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Top Universities Study Abroad Checklist
So you’ve made the excellent decision to study abroad. You may be going for a month, an entire semester, or maybe even a year. You’ve got your acceptance letter from your host university, have chosen your course(s) and are ready to have the experience of a lifetime. Luckily Top Universities has put together a quick checklist of things to do before your big adventure.
Passport – This may sound silly and no doubt you already have your passport ready, but make sure there is a sufficient amount of time left on it before it expires! If your passport expires while you’re studying abroad you will be able to renew it, but try and avoid the hassle! Visiting embassies, standing in queues and filling out forms are the last things you want to be doing while studying in a foreign country.
Visa – Applying for a visa for the country in which you intend to study for your undergraduate degree will be part of your study abroad application. If you are unsure of whether your university is indeed assisting in the visa process be sure to ask so that you have plenty of time if you have to apply for one on your own.
Finances – Don’t just bring cash with you or leave all your money in an account. Ideally you will have cash, travellers cheques, and a credit card. You will also have an account which you can access with a cash card in your study abroad destination. Be savvy with your student finances. Make a budget before you leave. It might be difficult to stick to but you don’t want to make the common mistake of spending too much when you first arrive and then struggling to make ends meet for the remainder of your study abroad experience. Make a list of expenses; include everything from food to entertainment to possible travel within the country you are studying abroad in.
International student card – The International Student Identity Card (ISIC) is a necessity for every student studying abroad. With access to thousands of discounts around the world, including travel insurance and international phone calls, your ISIC card should be your best friend abroad. And if you want more than a card, the International Student Travel Confederation, the organization behind ISIC, has offices in 106 countries worldwide to help you with any travel-related issues you may face as an international student.
Insurance – Insurance may be part of the ‘package’ you acquire as an international student studying abroad, but don’t take this at face value! Insurance is not a take-it-or-leave-it luxury. It is a necessity. If you become sick and need to see a doctor, or you have all your things stolen from a hostel, you want to know you have support. The good news is that most top universities around the world will not let you get away with having no insurance!
Medical – Visit your doctor for a full medical check up before you leave home. Make sure you’ve had any vaccinations you may need for your chosen study destination. If you require ongoing care while being an international student, have your doctor send a copy of your medical records abroad. If you require prescription medication it is a good idea to take extra medicine in case it takes a while to find a good doctor. Foreign prescriptions are not always honoured abroad so allowing extra time before your medication runs out is advisable.
Language – If you have chosen to study abroad in a country in which you do not speak the local language, take some lessons before you depart. Either take a course or find some ‘teach yourself’ books on the language.
Study Abroad