-6 min read-
So, you want to study abroad, but confused and conflicted about where to study. Or maybe you are not sure if going across the pond is right for you. Perhaps, you are 100% set on wanting to study in Ireland. Let me share with some of the most important factors to consider when deciding where to study abroad and some factors that are not as obvious. After spending a year in France, I discovered what matters the most when abroad.
1. Location. Location. Location.
Seems obvious, right? Well not always. The physical location of where you study is going to be a big or small factor in every other aspect of your decision to study abroad. If you plan on doing a substantial amount of traveling in your free time, then the location of your program is going to matter. Close access to an airport and or train station is key to saving time and money. The country and continent is also worth thinking about. For instance, Australia and New Zealand would both be incredible places to stay and explore but not ideal for checking multiple countries off your bucket-list. Plane tickets to and from remote locations are not college budget friendly. A centrally located place is best for the avid weekend traveler. If you only have a three day weekend for adventures, you do not want to spend half of that time getting to and from your destination.
2. Length
A week. A month. A semester. A year. There are program lengths that can fit everyone's needs. There is not one amount of time that is perfect for every student. Some may only be able to go in the summer because of internships during the school year. Or some students may only wish to do a week during winter or spring break. Do you want to mainly spend time with people from your school, or meet completely new people? I went for a year and could have spent 2 years abroad. However, I met some people that went for just a semester and they were perfectly content with that time, possibly even wanted to leave earlier. And then there were people there for a semester that wanted to stay the next semester. No one can decide what is the right amount time for you, except you. The decision totally depends on what is offered and how it fits with each person's individual situation.
3. When
If you have the luxury of being able to choose when you want to study, you may have a few things to consider. The program may already determine when you are studying abroad. However, if you are going for one semester think about which semester you would rather attend. Studying in the spring means that you will have the opportunity to extend your stay into the summer i.e. more time to travel (Whoo!). The fall semester means that you may be abroad for the holidays and have the chance to travel during the holidays. The weather could be slightly different between each semester depending on the location. Be aware of high tourist season, for most locations it is late spring to summer. Tourist season = (Longer lines, more money, more people in the backgrounds of your photos and better weather☀).
There is no Photoshop that can help remove these people.
4.Program/University
Dig a little into all of the programs that you are considering. Make sure that your credits will transfer back to your home university so that you do not fall behind and become a super senior. Ask students that have went before what the pros and cons of the program are. See what the typical schedule of the program is going to be. If you are there for a semester, do they have classes 5 days a week? If it is week program, are the evenings free? What is the quality of the education? Are you actually going to be learning anything worthwhile? What is the reputation of the university? For a year program, can a dual degree be earned? Does the university offer networking opportunities? Are the foreign students integrated with students from that university? Ask as many questions that you can about the program and university.
5. Language
Do not let the fear of a country not speaking the same native language, scare you away. Know what language the program is taught in because there is no way I would have survived a week if my program was taught completely in French. English, however, is a second language that is common in many countries. There are times that you run into someone that does not speak English, but most younger people will know at least a little bit. But always try to speak in the native language, it is usually appreciated. Once you are in the country you are staying in, you begin to pick up on how to say things, just by hearing it every day. This does not mean you have to rule out places that speak the same language as you, but rather to reassure you that can survive a little language barrier.
6.Price /Affordability
Study abroad is often viewed as an extravagant, expensive experience. In some cases, study abroad can actually be cheaper than staying at your home university. For many programs across the US you pay the same price for tuition abroad that you would pay at home. In many European countries the government helps pay for housing even if you are not European. There may be some extra fees that you may not normally have such as a plane ticket, study abroad fees, travel insurance and visa application fees. Ask what is included in the program/tuition fees and what has to be paid out of pocket? Also see what the average price of going out to eat is because that is going to be a main expense that you have. Know what the exchange rate is between your currency and the native currency. For instance, studying in Spain would be extremely cheaper than studying in Switzerland. Ask questions and do your research, make it happen, it is worth it. Apply for scholarships that your school offers and look into applying directly with a school abroad, some countries offer free tuition, even for foreign students.
7. Local Life/ Activities
Yes, you are going to want to travel. But, what is there to do in the evenings after you get done with class? Is there a park to hang out with friends? Do they have a cool bar scene? Is there club sports that you can join? Are there any museums nearby? Does the city or town host events like concerts, festivals, fairs or art exhibits? What does the city have for public transportation and how late/early does it run? Are there any local gyms that you can join? Is it a bike friendly town? Check online to see if they have a visitor's site to see what they have to offer or ask another student that has been there.
Research what you can about where you want to study. Just do not create too many expectations of what you think it will be like, because that is when you become disappointed. If you keep an open-mind about the experience, you are bound to have an incredible time.
Share below what the most important factor is to you when studying abroad or when traveling.
>>>> Morgan