Guide on How to Study Abroad

Copyright (c) 2011 Donald Pang Pang

You have a dream to study overseas. And you want to make friends from all over the world, be inspired by a refreshing new environment, and graduate with recognized foreign certification. After the dreaming, you snap back into reality and wonder: "Is studying overseas even possible?" While talking to a few overseas design and business students in Malaysia, I found that their reasons for studying abroad were varied:

"I want to explore more about other countries," said an Interactive Media Design student. "And Malaysia is the nearest and most affordable for me. It is good exposure before I explore other countries." "First of all, I could study English here," explained a Korean Fashion Design student. "It was not my decision, my father sent me," a Business Management student from Pakistan told me.

Regardless of your situation, here are some major hurdles you have to go through, and how to get over them:

Is it worth the investment?

Money is a tricky issue - especially when it comes to living expenses and tuition fees that cost a fortune. It is natural for parents to be worried about investing in a pricey education. But it could also be an investment that yields the best return for them too. If your parents will not let you study overseas due to money problems, consider taking a bank loan. Taking the first big-time investment in your life will be hair-raising at first. But think of your future. If you cannot imagine yourself happy with a job in another field, go for it. This will make you more determined to land a job in the industry you want. Research well to avoid risks. Knowing the options you can take with your overseas qualifications will put you in a better position to land a job and pay back the loan.

Research on how to blend into the country and live comfortably

Be familiar with the area you want to study in. If you do not speak the country's language even after taking a language proficiency test, you might want to buy a phrase book. Research on the country's culture too, this will save you unnecessary embarrassment when breaking etiquette rules. Also check the climate. You might need to buy thermal wear for cold days. Alternatively, you will need summer clothes for humid weather. You might need to reconsider the country you want to study in if it has four seasons - unless you can afford about half a semester's worth of tuition fees on suitable clothes. You do not need to print maps of the city and bring them over. Just head to any tourism center when you are in the country and take the maps you need. Maps can also be found in airports.

Preparing for Take Off

Search for the school you want to study in. Go online and explore your options. Look through blogs, forums, and official websites for information. After deciding, research on your accommodation, budget, and travel papers. Your travel visa will usually be handled by the school, so no worries about that. Put more careful planning into budget and accommodation. These are major factors that contribute to your lifestyle overseas.

Call the School

If you have decided on the school you want to enroll in, give them a call. The staff will be happy to assist you on academic matters. They will also have the expertise to offer tips on living in the country, or finding accommodation for students. Talk to a real person and validate your research through questions. It can save you enormous amount of time and money. Most importantly look at the school's track record of success in placing students with jobs and other accolades.


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Do you still have more unanswered questions about the studying abroad? Speak to Education Consultants from Raffles International Colleges with presence in 14 Asian countries offering Design, Business and Technology Diploma and Degree courses such as Fashion Design, Fashion Marketing, Interior Design, Graphic Design, Business Management, Finance, Tourism, Infocomm Security etc.