How to Study Abroad

You must be excited about studying abroad and experiencing a new culture. This is not only an opportunity for you to embark on an unforgettable journey of discovery, but also an opportunity to learn and broaden your horizons throughout the learning process. You may feel nervous and anxious about stepping out of your comfort zone, but that’s completely natural. If you want to prepare well for your study abroad journey, refer to the tips in this article.

Table of Contents

Preparing for study abroad

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Choose the right study program. The most important step you need to take is choosing the program that works best for you — not your 20 best friends at college. You will have to choose the program you want to study and the city in which you will study. Here’s how to make a decision: ^{[1] X Research Source}

If you are not majoring in a foreign language or are not particularly interested in a certain culture, try to find out information. Check out guidebooks and search the internet to see which city you like best. After you have shortened your list of destinations, try consulting people who have attended the program you are thinking of and ask more about that city.
If your major or minor is related to a foreign language, you may want to study in a country where that language is spoken. Check to see how many credits you will receive from your program of study related to your major or minor.
Decide whether you want to study in a program that is directly affiliated with your school or study at another university. Both options have pros and cons. If you choose a program that is affiliated with your school, your credits will be easier to transfer, you will also be able to study with a few acquaintances and feel more comfortable, and of course will not need to do too many procedures. continue to be approved. If you choose to study at another university, you will have more choices and also new experiences because you will be studying with people you have never met, but you have to put a lot of effort to find them. information and apply to the program you want to study.

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After choosing your program of study, you will be required to take the required tests to receive a score by the application deadline date. Next, you need to report your results to the department or school you want to study according to the registration instructions on their website.

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Once you have completed the tests and have prepared your admission documents, fill out and submit the application form. Besides, you should learn the procedure for applying for a student visa and make sure your passport is valid. Each country has different visa requirements, so you need to find out information in advance. ^{[2] X Research Source}

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Once your application is approved, ask the school to issue you an official offer letter like i20. Each country will issue different documents for visa application and you will use this document to apply for a student visa.

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Start learning more about the culture of the place you are going. ^{[3] X Research Resources} You can start preparing for your study abroad trip several months in advance. This is not only a way to prepare for the trip abroad, but also to help you adapt quickly to the journey. Here are a few things you can do:

Improve foreign language skills. If you need to know the language in the country you choose to study abroad, take a language class and practice communication yourself. Watch more movies that speak that language to help you improve your skills. ^{[4] X Research Sources}
Sign up for a class about the culture of the country you’re going to. If your school offers a history or art course related to the culture you are about to experience, take the opportunity to enrich your knowledge.
Try some food from that culture. It is not difficult for you to find food stores in the land thousands of miles away right where you live. Try a few foods to get used to having to eat them every day.
Meet people you will study in that country or city. You can learn together and share your feelings about where you are going.

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Find out information about the city where you will study abroad. Once you know where you’re going, read everything about that city. You can read blogs, travel books, and learn about the city’s history. This will help you better understand where you are going, and know what amazing things you will experience as soon as you get there.

Write a to-do list. Before you leave home, make a list of at least 20 things you must do when you arrive in that city.
Bookmark the pages of travel books that introduce cool places you must visit. ^{[5] X Research Sources}
Chat with people who have lived or studied in that city and jot down their advice.
Find out the climate of your destination so you know what to pack.

Create memorable experiences in your study abroad journey

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Immerse yourself in the local culture. This is the most important goal of your study abroad experience. You have chosen to study in another country because you are interested in the culture and customs there, and you also want to open your eyes. Therefore, you should take every opportunity to try new things to gain many exciting experiences and step out of your comfort zone. Here are the things you should do:

If you go to a country that speaks a different language, live with that language. Try to speak and read the language as much as possible, even watching TV shows on the local channel. ^{[6] X Research Source}
Enjoy the cuisine of the new land. Sure, you’ll crave the taste of dishes from your hometown, but you should only indulge in a familiar dish once in a while and take the opportunity to try the local cuisine.
Understand the habits of the locals. If you live in a place where napping is common, do it.
Enjoy local music and traditional dances. Go to an art show or concert.
Watch local movies. Explore the cinema in the new city. You will have a good time even if you don’t understand the content.
Visit museums, exhibitions and other cultural events. Find out everything related to that country and don’t forget to take notes.
From time to time, you can take a break from exploring altogether. Order pizza, watch a popular movie in your hometown, and fall asleep to the tunes of your hometown. You don’t always have to be a culturally good student.

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Meet like-minded people. The people you meet will contribute to your perfect study abroad experience. Relationships can make or break your journey; So choose yours carefully. If you meet the right people, you can learn a lot from the new culture. ^{[7] X Research Resources} You can do the following:

Find a few trusted friends at your school. It would be nice to be able to make friends with fellow students; this way, you will be more stable, motivated to participate in interesting activities and not feel too alone.
Try to make friends with native speakers. You may find it difficult to meet new people or overcome the language barrier, but native speakers are usually friendly and will be delighted with your differences. Moreover, they also know good food places, interesting places to visit and places where many tourists hang out.
- When meeting native speakers, you should try to communicate in their language. They may also want to practice speaking English with you, but in addition to complying with their wishes, don’t forget to encourage them to speak the local language with you.
If you live in a host family, take advantage of it. You can understand more about the culture through the lifestyle of the host family. If they invite you to join an outside event, don’t pass up this opportunity.
Your main goal is not to be a tourist. If you only spend time meeting with students who are homesick, you will have little opportunity to open your eyes.

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Take advantage of travel opportunities. When you study abroad, you will probably live not far from exciting destinations. The cost to other countries will probably be lower than when departing from home, so don’t miss the opportunity to visit some special places you have never been. However, you should also not forget that your main goal is to integrate into life in the place you have chosen to study abroad, so the most important thing is to spend a lot of time exploring that country.

