Going to study abroad requires more than just packing your bags and boarding a flight. There’s a whole lot of preparation, paperwork, organising finances, etc, that requires to be done before you embark on this life-changing journey. With so many arrangements to make, it is advisable to make a checklist to avoid any last-minute hassles. Remember that timing is everything; you need to pay close attention to dates and deadlines. Here’s a checklist to ensure everything goes smoothly:
Attaining a student visa is one of the most important steps that you need to follow to study abroad. The process of applying for a student visa is different for each country. You may have to go through a long arduous process involving loads of paperwork and interviews, or it may be a simple online procedure. It all depends on the country of your travel. You can learn more about the process by visiting the Student Visa section of your destination country’s website.
Do keep in mind that visas can often take several weeks to arrive and may take a while to fill out, so make sure you give yourself plenty of time to get one. It’s also important to make sure that your passport is in good condition and will not expire while you are away.
It is advisable to have yourself covered for unexpected medical problems you may face during your stay abroad whether your visa mandates it or not. You never know what might happen during your semester or year abroad, so it's important to be prepared. An international student health plan helps you cover eligible costs related to injury and illness, mental health disorders, outpatient prescription drugs, and more. Do make sure you get a health plan policy after understanding its benefits and exclusions.
When it comes to staying options, students can choose between living on-campus, off-campus, or with a host family. Each one of the options has its own merits. Living on-campus will give you easy access to campus resources such as libraries, labs, health facilities, etc. On the other hand, living off-campus would mean independently managing everything, whereas living with a family while studying abroad can expose you to a new culture. It will help you to learn cultural nuances more quickly by living among locals.
No matter which accommodation you choose, start looking months before your arrival. The reason being on-campus slots get filled up quickly, finding a host family also takes time and finding off-campus housing requires lots of research and application work.
After you are done with the tedious documentation, it’s time to focus on practical things. Start by booking your flight. It would be affordable for you to book it 3-4 months in advance. The longer you wait to buy, the more expensive you can expect your flight to be.
Studying abroad is a big financial investment. But if you plan it in advance, you would be able to manage your finances well. Start by creating a budget for the cost of accommodation and dining. Then move on to other expenses such travel, recreation and side-trips to nearby cities or countries. The amount of money you’ll be able to spend will depend on how much money you receive in scholarships and financial aid, how much money you've saved for this occasion, and exchange rates.
Make three copies of your passport, visa, medical insurance ID card, and any other important travel documents. Keep one set of copies in your checked luggage, another set in your carry-on, and the third set of copies with your family. This way, you'll still have an ID in case your documents are lost or stolen.
Now that all the planning is done, start packing your bags and get ready to live your dream to study abroad!