You’re ready to go on a once-in-a-lifetime adventure, but you have to pay attention to some things. With this straightforward, comprehensive guide, we’re here to help you prepare for your study abroad adventure.
You’ve selected a fantastic study abroad program, gotten accepted, and are now eager to begin your experience. Congratulations! It’s now simply a question of getting ready for the big trip. What should you bring with you to study abroad? Is travel insurance required? How should you manage money and phone calls when traveling?
A passport may take anywhere from 6-12 months to get, so start working on it as soon as possible.
Not to fear, we will answer your questions. Please continue reading for our best advice on preparing for studying abroad.
1. Obtain a Passport and a Visa
To travel and study abroad, you must have a valid passport. If you already have one, double-check that it is not expired and will not expire within 6 months of your scheduled return to the United States. Also, if you’ve already visited overseas, make sure your passport has blank pages.
Passport applicants new to the nation may apply for a new passport at certain post offices, federal or state courts of records, or a State Department passport service. A passport may take anywhere from 6-12 months to get, so start working on it as soon as possible. Yes, you can speed up the procedure, but it will cost you more money. It is preferable to be on time.
Remember to bring the following documents with you when applying for your first passport:
- Your original birth certificate
- 2 recent passport-sized photographs
- Identification that has been certified (such as a driver’s license)
- Your application for a passport
- Payment
If you renew an expired passport, you may exchange it for your birth certificate.
To study abroad, you may require a visa and a passport. Varying countries have different visa requirements, so check the State Department’s website for the restrictions of your desired study-abroad location. You may also get information about visa requirements and any particular travel restrictions by contacting the closest embassy or consulate of the country you want to visit. Visa applications, like passport applications, may take many months to complete, so make sure to put it on track!
You may only require a visa if you study abroad over the summer or for at least three months. Most nations will allow students to visit the country on a tourist visa for up to 90 days. This is only true for some countries, so verify and double-check what access (if any) you require.
2. Go to a Travel Doctor
Make an appointment with your doctor and obtain a physical before departing to safeguard your health. Bring a copy of your medical records with you in case of an emergency abroad.
Furthermore, it is critical to understand the host country’s vaccination regulations and to get inoculated before traveling. Most programs will advise you on the immunizations you’ll need (if any) overseas. Still, you may also contact the Centers for Illness Control and Prevention for the most up-to-date disease information.
Ticket prices vary substantially based on when you want to travel and where you purchase your ticket.
Also, if you have a significant medical condition requiring prescription medicines, you should carry enough to last your trip (if possible). Prescription medications must transport in adequately labeled containers to avoid being confused about illicit narcotics. It’s also a good idea to carry a prescription or a letter from your doctor.
3. Purchase Travel Insurance
While studying abroad, it’s essential to have a dependable health and accident insurance policy and coverage for emergency evacuation and repatriation (although, let’s hope it never comes to that!).
Although your health insurance provider may cover you overseas (not all do), travel insurance will have, but health insurance will not. As an example:
- You are protected if your flight is delayed or canceled.
- Luggage misplaced
- Personal belongings stolen
- Evacuation during a health emergency or natural catastrophe
- Travel insurance is available from companies such as WorldNomads.
Suppose you need health insurance during your stay abroad. In that case, the Council on International Educational Exchange in the USA provides affordable coverage for students, instructors, and youngsters under 25. Student Travel Guard and GeoBlue are two more alternatives.
4. Purchase a Plane Ticket
Finding inexpensive aircraft tickets has now become a game of time and chance. Fares might vary significantly depending on when you wish to go and where you purchase your ticket. Skyscanner is an excellent place to start since it will rapidly offer you the cheapest flights for your desired dates.
Furthermore, student travel services such as Student Universe can often offer the most flexible and affordable tickets for students going overseas. They also assist students in finding ticket savings — did you know you might obtain cheaper airfare merely for being under 26? You now have.
However, before purchasing a low-cost ticket, check out how flexible flight dates are. After all, you want to avoid being compelled to buy a new ticket if you extend your stay in another country! Most airlines, fortunately, will allow you to modify your ticket for $100 plus the price difference.
We also advise coming up a few days before your program’s start date. While a few additional days may provide one a head start on adapting to a new environment or recovering from jet lag, arriving early may cause issues with immigration.
5. Learn about your destination’s customs, culture, and people
Spend some time getting to know your study-abroad destination. Learning about your future home’s culture, history, geography, economics, government, and everything else! Your study abroad experience will enhance, and your time spent abroad will be more meaningful.