Travel around the country you are studying in. This is your chance to learn more about the diversity and customs of different parts of the country. In addition, you will understand the artistic or historical value that you have learned about this place.
Plan to visit a few other countries. Better yet, visit cities where your friends are studying so they can act as your tour guides.
Get a friend or two to travel with. As such, the trip is not only more fun but also safer.
If you can’t stay with friends while traveling, you can look for hostels – a more economical option than hotels. Hostels are a fun place to stay, giving you the opportunity to meet new people, but it is recommended that you book a room with a friend so you can take turns keeping your belongings, and don’t forget to find out about the home. stay before booking.
Many international students enrolling in the fall prefer to come to Munich to participate in the German beer festival – Oktoberfest. If you’re interested in participating in this vibrant festival, book your tickets months in advance, or even before you set out to study abroad.
While studying abroad gives you a great opportunity to travel, you also need to make sure to spend a few weekends exploring the city you live in, so that you get used to the pace of life and have a chance to get to know it better. .
If you choose to travel abroad, don’t forget to inform your friends, teachers, and program administrators in advance.

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Don’t forget to learn. That’s right. “Study abroad” means you’ll spend half of your time studying in class or learning about the local culture through tours of museums, palaces, castles and other historic sites. Don’t waste this wonderful opportunity to get a hands-on experience of a culture you’ve always enjoyed. Here are a few things you should do:

Don’t skip class. Take your time to study, take notes, and do well on tests like you would back home.
Take the time to talk to the teacher. They are representative of the local culture and can provide you with valuable information.
Always pay attention when visiting cultural sites. Don’t chuckle behind the crowd while your teacher gives you informative information at the Louvre or the Alhambra. You may miss the opportunity to learn knowledge of a lifetime and you will regret it.
Pay attention to the journey on the bus. If you are lucky enough to have the opportunity to take a trip during your studies, don’t just close your eyes in the car and try to fall asleep. Instead, listen to and take notes from the tour guide.
Actively self-study. If you’re taking an exceptional art class in Madrid, be sure to schedule a visit to the Prado museum. There’s nothing better than discovering a museum in another country yourself.
When you have the opportunity to meet locals, you should take advantage of this to learn the perspectives and perspectives of the local culture. You don’t have to ask like a reporter, just ask locals how they feel about certain issues in their own country and around the globe.

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Overcome homesickness. You’ve been looking forward to the day you leave to study abroad from the moment you receive your offer, so it’s hard to imagine yourself feeling unhappy with the experience. However, there will come a time when you will miss your family, friends, customs and food back home. Being prepared in advance will make it easier to deal with homesickness. Here are a few things you can do to overcome homesickness:

If you feel homesick, list all the great opportunities you have from studying abroad, such as meeting new people and trying delicious food. This will help you feel grateful for your experience.
Talk to other international students. Maybe they’ve had a similar experience and they’ll give you some helpful advice.
If your family is eligible, you can plan for them to visit you after the second half of the school year. Meeting them will help you feel less homesick and easily get through the rest of your study abroad journey.
Contact people back home. Email or interact via Facebook with friends back home, and call family when you can. However, you should not form the habit of talking to them too much ; otherwise, you’ll be busy thinking about what’s going on at home instead of focusing on your once-in-a-lifetime study abroad experience. ^{[8] X Research Sources}
Don’t forget to bring a few things that remind you of your hometown. It could be just your favorite stuffed animal, CD, or movie. Bring a few photos of friends and family, but don’t bring too many or you’ll feel even more homesick.
If one of your close friends is also studying abroad, plan to visit them or invite them to visit your new accommodation.
Write a memoir to reflect on your homesickness and all of your wonderful experiences. ^{[9] X Research Source}

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Protect yourself. Although you may study abroad with a few or many students from the same school or from another university in the country, do not forget that you are in a foreign country. Yes, but it also means that you shouldn’t act out of habit like you did in your old school. You’re in a new environment with lots of people you’ve just met or haven’t met, so you always have to be on your guard. Here are some things you can do to have a fun and safe study abroad experience:

Don’t drink a lot of alcohol. Although drinking is a popular leisure activity for international students, you shouldn’t drink as much as you did when you were studying in your home country. You can still relax, but don’t drink so much that you don’t know what’s going on, because then you can get lost without remembering the address to find home and even bring disaster to yourself.
By heart your address. You should save the address on your phone, write the information on a piece of paper in your wallet and memorize it.
Do not live loosely in a foreign land. Although studying abroad requires you to be adventurous and not afraid to experiment, remember that you are abroad and should avoid going home to someone you have just met. People abroad are not necessarily as dishonest as people at home, but the risk of getting you into awkward situations is higher because you are outside your comfort zone.
Don’t do stupid things just to impress your friends. Don’t turn your study abroad experience into a contest to see who’s craziest to impress strangers. You don’t need to act out of the ordinary in a foreign country, drink three glasses of a strange drink, or be intimate with a local on the dance floor just to get some attention.
Regulatory compliance. You can still be adventurous and still obey the law. The police force in the foreign country probably won’t be as lenient with your antics as the police at home. So please behave properly.

Advice

If you are going to be staying with host families, send them a letter before you arrive to say that you are eagerly looking forward to meeting them.
If you are an avid reader and live in a place where English is not the primary language, bring enough books for your entire study abroad trip. While you don’t need to carry a suitcase full of books, you certainly don’t want to find yourself in a situation where English books are already rare and expensive.
Chat with international students where you study. Social networking sites like Facebook and IvyTies can help you with this.

Steps

Preparing for study abroad

Create memorable experiences in your study abroad journey

Advice

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