6 WAYS TO PREPARE
FOR STUDYING ABROAD
Why do I want to study in the
UK personal statement
While the prospect of studying
abroad is exciting, it’s also
overwhelming. Making all necessary
arrangements can quickly become
hectic, especially if it’s your first
time moving abroad. With
applications, paperwork, deadlines,
and arrangements to make many
months in advance, the process can
become extremely challenging if
you’re not well-organised.
With so much to do in a short
period, you can forget essential
steps and make mistakes if you’re
not careful. This article will discuss
how to prepare to study abroad to
ensure you haven’t forgotten
anything important.
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How to Prepare for
Studying Abroad
Studying abroad is a lot of fun,
but it doesn’t always start out
that way. Before you can start
enjoying life in another country
and take in another culture, you
have to go through preparation.
Since it’s not as simple as
boarding a plane and starting
your adventure, the following
steps on how to prepare to
study abroad can be helpful
guidelines.
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1.Figure Out Documentation
Documentation is one of the most important parts of having to
prepare to study abroad. The necessary documents you’ll
require are your passport and your visa. If you don’t already
have a passport, this is the first thing you will need to tackle
during the preparation for studying abroad. It’s also important
to apply for a new passport if the one you currently have is
about to expire or doesn’t have enough blank pages.
After this, the next thing you need to do is apply for a visa.
Unless you’re an EU citizen going to another EU country to
study abroad, you’ll need a visa to enter the country. The visa
process for studying abroad can be complicated and can take a
while, so it’s best to apply well in advance. For some countries,
a visa may take as long as six months to obtain. Check out the
country’s visa requirements through the embassy or consulate
near you or on the embassy’s website and ensure you have
taken care of all the requirements before submitting your
application.
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2. Exchange Currency
Beforehand
When studying abroad, you’ll
need to ensure you have at
least a small amount of the
local currency available to
make necessary purchases.
Exchanging currency at the
airport is possible, but you
won’t get favorable rates.
Additionally, your first few days
in a new country will be busy,
and you may not have time to
go to a bank and get your
money exchanged. Prepare to
study abroad by taking care of
this before you step foot on the
plane.
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3. Inform Your Bank About the
Move
When talking about how to prepare to study
abroad, we must mention informing your
bank about the move. Studying abroad
requires funds, and if you don’t let your bank
know about your travel plans beforehand,
they may deem your account activity
fraudulent. If they block your debit or credit
cards, you won’t be able to make purchases
and may face difficulties getting the issue
resolved. It’s best to prepare by letting your
bank know about this before leaving the
country. This way, you’ll have access to your
accounts at all times.
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4. Take the Necessary Exams
Some countries require a proficiency exam to
know that you’ll be able to deal with the
workload and understand the language of
instruction. The UK is one such country. If you’re
studying abroad at a UK university, you’ll need
to take the International English Language
Testing System (IELTS) test to prove that you can
handle assignments and lectures in English.
The requirements for testing vary depending on
your location and your familiarity with the
language, so make sure you have looked up the
latest requirements. Some universities require
IELTS results, while others require passing the
Secure English Language Test (SELT). Some even
choose to test your English skills themselves.
When it comes to preparing for studying
abroad, it’s critical to figure out the
requirements for your specific university and
programme.
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5. Pack Wisely
When you’re starting to prepare to study abroad, you must think about
packing up your entire life into a few suitcases. We’re sure you’ve heard
not to overpack, but we’re here to tell you to pack wisely. Start packing
at least a week or two before you’re going to leave to ensure you do not
forget things simply because you’re in a hurry. Additionally, this will give
you plenty of time to buy things you don’t have.
It's also essential to keep the weather in mind when packing. If your
study abroad location is warm, don’t waste your time packing sweaters
and coats you won’t end up using. Also, make sure to pack neutrals or
outfits you can mix and match and keep the baggage limit in mind when
packing. Ignoring the limit or forgetting to check it beforehand can lead
to later paying exorbitant fees at the airport. Most international flights
only allow one or two checked bags, so you must be careful when
packing.
It’s also essential to know the difference between items you put in your
carry-on vs. your checked luggage. When it comes to valuables like
electronics and jewellery, you must always have them in your carry-on.
The same is true for essentials like a change of clothes, prescriptions,
and toiletries. If you make the mistake of adding these to your checked
luggage, you’ll face problems if your luggage gets lost.
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6. Organize an Airport Transfer
When you arrive at your new location, you may
not know where to go. If you aren’t familiar with
public transportation or haven’t done your
research beforehand, you may end up lost. You
might even have to get a taxi, which can cost a lot
of money for long distances. Arranging for an
airport transfer beforehand will save you hassle
when you arrive at your study abroad destination.
While the steps you need to take to prepare to
study abroad can be challenging and
overwhelming, studying abroad can be a
wonderful experience for students. In addition to
expanding your horizons, studying abroad will help
you appreciate different cultures and make you a
more global citizen. We hope this article on how to
prepare for studying abroad was useful and helps
make your journey a smoother one.
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THANKS!
www.ahzassociates.co.uk
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