Whether you’re venturing to the bustling streets of Tokyo, the historic cities of Europe, or the vibrant landscapes of South America, this is your ultimate companion for maximizing the potential of your semester abroad. We’ve got everything from practical tips on academic planning and cultural immersion to insightful advice on navigating the complexities of international student life. We’re here to equip you with the knowledge and resources you need to make the most of this life-changing experience.
Preparation and planning
Being prepared before leaving for your semester abroad is a must. You need to be aware of everything you’ll need for the trip to be feasible. Things like understanding the academic system of the host country and the courses offered by the partner university will be essential to ensuring your experience meets your education needs. Most likely, your home university offers academic advisors whom you should work closely with to ensure that courses taken abroad will fulfill degree requirements. You should also consider what unique academic opportunities, like specialized courses, internships, or research projects, are available at your host university that you would not get to experience at home. When making your course schedule for your abroad semester, be sure to maintain a balance on how many challenging courses you take. That way, you’ll still have time to get out and enjoy the cultural experiences of studying abroad.
Another crucial planning step is getting together all the necessary paperwork. This can include visas, insurance, and any required permits. Confirm with your school program what is covered through the school versus what you’ll need to arrange on your own. Depending on the home university, things like housing, meals, and your flight abroad all might be arranged by your school, or they may be things you need to arrange yourself. And you definitely don’t want to double book yourself and overpay for something your school was already going to cover.
See also: Study abroad budget guide
Cultural immersion
Once you get to your host country, be sure to engage with locals as much as possible. They’re the best way to really immerse yourself in the culture and learn what it’s truly like to live where you are. Participating in cultural events, clubs, and activities will let you gain a deeper understanding of the host culture. These cultural immersion experiences are a lot harder to experience when you’re just a traveler passing through a place, so a full semester abroad is an ideal time to take advantage of the opportunity you have to properly immerse yourself.
Learn the local language if it’s different from your native language. Even basic language skills can greatly enhance your experience. Don’t be too embarrassed about your new language skills – locals will appreciate the effort you put into conversing with them in their language, more than be annoyed by any mistakes you might make. By just learning simple phrases like asking where a bathroom is, asking for help with local transportation, and ordering common foods or items, you’ll be much better equipped to have an easier time while away.
Travel beyond
Besides immersing into the culture nearest your host university, semesters abroad can be a great time to travel farther off too. Travel within the country and region to explore different cities, landscapes, and historical sites. It will be easier (and cheaper) to see all these things while you’re already basically there than to come back for another trip some day. If you’re doing a semester abroad in Europe, you should also think about spending long weekends traveling to other nearby countries. With options like cheap inter-Europe airfare, as well as rail system options, it’s pretty simple to get to other countries where the customs and cultures will be completely different and you’ll get to experience even more. And really, who doesn’t want to see more places?
Connection
Build relationships with both local and international students. Join student organizations, clubs, or sports teams to meet new people. Participate in group activities, such as excursions or study groups, to bond with your peers and create lasting friendships. These are all great ways to really build a sense of community with your new peers and neighbors. Having positive relationships can help you feel more settled in and less homesick during your trip. Be open-minded and respectful of cultural differences. And be willing to learn from others, too. Think of every experience as a learning opportunity to see how the culture you are living in thinks, acts, and behaves.
Take advantage
Familiarize yourself with the support services available to international students, such as academic advising, counseling, and health services. It’s likely that either your home school or host school offers these things. While you hopefully won’t need any supports, it’s important that you familiarize yourself now when you aren’t in need to minimize the stress should a need arise. If you encounter any challenges or difficulties adjusting to life abroad, seek assistance. You don’t need to struggle or suffer alone! Whether you need academic help from your schools, you are in need of friends to hang out with, or you just want ideas for stuff to do in your free time, there are resources available to you! Don’t hesitate to reach out to advisors, mentors, or peer support groups. Even finding an online group to chat with on your preferred social platform could be helpful to sharing your struggles and
Document, document, document
Keep a journal, blog, vlog, or social media profile to document your experiences, reflections, and adventures abroad. You’ll likely want to look back on your semester abroad in the future. Take plenty of photos and videos to capture memories that you can cherish for years to come. Share your experiences with friends, family, and classmates back home to inspire others and promote cultural exchange. Digital options (like blogs, vlogs, and social accounts) are great ways to continue to be connected with your people back home who are eager to know what you’re up to. If you stick to old fashioned pen and paper, or just don’t want to publish it all to the internet, sharing all your adventures will be a fun part of coming home and getting to see all your people again.
Reflection time
Making the most of your time abroad doesn’t end when you leave and go home. Take time to reflect on your experiences abroad and how they have impacted your personal and academic growth. The reflection you do about what you learned and experienced can be really valuable. Consider how you can integrate what you’ve learned abroad into your future academic and career goals. And don’t forget that you’ve now just made a whole group of friends in another country. So stay connected with them and that community even after returning home. Whether through alumni networks, social media, or continued international travel and engagement, these can be friends to last a lifetime.
Ultimately, a semester abroad is an experience like no other and one that you’re likely to remember for the rest of your life. So make sure you have fun and enjoy yourself. You will learn so much from the new experiences, places, and cultures you encounter that you can’t learn any other way. Just remember to keep some time for your coursework, too. Technically, that is why you’re away, after all.
