Tips for Students Living Abroad

A study abroad experience is once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for students that give them exposure to new academic and personal attributes. In a foreign study trip, students must be alert and prepared to live the time period of study peacefully in the new environment in the overseas country. Here are some tips and advice to help them out:

• Students should be smart enough to identify and understand the suspicious acts happening around them in the new country. They should try to keep away from such unwanted situations and conduct themselves in their best manners while in the streets or at the public places.
• Making friends in the new country is unavoidable but students are advised to develop 'friend-circle' at a slow pace so that they can avoid intimacy with 'wrong' kind of strangers.
• Preserve your passport and other important documents. It is always advisable to have a set of photocopies of all the important documents and passports to face any of the emergency situations during your stay in the foreign country.
• Avoid carrying large amount of cash, wherever you go. Keep your eyes and ears open to sense what is happening around you.
• Be well groomed and spend your time in the country abroad peacefully.

Study abroad students can find more handy tips on different issues to make their foreign study journey, a peaceful and problem-free one in this section.

Returning Home After Studying Abroad

When you return to your native land after having studied and lived in a different country, you may find it difficult to readjust to the conditions back home. It can be a difficult and confusing process. The easiest way through readjustment process is to 'pay-attention to others'. Students who experience 'culture shock' at its peak testify that they find it hard to describe their time abroad to family and friends, who are hardly ever willing to take a note ofwhat they have to say.

• Coming back to the native land, after an overseas study or work program, can be exciting and little confusing. You need to understand the selected group of friends in your homeland with whom you can share your study or work abroad experience.
• Make yourself a volunteer to visit your old study campus and make an appointment to share your experiences abroad with others! This will help mutually to move further with confidence! Sounds good? Try to do so.
• Start integrating your international study experience into your academic life in your own way. Stay active by having lots of discussions and debates to make you feel included in the homeland's culture back again!

Articles in this section can be useful to the students who re-entered or about to re-enter, in their homeland after years of their international study or work!

Study Abroad FAQs

Here are answers to some frequently asked questions for the students who want to study abroad:

• Why should I study abroad?
  As such there is no clear definition why one must study abroad. But through the testimonials of the students who have studied abroad, one can make out very clearly that students become more mature mentally when they study in a different culture and place. The overseas study experience can help them to understand the world better, appreciate the international contributions to knowledge, and learn to cope effectively with an increasingly intercultural environment.
• What would be the cost?
  The costs of studying abroad vary from country to country. It depends on the living cost of the place one chooses. Generally, programs with equal excellence in developing countries are less expensive than those in developed countries. The Study Abroad costs include tuition fees, housing with meals, transportation charges, travel and excursions, cultural activities and personal expenses.
• What about the financial aid and scholarships?
  It is possible to get financial aid or scholarships or grants that help the study-abroad-students to afford their studies in the overseas country. By consulting the financial officer or the study abroad consultants of the international programs and doing proper research on this issue, prospective study-abroad students can get the relevant information. According to the academic talents, performances and other related issues, the candidature of the student can be considered for financial aid or scholarships.
• Is it not possible for me to think of studying abroad, if I do not speak any of the foreign languages? 
  'Not knowing a foreign language' is not at all a barrier for you to pursue a study program abroad. There are many programs in many of the countries to teach you the required language, especially in the initial period of the course. You can overcome your language problems in the new environment at the earliest, if you are determined to learn the language with self-interest.

Tips for Students Going Abroad

Studying in another country, away from homeland, is an enriching experience for the aspirants. The experience can both be academically and personally rewarding. Yet, it is always good to collect all the relevant information about the country before making your decisions. Here are some things that all 'study abroad' hopefuls should know about:

• If you are going abroad for higher studies, you should first check the reputation of the university or the institute you choose to pursue your studies. Make efforts to know about 'which university is the reputed one, for the subject I'm aspiring for?'
• Study about the laws and cultural affairs of the country before you make a decision to go there.
• As you are subject to the laws and custom of the foreign country, stay away from any disorderly, riotous behavior while you are in the new place.
• Apply for your passport at the earliest possible to avoid final moment confusions.
• Checkup with the embassy of the respective country to get information about visa-updates and other entry details.
• Read carefully the consular information sheet to make yourself familiar with the travel information about the respective country.
• The school or the university department, you are going to join, will offer information about different admission criteria for foreign students. You can get information from relevant websites too besides gathering the appropriate information from the ex-students of those universities.
• Going abroad for higher studies generally entails huge expenditure. Many universities offer student-funds and merit scholarships for international students. You can avail these funds and scholarships to meet your expenses.
• Personal interview is a part of the selection procedure of most universities and schools. Enhancing your communication skills and subject knowledge can help you face the interview with confidence.

Living in a foreign country is an interesting and learning experience. To have a wholesome and pleasant stay students must adapt themselves to culture of that country. For adaption students must first familiarise themselves with the customs and traditions of that particular country. Students can get country specific information from internet or through books.

Before going abroad for studying, students are generally apprehensive. Some of the doubts that may creep in students mind are:

• Is studying abroad more beneficial than studying at home?
• Whether I will be able to adapt to the culture of the country ?
• Can I cope with the financial and other demands of studying abroad?
• Can I look forward to a healthy life overseas?

To allay all these doubts we have come up with this guide for students going abroad.

Subjectwise Top Universities

All over the world, universities and educational institutions are judged and ranked principally for their academic or research performance. This practice is carried by many of the organizations in public interest to help the student in choosing the best university for studies. Some universities are greatly regarded and placed on the top for the number of Nobel laureates they have produced while some are ranked according to the number of successful professionals they produce every year.

Some universities or institutes are famous for a particular course or subject. In this section we have compiled a list of some of top universities and have ranked them according to the subject. This list is not exhaustive and is purely meant as a guide for information purposes

Top Universities of the World

Now that you have made up your mind to go abroad for pursuing higher studies, you have to decide upon a particular university from where you want to pursue your studies. There are plenty of famous and good universities that provide excellent academic environment and facilities for higher studies. To make your task easier are providing a brief introduction of some of the top universities and institutes of the world. These institutes rank among the best in the world and have made a name for themselves in the field of academic excellence. All these universities/institutes encourage foreign students and give financial aid depending on the merit of the student.

Citywise International Study Programs

It is important to make an informed choice and weigh your pros and cons well before choosing a program and a city for your studies overseas. However, one can accomplish this challenging job successfully and finalize a suitable city study destination by making a query-list according to the individual's expectations. This list can include questions such as:

• Do I want to do the program from English-speaking or non-English speaking country?
• How extensive is the orientation period in the city I select?
• What resources are available to students in the city?
• Are there opportunities to work or gain experience through internships in the city I choose?
• How easy is it for me to become involved with extracurricular activities?
• How convenient is the housing to the university or to downtown?
• If housing is far from the city, is public transportation available? And many other similar questions.

It is important to surf for the comprehensive city information before deciding upon it as your study destination. You may decide which living location is right for you by discussing it with people who have participated in the program you are interested in the past few years. There are many big cities that offer different attractions; hence, it is advisable to get recommendations and advice from a good academic consultant at your home country. Regardless of which city you choose to go, your main concern should focus on gaining best academic experiences from the city. Articles here in this section provide details that can help study-abroad student aspirants in choosing the right city destination for their studies.