Studying Abroad In 2024: Challenges, Tips, & Reasons
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It’s a dream for every student to study abroad, and the ones who qualify through the admissions are lucky enough to study in another country for their future career. With this rewarding opportunity come some challenges that every student goes through. They are not the major crises of life but something to overcome; get your act together; follow our tips, and you will settle in slowly in the UK, US, Australia, or anywhere you plan to study.
Must Read:- Top 10 Countries For Studying Abroad In 2024
These are very common challenges encountered by international students. But if you are determined to go and make it out there, these challenges seem trivial. There are ways to overcome them, and you will blend in easily over time.
Let’s take a look at these studying abroad challenges and the tips to help you overcome them.
Studying Abroad Challenges And Tips
Homesickness
If you just left home for the first time, it’s understandable that you will miss home. Many things will change in your life. You’ve just gotten straight out of your comfort zone, and having to deal with studies, cultures, and the support network in your home country can be hard to deal with in the first few months of your student life. But trust us, this is the challenge that every student deals with.
Tips:
The best way to deal with your homesickness is by trying to socialise. With many international students at your student accommodation, you can make friends and have friends to talk to who are dealing with the same challenges as you. This way, you may feel like you have a network of support. While studying abroad, try to stay in touch with close family and friends through calls to lighten your spirits.
Adapting to a new culture
You all come from different backgrounds and countries with cultures and traditions. Going to a country where there is a different culture altogether can be a shock for many. You are so used to doing things differently in your country. And, suddenly adapting to a new culture will take some time to understand and blend in. Many people are offended if you have no clue about their traditions and culture, which can make life difficult for many students.
Tips:
If you do not want to deal with all this hassle, the best way to overcome this challenge is by reading more about the culture of the country. When you have an idea, you will know how to behave accordingly. This will help you blend in with students or locals. Many universities will also guide and provide a support system to help you start the university. They focus on inclusivity and diversity. You can reach out to the support department of the institution.
Finding ways to afford study
The thought of studying abroad benefits you and your future goals. But it also comes at an expense. Many students have had to take a back step of not going ahead with their application because of the affordability. We don’t doubt that it can be expensive to study in another country. Did you know there are ways to afford your study? There are also free tuition universities.
Tips:
With a scholarship or loan, you can ease that burden. Do you know that this can cover your tuition expenses as it takes a large chunk of your money? Then to cover your other costs, you can search for part-time jobs online and offline. You can work on-campus or off-campus and earn good money for it. Nowadays, many are studying abroad with scholarships and with studying abroad student loans. The problem is that many of you do not research the financial aid that you can get from institutions, etc.
Trying to afford living abroad
You must have only had the points of studying abroad advantages, but we bet you didn’t look into some of the challenges like this one. When you qualify to study in another country, it’s understandable that you can comprehend the language. But, it takes more than just lectures in a classroom. You will need to communicate with their language, and if there’s a language barrier, it will pose a challenge in your daily life.
Tips:
This is not such a big challenge as it is very simple to get by the language barrier. You should read, watch movies and take language courses to excel in the language. There are many free language apps these days where you can get taught by a native and at the same time you can have a person to communicate and practice the language with!
Going through a new education structure
We understand that the education system varies in all parts of the world. And, to transition into this new way of learning, environment, and structure will take time to adapt for international students. For instance, studying abroad for Indian students is a challenge when it comes to academic structure as the grades, way of teaching, modules, etc are different from one’s home country.
Tips:
To overcome this challenge, you should start by understanding the academic culture of the program and you will have a notion of it before the class. If you need support, you can always seek the help of the departments who can assist you and help you adjust to the new structure. Try to get a hang of the new routine too, it will come in handy and be easy for you.
Figuring out how to study and have fun at the same time
The studying abroad disadvantages comes down to this point where students feel frustrated when they do not find time for anything. We understand the point of choosing a study destination is more than just for its institutions but you want to enjoy life there too, right? Most students find it hard to do this and they end up feeling upset or depressed, which can affect their studies
Tips:
If you don’t want to be one of the students who land in messy situations, all you have to do is manage your time. Do you know that by getting organised in your life, you can plan your day? This way you have time for everything and it leaves you happy at the end of the day. You can finish your study but also have fun with your friends too.