Ready. Set. Go- It’s University Time
It is all fun and exciting time to move to a new city/country and start a new chapter in your life. But this can all turn too quickly for the worse if an international student does not prepare well. It is very important to research before you move to a new place and also prepare yourself well.
Talk to people who know the country you will be studying in. If you have friends in the new country that you will be going to, or have family or friends who have been there before then they need to be the first people to get in touch with. You will learn so much more from their personal and university experiences and the added advantage to doing just secondary research is that you can have an active dialogue.
Next important step is to apply for your visa as soon as you have your University confirmation and have that sorted. Do see if the visa allows you to work in your destination country or not, as you might want to once you get there.
Pack according to the country you shall be studying in. Each country comes with its own climatic variations. Now there is no reason why it will mirror the same climate that you are used to, which is why do your due research and understand the weather and pack essentials accordingly. Some countries are known to have rain throughout the year. Some have 3 season weather changes in the span of one day. Whereas you will find somewhere Christmas comes in summers. Ergo, it is very important you pack accordingly, this will save you so much money once you get there.
If you are travelling to a new country then accommodation should be your priority, not only because couch surfing isn’t ideal but also since it will be here you shall make your most memories. So in your first year we suggest do not take up an apartment by yourself. Student accommodations are the best bet. All of the inhabitants here are students, they might not be going to your university but you shall still find so much in common with them and you will learn so much about different cultures. Plus there are plenty of other benefits. You get 24hrs security, there is on-site maintenance, all bills are inclusive so you do not have to worry to pay each bill separately by the end of each month. All of this helps so much better with budget planning, don’t you think.
Healthcare is very important, and we recommend you read up on it. It is very important to know the health care services that the country offers. A few countries provide free health care to university students, if not then do get a good insurance plan for yourself.
Open your bank account in your University town. Now we know that you can use your own bank cards and facilities in the new country and pay though your forex cards. But lets be honest you shall end up spending so much more this way in terms of exchanges charges per transaction. Now to avoid all of this all you need is your passport, school offer letter, proof of residence and that’s it you can open an account and keep your money secure the smart way.
Buy a sim in the country you shall be studying form local providers. Though most likely your phone will work in the new country but it will be expensive and since on a student budget you would not like to blow it on your phone charges. You must go and check with the local vendors they will be able to tell you of the best sim cards with call rates to call back home. Also for calling within the country monthly contracts work the best as they will always give you extra minutes and texts free each month, for most this is enough.
Public transportation will become your University lifeline. If you do just a little bit of research you shall find the most used Apps for public transportation in most countries. These App not only help you plan your journey but they also help you with effective cost options. One such popular App is CityMapper. Also most countries give discounts on student travels, so whenever travelling do show your University card to avail discounts.
Find out if working whilst studying is allowed. Every country has a different rule for students working. You will benefit if you check before you arrive at your University, so if you would be required to apply for a work visa along with your student visa then you will know. Working along with your University will help you in keeping your finances in order too.
Happy Unilodging !!!
Also read: The Advantages of Sharing A Student Accommodation With A Flatmate
