How To Work And Study Abroad: A Guide For Beginning Students
Working and studying abroad is a great opportunity to immerse yourself in a new culture and expand your horizons. But it can also be stressful and overwhelming if you don’t know what you're getting into. If you’re set on studying abroad, working there is an important part of it that shouldn’t be overlooked. Working and studying abroad can not only open up new career opportunities, but they can also help you adjust to life in another country before heading back home. To help ease some of the stress, here are some helpful tips for both working and studying abroad:
Working and studying abroad is a great first experience for any student. There's something about being able to step outside your comfort zone, make new friends, and experience a new culture that will expand your horizons. However, working and studying abroad comes with its fair share of challenges. Working and studying abroad can be a fantastic opportunity for any college student willing to take on the risks of leaving home for the first time. However, there are many things you need to keep in mind before making this leap as an adult and starting your first independent job or study program. Working and studying abroad is not for everyone. Still, it can be an excellent way to enrich your resume, expand your social circle, challenge yourself intellectually, and even pay for school if you qualify for financial aid.
7 Tips for How to Study in Australia as an International Student
Have you wanted to ask: How do you study abroad, and where do you even start? Studying abroad is life-changing, and you should do it if you can. But first things about your path to studying overseas– a lot of planning needs to go into a study abroad application. When should you study abroad? Can you afford it? Which country should you even choose, and how do you apply? Read on to learn how to study overseas.
What is the Meaning of work and Study Abroad?
How To Work And Study Abroad: A Guide For Beginning Students How To Work And Study Abroad: A Guide For Beginning Students As international students, you have the opportunity to work and study abroad, taking your skills and experiences to new heights while making friends around the world and gaining valuable life experience. Before you begin, ensure you're fully prepared by learning the ins and outs of working and studying abroad. Whether attending an American university or participating in an educational program, these tips will help guide you on your journey.
Advantages of Working and Studying Abroad
Aside from a unique and enriching experience in a different country, working and studying abroad has benefits. It makes sense why so many universities offer study abroad programs and even more organizations encourage overseas experience.
Finding an Internship
An internship is a great way to gain experience in your field of interest and to start building your professional network. But how do you go about finding an internship? Here are a few tips
Working While Studying Abroad
Finding Cheap Accommodation
There are a few ways to find cheap accommodation while studying abroad. The first is to look for student dormitories or hostels. These are usually much cheaper than hotels, and you'll be able to meet other students from all over the world. Another option is Couchsurf, a website where you can find people willing to let you stay with them for free.
Study Abroad Internship Programs
The easiest way to combine study abroad with work experience is to choose a study abroad program that includes an internship or service-learning experience. See International Internships for more about study-internship programs.
Related Posts
The Ultimate Guide to Getting a U.K. Student Visa
How to Study in the USA: A Guide for International Students
Things to Consider about Working while Studying Abroad
Working abroad may provide a more immersive experience and aid in language fluency.
Additional fees (tuition) may be required for study abroad internships or work placement programs.
Do not expect to finance study with part-time work. At best, it can provide extra spending money.
Carefully investigate whether and under what circumstances work is allowed by a specific country for international students studying abroad. Check with both study abroad program administrators and the country's embassy, as one or both may forbid work by international students. Students may also need a work permit in addition to a student visa. Most embassies have information about working as a student or temporary work permits on their websites. For websites of all foreign embassies in Washington, see the Electronic Embassy. For first-hand reports on working abroad, see Transitions Abroad magazine.
Working while studying at an overseas university can be difficult; students may have trouble balancing work and academics in a foreign environment.
Post Graduate Work While Studying Abroad
Fulbright is an example of a program available to support a year of overseas study (not necessarily for a degree) after graduation. U-M students and alumni should apply for the Fulbright through the International Institute.
Direct enrollment in a foreign university is a possibility for post-graduate studies. Tuitions for direct enrollment are low in some countries (for example, in much of continental Europe and many regions outside of Europe, but higher in popular destinations such as Britain, Ireland, and Australia). Student status may allow you to work part-time or during vacations in some countries.
The main disadvantage of attempting to work your way through an overseas university is that you may find yourself marking time, neither making headway towards a degree nor progress in a career. You would also want to be sure that a degree earned from an overseas university would be well-recognized in the U.S., as would a degree earned from a U.S. university.
Courses to Take While Working and Studying Abroad
If you're convinced about working abroad by now, let's explore different courses available that you can study abroad.
Language Courses
Remembering our discussion earlier, working and studying abroad can help you learn and perfect a second language. Below are the types of language courses you can take in other countries through our GrowPro Experience:
English
If you would like to improve English as your second language, many schools abroad provide English courses ranging from basic level to intensive. These courses focus on strengthening your reading and listening comprehension and conversational skills.
