation is a must.

Purchase a Plane Ticket

Finding inexpensive airline tickets nowadays is a game of chance. A ticket’s price may vary greatly depending on when and where it is purchased. Start with Skyscanner, which will quickly offer you the cheapest flights for your dates. Student travel agencies like Student Universe can help students find the most flexible and inexpensive tickets. They also help students secure ticket discounts – did you know you can get a $26 flight? It’s yours. But, before you purchase a cheap ticket, be sure the dates are flexible. You don’t want to buy a new ticket if you decide to stay longer in another nation! Fortunately, most airlines will let you change your ticket for $100 plus the difference. We also recommend arriving a few days before your program’s start date. It may help you adjust or recover from jet lag, but it may cause issues with immigration.

Do your homework about the destination’s traditions, culture, and people.

Explore your study abroad destination. Everything! You’ll spend less time and have a better study abroad experience. Discuss the nation and its culture with others who have been there. For example, not slurping your noodles at supper might help prevent unpleasant foreigner-follies. An understanding of basic local terms can help you get through the first few days. (If you can pull yourself away from Wikipedia for 5 seconds!) The State Department maintains short notes on over 150 nations.

Renew Your Language Proficiency

It will assist you in knowing basic phrases in the local language. Get aid from fluent friends, take courses, or listen to podcasts while driving to school — anything helps!

Money

A few financial processes to complete before leaving:

Create an account on the internet.

If you don’t already have one, open one online. It’s the easiest way to budget when traveling. Most foreign tourists use ATM/debit or credit cards to get local currency. Be sure to tell your bank and credit card company that you’re going abroad. To study abroad, you must notify your current bank and credit card company(s). Your account may be locked if you don’t travel with it (they might flag it as fraud).

Take some extra cash with you.

To ensure that you don’t run out of cash, you should exchange some of your home currency for your host’s money. It should be easy to find an ATM or bank even on busy days. A great location to obtain cash if you can’t get it at home is the airport.

Get your suitcases ready!

Don’t overpack. Check with your airline about luggage restrictions to avoid fines. I suggest just carrying the following:

One bag.
Carry-on day bag (e.g., backpack).
Only a personal item (purse)

That extra luggage will add weight (literally) to your journey home after studying abroad. Me and my tote I travel with a 46-liter Osprey bag. It’s been my go-to luggage for trips ranging from two months up to two years. More packing tips:

Bring enough toiletries for the first two weeks and stock up when you arrive.
Instead of wasting space, purchase an inexpensive towel/sheet upon arrival.
Limit yourself to 3 pairs of shoes.
Bring chargers for gadgets.
Neither a hairdryer nor a flat iron, It usually cooks them (including most of Europe). Go inexpensive and leave your beautiful stuff at home.
Bring a tiny home to ease homesickness.
If you wear glasses or contacts, you should bring extras.

Your study abroad organization may provide you with a packing list, but consider that many of the items you need will be available abroad. Never bring a winter coat to a country that is sub-tropical or sub-tropical. Bring photos, recipes, and other mementos to help you deal with homesickness. Consider buying a journal or diary to capture your thoughts on your study abroad experience. These are great presents for new friends or host families.

Cell Phones and Staying Connected

How else can you express your joy to your loved ones? Most students use a phone or laptop to communicate. Avoid buying an overseas phone plan. Ever. These programs are unsustainable and costly, mainly if you’ll be gone for a week. Pay as you go and purchase a local SIM card at the airport (the norm in most non-U.S. countries).

Additionally, you may provide the phone number to new contacts, which is local. There’s no avoiding this last hurdle of the trip; we have to give our loved ones the finality they deserve. Think about the pleasure you’ll have! Expect the unexpected! If you bought your phone after 2015, you might not need to unlock it for international usage. There have been recent laws that mandate that the sale of unlocked phones is legal. If your phone isn’t already unlocked, contact your carrier to do so. Texting friends and relatives back home is generally accessible, but phone calls are not. So, if you want to talk, WhatsApp or Skype are ideal. Prepare an account for your parents.

Mentally prepare yourself.

The quest for sweets is a tough one. Imagine the enjoyment you’ll have! Be ready for everything! It’s inevitable that while studying abroad, you’ll encounter individuals with opposing views on time and Learn to notice the differences without judging them. These distinctions will help you comprehend cultures. People frequently inquire about your home country while traveling. Many questions concern your nation’s foreign policy. Do your homework before you go by reading newspapers and publications. Your friends and relatives may also be interested in your plans. Surviving in a new location distant from home requires robust support systems. No matter how well prepared you are, we hope these tips help you get started.

Indian Students are most welcomed to join our Study abroad Education Community to get General Updates and clear queries for keeping a step towards success.