Student accommodation is one important thing to consider while planning to study abroad. Just as it is important to focus on visa, admission, and travel expenses, ample consideration should also be given to accommodation. Accommodation availability will vary from country to country depending on your study destination, however, there are important things to note and useful tips to apply to make the journey easier.
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Before you start thinking of and planning for accommodation, it is important to first choose a study abroad destination as this will in turn influence your accommodation choices. In some countries, the cost of living is on the high side. Additionally, the cost of living in various parts of the country will also differ and this will in turn affect the cost of accommodation. So, to properly plan for your accommodation as an aspiring international student, you must choose the right study abroad destination that fits you and your budget. Below are some tips to help you with this:
You have to conclude on the course you want to study before going on ahead to search for the school and country you want to study at. You can choose your desired discipline based on passion, or the demand the in the labor market. This is solely dependent on your personal preferences. As a postgraduate student, you can pick a discipline that is in line with what you studied during your undergraduate years.
After choosing a specific course of study, search for the various universities that offer the program you are seeking to study. To pick the best option that suits you, there are various things to consider. Some of them include:
Many international students look out for scholarship opportunities to help with the cost of studying abroad. Before choosing your study abroad destination, look out for the availability of scholarships as they influence your choice and reduce cost.
Before making a major decision like this, it is important to get the opinion of other people who have studied at the university you look forward to studying in. This will help you mentally prepare for what to look forward to. It will also help you in other aspects like budgeting, necessary documents to have, etc.
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Below are some helpful tips that will come in handy when choosing the right accommodation for international students:
It is important to start the search for suitable accommodation abroad as early as possible. While it is possible to apply for university-owned accommodation, you can also look for private accommodation options depending on your preference. Searching early means that you have access to different options to choose from. Additionally, if you plan to pair with other people, you may find better deals that will be more suitable. As soon as you get your offer letter which signifies that you have been accepted into a university, start looking for accommodation immediately. This will help you save cost, it will open you up to more options, and will give you ample time to plan for it.
Moreover, there are different types of student accommodation and they include:
Before settling for any accommodation, it is equally important you consider location. It is advisable to get accommodation that is within the same area as the school you are studying at. Also, there are important questions you need to ask yourself before settling for a particular location. These questions include:
These questions and more are some of the things you need to consider when deciding on the location for your accommodation.
While searching for accommodation as an international student, it is important you equally get the opinions and suggestions of other people, especially those who have gone ahead of you. Joining social media groups like Facebook, WhatsApp, and Telegram groups can also be helpful. People share opportunities that you might find helpful and useful. You can ask questions and get answers from people who have gone through the same process as you have.
As an international student seeking to study abroad, you mustn’t do this in isolation. Network and connect with other people, you might even get people to pair with which will in turn reduce the cost for you. Additionally, your university will most likely have a social media group, Facebook or any other one. Leverage it and use it to get the necessary information you need.
Before making payment, it is important to check out the accommodation before proceeding to pay for it. If it will be impossible to check it out physically in person, have them send you pictures and videos of the place so that you can get a visual description of what the accommodation looks like. You can opt for the virtual tour option if you will not be present physically.
Additionally, take note of what is present and what is missing as this will help in your budgeting. Ask yourself questions like:
Take note of the things missing in the apartment and make plans on how to get them.
Before settling for accommodation as an international student, you must find out who the contact person is. Save their name and phone number and get in touch when necessary. You can also ask the person practical questions about the accommodation. Having a contact person is very important so that in the case of emergencies, you will not be stranded. Additionally, it is important to know the terms of your contract, the rules, and the regulations before finalizing the deal. It is also useful to know your rights so that you will not be taken advantage of. Know important details like:
Get to know all of these things before finalizing the agreement as it will save you a lot of stress.
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As stated at the beginning of this article, it is important to properly budget for your student accommodation and make plans on how to sustain it so that you do not get stranded. When it comes to budgeting, some necessary factors to consider include:
However, it is important and advisable to spend wisely only on important things while you save/invest more.
As an international student living in another country, you must stay safe and adhere to all the rules at all times so that you do not get into trouble. Below are some tips that can help you:
In conclusion, the thought of studying abroad sounds exciting to international students. While it has its advantages, it should be noted that things will not just go smoothly as intentional effort needs to go into planning properly so that you can have the best experience.
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Looking forward to studying abroad? Enrolling in the top universities in the world can increase your chances with employers. Unfortunately, it can be quite expensive to study abroad due to the current economic crisis. But this shouldn’t limit you as there are other options you can explore to enhance your career.
MPower Finance and Prodigy Finance are some of the best student loan providers for international students. They also do not require any cosigner or collateral before application. At EdXtra Associates, we can help you with your loan application process. We also provide educational consultancy services for international students to help make your journey easier and faster. You can reach out to us, as we’d love to guide you through this journey.
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This post was last modified on January 31, 2024 11:23 am