Making the decision to go study abroad takes a lot of consideration. It is also an exciting time when you find out where in the world you can spend a semester, or even a whole year. Wherever tops your list of preferred destinations, study abroad takes a lot of planning. Here are some helpful tips to help you along the way.
Making the decision to go study abroad takes a lot of consideration. It is also an exciting time when you find out where in the world you can spend a semester, or even a whole year. Wherever tops your list of preferred destinations, study abroad takes a lot of planning. Here are some helpful tips to help you along the way.
1. Do Plenty of Research
This is probably the most important thing. Knowing about cultural differences is imperative when going abroad so you don’t accidentally cause offence or break any laws. Even countries that are very similar to the UK will have at least some cultural differences.
But research doesn’t have to be limited to the serious stuff – also look into things to do in your host country. Although you need to pass your classes, study abroad is about so much more than that. So make sure you know about things you might enjoy.
2. Be Aware of Money
Wherever you decide to go in the world, you will need to consider foreign currency. From the Dollar, to the Euro, to the Won, the money abroad will take some getting used to. You will also need to be particularly aware of exchange rates when planning your finances. And remember that using your bank card abroad, for both cash withdrawals and transactions, will incur bank charges in foreign countries.
3. Look into the Host Institutions
Although there is more to studying abroad than just studying, it is still important. Knowing a bit about the universities you can apply to may be useful to give you an idea of how they operate. Foreign institutions will work differently to RGU, so knowing how they operate will put you in good stead. It’s also worth noting that RGU partner institutions in non-English speaking countries will teach in English, so they are still worth considering.
4. And finally, enjoy it!
There are so many opportunities to travel, try new things, and meet new people. You’ll get to know another area of the world that will soon become like a second home. It’ll all be over before you even know it, so make the most of it and don’t come back with any regrets.