Studying abroad is a life-changing experience. You will learn the native language, immerse yourself in the local culture, and make memories that will last you a lifetime. However, you must first prepare to travel to another country, and that preparation goes beyond simply getting your passport and luggage ready. Here are 7 tips to help you prepare for studying abroad.
Studying abroad involves a lot of documents, papers, and applications. You should therefore be extremely systematic when obtaining them. To begin with, in order to travel anywhere in the world, you will need a valid passport. Depending on the country that you are traveling to, you might also need a student visa to enter. Do not worry, we have you covered in our guide on how to apply for a student visa in Germany.
The most common documents required to study abroad are:
Getting accepted into a university is wonderful news, but now you need to think about where you will live abroad. Where you will live will have a big impact on your study abroad experience. Luckily for you, we have yet another guide on finding accommodation for international students in Germany.
There are two options:
To make sure your health is in good condition before you travel, schedule a visit with your doctor. Bring a copy of your medical records with you in case of an emergency overseas. Familiarize yourself with the host country’s immunization requirements, if any. Lastly, if you have any medical conditions that require prescription drugs, you may want to bring enough with you to last your entire time studying abroad. It does not hurt to also bring a prescription or note signed by your doctor.
Somewhere in between, you need to make sure you have the required financial means to live and study abroad. You also need to notify your current bank and credit card companies about your study abroad plans. Otherwise, you risk getting locked out of your account. Under the current law, every foreign non-EU or non-EEA student must have proper financial means to finance their stay in Germany during their studies. An international student in Germany must possess a minimum of €11,208 deposited into a German-blocked bank account.
Finding affordable airline tickets these days requires timing and luck. Fares can vary greatly, depending on when you want to fly and where you are buying your ticket from. To prepare to study abroad with fewer expenses, keep in mind that it is best to book your flight at least 3 months in advance. The 3 best sites to find cheap flights are Skyscanner, Kayak, and Momondo.
Another important thing to have is travel insurance. Your health insurance provider might cover you abroad but even if it does, there are still some things that travel insurance will cover that health insurance will not. For example:
While this depends on the country you are traveling to, it is always a good idea to learn basic phrases, or “survival” phrases of the country’s language. This will help you interact with your classmates more effectively and move around your surroundings with ease. Any genuine attempt to communicate with someone in their native language shows that you are making an effort to immerse yourself in their culture, and will go a long way in building respect. You can learn on Duoling, enroll in language classes in your home country or online, or even at the university you will be studying at.
And the most exciting part: Packing your bags! Before doing that, it is important to research the weather in the country so you can pack the appropriate clothing. Additionally, make sure you have the right number of bags and know the weight limit and restrictions of the airline you are traveling with.
Some essentials to bring with you:
Thank you for taking the time to read our article on 7 tips to help you prepare for studying abroad.
If you are planning to apply to study at Berlin International or have already received an admissions letter from our university, feel free to reach out to our Student Affairs team at any time via application@berlin-international.de.
