Challenges Students Face while Planning to Study Abroad in 2021

As you learn and compare the different paths to build a rewarding career, you often daydream of strutting through the foreign streets and graduating with international friends. But, as you might already know, studying abroad isn’t an easy choice to stick to. You hop back and forth as you go through the pros and cons. It’s an opportunity to observe, reflect, absorb, and learn. But, it’s also the period of your life you will feel homesick, alone and directionless.

We are not here to convince you to go abroad for your studies. Instead, we are here to address the common challenges you might face while planning to study abroad, along with some practical tactics to resolve them. The choice is yours.

1. Cost of studying abroad

Massive expense is one of the most common reasons many students give up their dream of studying abroad. But the statistics say that it’s cheaper for a student to travel and settle abroad than for a working professional. There are thousands of agencies supported by government and private bodies that fund education for intellectual students who want to make a difference. Flights allow extra baggage for students moving to another country. In most countries, international students get an allowance to work part-time in catering, tutoring, volunteering or other similar fields. Once you have the University card, you get discounts everywhere; from restaurants to museums to parks to libraries. And, there’s a bonus: you don’t have to pay taxes.

2. Finding an ideal student housing

It might break your heart to leave your favourite bed and find a place and make a home out of it. Though finding an apartment takes time, if you start early and do sufficient research, you can find an ideal place to stay to make your whole life more enjoyable. Keeping this in mind, there are purpose-built student accommodation made exclusively to cater to the needs of international students, like the student accommodation near University College London. The spacious halls and communal areas in the University of Glasgow accommodation are a perfect way to interact and mingle with students from different backgrounds. If you start the hunt early, you can get your hands on an affordable apartment.

3. Not sure what to pack

When you sit down to pack for your exciting international trip, you are hit with an urge to pack everything you can get your hands on. To avoid panic packing, make a list of things you would need to carry. Then cross-check the list with the available stuff at the destination, and pack as light as you can. You can save space for essentials like certificates, official documents, medicines, electronic gadgets, and any specific food or supplies that are native to your home country. Remember, you’re migrating to a new country, not a new planet. So, don’t bother too much about finding supplies there.

4. Paranoia amidst the pandemic

With our world coming to a standstill in the pandemic and regulations imposed on travel, there’s uncertainty looming all over. You constantly check if the flights are delayed, classes are cancelled, the student apartments are closed, or if you’re tested positive. Panicking will only make the situation worse. Be aware of the current situations and take all the precautions at your disposal for keeping yourself safe and healthy. Despite the lockdown, students fly from around the globe in pursuit of their dream degree. Before your travel, check the government websites of your home and host country for any covid-related updates and follow the safety protocols.

5. Cumbersome paperwork

I love to ruffle between never-ending documents, said no one ever. From filing the University application form to paying bills of your student accommodation to buying groceries to signing contracts to booking appointments, there are many tedious tasks to check off to ensure a secure stay in a new country. But once you have a plan and checklist laid out, it becomes manageable. So, take the help of a parent or a friend in sorting out the administrative tasks. This is your first phase of adulting, where you not only set the rules, you follow them too. Though this can be a total flip from your usual way of living, we promise you it will be worth it.

6. Difficulty in adapting to the change

Although cultural shock is real when you move to a foreign country, it’s not baffling as it sounds. Students often fear that they will be left out in a pool of unknown people. The first step to deal with it is to accept it and understand that adapting to a new setting takes time. Be kind to yourself and talk to your loved ones regularly. Be open to the changes; that’s why you fly abroad in the first place. Talk to your peers and share the challenges and problems that you face; you will always find help if you seek it. As you get exposed to different experiences, you grow appreciative of the world and the people around you.

7. Fear of leaving the comfort zone

It’s pretty natural to feel lonely and overwhelmed on the initial days of living on your own, balancing the studies and chores well. But if you want to grow, you need to push your boundaries and come out of your comfort zone. Staying in a new place exposes you to a new culture, language, and lifestyle. You meet people from different ethnic backgrounds who speak different languages. Use the opportunity and engage in diverse international communities to gain new perspectives and learn new skills. Take the right chances and embrace the new adventure of your life.

How can Amberstudent help you?

We at AmberStudent are devoted to giving you the best experience and option for student accommodation worldwide because we apprehend its value. We have upgraded ourselves continuously with the COVID policies and would be more than eager to assist you in those.