Speak with those who have been there and look for chances to see movies, and read about the nation and its culture. It would also be beneficial to avoid rude foreigner-follies.
Knowing even the most basic words in the local language will help you get through those initial few days of adjustment.
The Department of State provides brief notes on over 150 countries; these are a fantastic place to start for up-to-date information for your planned trips (that is if you can tear yourself away from Wikipedia for 5 seconds!).
6. Brush Up on Your Language Skills
Knowing even the most basic words in the local language will help you get through those initial few days of adjustment. Enroll in lessons, enlist the assistance of fluent friends, or download programs like Duolingo and podcasts to listen to on your daily commute to school – every little bit helps!
7. Money before leaving, there are a few financial procedures to take
1. Create an online account
Set up an online bank account if you don’t already have one. It’s the most convenient method to handle your money while traveling. Most overseas tourists get cash in the local currency using their ATM/debit or credit cards.
2. Inform your bank and credit card issuers that you will be traveling overseas
You must inform your existing bank and credit card company(s) of your intentions to study abroad. Otherwise, you risk having your account frozen while traveling (they might flag it as fraud).
3. Bring some extra cash
For the first several days, carry between $100 and $200 in your host country’s currency. While such days may be hectic, locating an ATM or a bank should be straightforward. If you cannot get the money at home, the airport is an excellent choice for withdrawing cash from an ATM as soon as you arrive.
8. Begin packing!
Pack light, in two words! Double-check with your airline to learn about their baggage limitations to avoid costs. I would recommend bringing little more than:
- Only one checked bag.
- Bring one day bag (e.g., a backpack) as your carry-on.
- One personal item, such as a handbag
Seriously, checking two bags will weigh you down (literally) and make your end-of-study-abroad travel excessively difficult.
Other helpful packing recommendations include:
- Bring travel-sized toiletries for the first two weeks and stock up when you arrive.
- Instead of spending room on it, plan to purchase an inexpensive towel or bedding when you arrive.
- Stick to three pairs of shoes or four if necessary.
- Bring your gadgets’ power adapters.
- Ladies, please leave your blowdryer/flat iron at home. Most nations’ voltage variances (including most of Europe) will fry them. Get an inexpensive one in the country and leave your valuables at home.
- Bring a few souvenirs from home to alleviate homesickness.
- If you use glasses or contact lenses, bring extra pairs.
- Request a packing list from your study abroad program, and remember that many of the products you may wish to bring will be accessible overseas. Keep an eye on the temperature of the nation you’re studying in since getting a winter coat for January south of the equator can be a mistake.
Remember to bring photographs, recipes, and other souvenirs from home to aid with homesickness. Bring a diary or notepad to reflect on and write about your study abroad experience. Small keepsakes from your previous life are excellent presents for new acquaintances or host families.
9. Cell Phones and Staying Connected at Home
How else will you be able to tell everyone back home about how much fun you’re having?! Most students communicate with their friends and family by mobile phone or laptop.
When it comes to mobile phones, avoid getting an international plan. Ever. These plans are unsustainable and very costly, especially if you’re planning to be overseas for more than a week. Instead, obtain a local SIM card (available at the airport) and a pay-as-you-go plan (the norm in most non-U.S. countries). This is also beneficial since it will provide you with a local phone number, which is ideal for giving to new acquaintances!
While saying goodbye might be difficult, it is an essential part of the trip. And think of all the fun you’re about to have! Be prepared for the unexpected!
If you purchased a phone in 2015, you might not need to unlock it for foreign usage. Recently, legislation was established mandating phones to be sold unlocked. If your phone isn’t already unlocked, you may contact your mobile phone provider and request that it be opened for foreign use.
Texting people back home on a local phone is usually not too expensive, but phone calls are. If you want to sit down and converse, you can use WhatsApp or Skype to connect. Set up an account for your parents before you go.
Mentally prepare yourself
While saying goodbye might be difficult, it is an essential part of the trip. And think of all the fun you’re about to have! Be prepared for the unexpected! When studying abroad, you will undoubtedly meet individuals with different conceptions of time and personal space. Be open to learning and observing these differences without passing judgment. These very distinctions will surely enhance the comprehension of your own culture.
Locals you encounter while traveling will frequently be interested in your native country. Typically, you will question your country’s international policy, about which you are supposed to be well-educated. Get into the habit of reading newspapers and news magazines well before you travel, so you’re up to date on current events at home and abroad. It would help if you also informed your friends and family about where you’ll be traveling and what you will do. A robust support system may help you overcome the challenges of living in a new location far away from home.
Although you can only expect to be partially prepared when you arrive, we hope these recommendations will help you get started!
