7 Things to Know before Studying Abroad
The decision to study abroad has the potential to change your life forever. The experience is so grand and enriching that it will certainly help you not only define your educational and professional career, but also to grow in every way, such as creating independence, dealing with adversities and respecting differences.
Although some countries are the most popular when it comes to study destinations – Canada, United States, United Kingdom, Ireland and Australia are some examples – the current offer is immense and varies widely according to your objectives. Do you want to learn a foreign language? Do your graduation? Studying and working in the country at the same time? Have you ever considered studying in countries like Sweden, Argentina, Netherlands, Japan, South Korea? Do you know what each of them has to offer?
7 things you need to know before studying abroad
These and many more questions will help you to define what and where to study. So our first tip is: do a lot of research. Read articles, follow specialized sites, watch YouTube channels, talk to those who have already been through the experience, ask for tips, receive guidance from an education agent if you find it necessary and everything you can to make a decision with confidence and confidence.
We know that this is a huge step to be taken, it is difficult to know where to start. When you make a well-informed decision, the chances of getting it wrong are greatly minimized.
Here, we try to bring information and guidance necessary for you to fulfill your dream of studying abroad. Here’s how: We’ve put together essential steps for studying abroad!
Start preparing in advance
When we say “prepare in advance”, we mean at least one year. It may seem like an exaggeration, but studying abroad requires work, dedication, preparing a budget and also performing well at school.
Each country and institution has different methods of admission, and the entry requirements also vary according to what you would like to study, however, in general, especially if you are interested in an academic or technical course, schools look for students with school performances from good to excellent. This means that you need to work hard in high school, study hard, get high grades and participate in extracurricular activities, because all of these count as requirements in the selection process abroad.
Also, preparing in advance allows you to go through the entire process calmly and long enough not to miss any important steps or dates.
Visit the official website of your study destination
The best news source is and always will be the official one. The vast majority of countries that are used to receiving international students have excellent and complete pages with all the information you need to understand higher education and the selection process of institutions in the country, as well as visas, culture, accommodation and other important subjects.
Gather all necessary documents
The process of studying abroad requires a series of documents at each stage. To pass the university selection, there are a few; to demonstrate financial support; to apply for a student visa, etc. And the list changes according to the country as well, not counting the translation of these documents into the official national language.
Check everything you will have to provide and create a folder to hold all your documents, both a digital and a printed version. Some of them may take a while to be issued, others need to be official. That’s why it’s important to start going after them as soon as possible.
Maintain active communication with your institution
At this point in the process you should have already made up your mind for country and university. Throughout your application, try to maintain direct communication with the institution, preferably with someone specifically responsible for international students. This person will be your official guide whenever there is a question about selection, values, university life, etc.In addition to helping you clarify all your questions, this communication is a way to show interest in the university position and to make recruiters remember you.
Provide an official proof of English proficiency
The chances of needing an official English (or any other foreign language) exam to be admitted to a course abroad are quite high – unless you are traveling to study the language, of course. These tests show if you have the necessary fluency to understand, interpret, read, write and speak English Language Proficiency, especially in academic contexts.
There are several of them, but the most widely recognized around the world are IELTS and TOEFL.
Register – and pay the mandatory fee
Once you have decided on the country, university and course, provided all the documents and all your doubts cleared, it’s time to send your application. In most cases, it can be done online, just by filling out a form and uploading your scanned documents. There is also usually a small application fee that must be paid with the submission of your form.
Normally, all this is done through the institution’s website. However, some countries have centralized university admission services, such as UCAS in the United Kingdom and Common Application in the United States.
Prepare your budget and search for scholarships
This is probably the part that most worries those preparing to study abroad. The experience is accompanied by a series of expenses, from studies to air tickets and the cost of living abroad. If you start preparing early, a few years in advance, you’ll have time to save money and go through the process more smoothly.
Universities and immigration officers at the consulate ask for documents that prove the amount available to be used abroad, which can be bank statements, an official letter from your bank or the person responsible for your travel expenses, among other documents. Another way to save money while studying is to get a scholarship abroad.
Apply for your student visa
The visa is your golden ticket! Only with him can you get permission to enter the country. Each study destination has its own rules, application process and costs for granting a student visa to a foreigner. Find out how to get your student visa.
