Planning Your Study Abroad Experience
Thinking about about doing a study abroad program with your university or college, but don’t know where to start planning? Here are the most important things you need to think about before you the sign on the dotted line.
The opportunity to study abroad is an exciting prospect. With good planning, you can make the most of that experience and design a trip that not only fits into your budget but also gives you everything you are looking for. Here are just a few tips to help you plan your study abroad experience.
What you want to get out to the experience?
Ask yourself some basic questions to figure out what you want to get out to the experience. Are you looking to learn a language? What type exchange programme will best compliment your degree programme? Can you see yourself living in a developing country for three to four months? Where you ultimately end up going should be based on what you want to get out of your study abroad experience. If you want practice foreign language, avoid tourist centres because most service staff will want to speak to you in your mother tongue and you will not get many opportunities to practice in your host community. If you major in European politics, than going Asia or Africa does not make a lot of sense.
Budgeting
Depending on what university or college you go to, the tuition portion of your study abroad semester will be dealt with in different ways. That being said, most universities or colleges expect you to pay your normal tuition and they in turn will pay the tuition at your host university. This is even often the case when the tuition at your host college or university is a fraction of what you normally pay.
Obviously the amount of spending and travel money you are going to need is going to differ on where you decide to go and also on what type exchange programme you are participating in. If you are living with a host family there is some basic information you need beforehand to plan your budget. The most important being, how many meals a day are you they expected to provide and how many are you left to fend for yourself? Costs can quickly add up if your host family only provides one meal a day and you are expected to eat out for the rest of your meals. Remember, if you are living with a host family, kitchen rules and kitchen access may be different from what you are used to at home. With a bit of pre-planning with your host family, you can drastically cut down costs.
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