Are you planning to spend a year studying overseas?
More than 20,000 UK students spend time studying abroad each year, according to UKCISA (UK Council for International Student Affairs). And if you’re preparing to be one of them, there are a lot of things to think about.
Money is tight for most students so it’s a good idea to work out a realistic budget for your trip. Sainsbury’s Bank have produced a report on pricing up how much a study year will cost so you can work out how much money you will need to live in the host country of your choice. Some places like China, Eastern Europe and South America often have low living costs compared to the UK, while Scandinavian nations are often more expensive. If you can, start saving in advance of your trip so you’re not worrying about finances when you should be enjoying your experience in a new country. Remember that you will not only need to cover the cost of tuition fees and rent, you will also need to budget for groceries, transport, clothing and activities in your free time.
Technology has made it easier than ever to minimise the amount of things you need to take with you on a study year abroad. E-textbooks are lighter and less expensive than traditional textbooks and will take up a lot less space in your suitcase. It’s also a good idea to download films and books you might want to watch and read for pleasure onto your tablet or laptop. If you are studying abroad for a whole year then you will need to pack a variety of different clothes with you as the weather is likely to change while you are away. If you have too much stuff to take with you on the plane, use a professional company to send them to your destination. Andrew Porter Limited has expertise in international removals and can help make sure your personal items are safely transported to anywhere in the world.
Rather than taking the kitchen sink with you on your adventure, put some of your belongings into storage. This could mean leaving your stuff at your parents’ home but if mum and dad need the space, it is worth looking at renting a self storage unit. Andrew Porter offers affordable storage solutions for students and you only pay for the space you need. We have units available in a wide variety of sizes and we will even help you unload your items. If you have a lot of things, you can take advantage of our free-to-use rental van to get everything to your unit.
Once you’re abroad, don’t be tempted to just spend time with other students from the UK. Make friends with local students – they will be the ones who can tell you the best places to eat, how things work and all the things you really need to know to live there. If you are going somewhere where English is not the first language, it is also a great way to improve your language skills. And you may find some other students will help you learn their language in return for giving them a bit of English tuition.