English Exam Prep
For international students who are already fully fluent in English as a second language and plan to take an English language test, there are options to help you prepare for it. The exam prep courses assist you in preparing for well-known university entry exams such as IELTS, Cambridge, and TOEFL.
French
Have we interested in learning French, whether in General or intensive modality? Look up the experiences we've designed for you in Montreal!
Degree Programs
Are you pursuing a college degree? There is a wide variety of undergraduate and graduate courses from which you can choose in universities worldwide. Dozens of degree programs in popular countries are available through GrowPro Experience. Here are a few:
Vocational Programs
If you would like to jump immediately into the workforce, you can obtain a professional certification instead. Vocational programs are an alternative to degrees, where you can take courses that provide professional training and skill development in specific job sectors.
Vocational courses are great options for young individuals looking to work and study abroad for career advancement without a college degree.
Best Countries to Work and Study Abroad
Now it's time to choose where you want to travel. Depending on your professional and personal goals, certain countries may be a better option for you than others. Let's explore the five best countries for international students to work and study abroad.
Australia
With a high quality of life, a strong economy, and a low unemployment rate, you will see why thousands of international students choose Australia. In addition to listing third on the Higher Education System Ranking in 2018, Australia is also one of the top travel destinations in the world. Here, you will discover unique fauna and diverse landscapes across all of the cities in Australia.
Canada
Canada is another popular destination for students looking to learn French and pursue other career ventures. Canada is ranked as #3 of the best countries in the world, having a quality educational system that offers certifications and diplomas recognized worldwide. Best of all, the largest cities in Canada are known for their diversity and multiculturalism, making the country very attractive to international students.
Ireland
Known for the mythological leprechauns and widely celebrated St. Patrick's Day, Ireland is another ideal place to work and study abroad. Dublin, the capital of Ireland, has the largest population and is home to most of the country's celebrations. You can explore and enjoy Ireland's most popular attractions, which are deeply rooted in historical traditions.
New Zealand
With breathtaking landscapes and a first-class educational system, many students who travel to New Zealand decide to stay there longer to pursue their studies. The country's high quality of life and safety rates also play a part in its popularity.
There is much to see and do while living in New Zealand, especially for adventurous souls who enjoy extreme sports. New Zealand has the best landscapes for outdoor activities, including high cliffs for bungee jumping and seaside destinations for kayaking.
Spain
Did you know that tuition rates in Spain are among the lowest of all European countries? This is a destination to consider if you want affordable higher education. While living in Spain, you can visit the infamous landmarks and indulge in the country's delicious gastronomy.
You will discover the prestigious architecture and rich culture that influenced Pablo Picasso, the renowned Spanish painter. Also, since Spain sits along the Mediterranean sea, it has excellent weather for the beach and outdoor activities.
How to Work and Study Abroad
If this is your first time working and studying abroad, we're here to help. To ensure you are prepared and have everything you need, here's our to-do list to get you started:
1. Choose a Country to Live
Before embarking overseas, take some time to read and learn about every country that interests you. You can take notes about the pros and cons of each country as it relates to their study programs and travel requirements.
Prepare a budget to cover your studies abroad, accommodation, and daily necessities. If you need financial assistance, there are plenty of resources online, such as scholarships.com, where you can search for various scholarships and grants to help cover your trip.
Also, to search for accommodation in your country of choice, you can use Airbnb sublets for an extended stay. For Australia, YHA Australia is a useful website for finding hostels throughout the country.
2. Decide on What to Study Abroad
Next, decide what you would like to study. Doing so will help you choose the courses that best align with your goals. Whether it is professional training, an intensive language course, or a degree program, have an idea of things you would like to study abroad and what you hope to receive from each experience.
3. Find a Job
The internet is considerably helpful when finding jobs in other countries. There are universal job search platforms like Indeed and job search websites that cater specifically to a particular country. For example, you can use Jobs in Canada to look for work in Canada, Seek to find work in Australia, and StudentJobs to search for work in Spain.
4. Apply for a Visa
Even if for a short period, most countries require you to have a visa to live, work, and study abroad. Since the processing time for visa applications can vary per person, try to get started early. If you need assistance with the visa application process, our GrowPro Experience team can help. We have Experience Managers to guide you through the entire process and answer any questions you may have.
5. Purchase Your Plane Tickets
Once you obtain a visa, we recommend using websites like Skyscanner and booking.com to search for and purchase your plane tickets. Since flight prices fluctuate by the season, these websites help you compare flights across multiple airlines and secure a good deal.
More Related Posts
Don't miss your chance to study in Germany
Study in Canada as an international student
Live and work in the United Kingdom
Final Word
We understand that planning to move to a new country can be a challenge. Once you choose an experience that interests you and fills out the form, you'll get a free quote. Then, one of our Student Advisors will contact you to discuss procedures and answer any questions you may have about the process.
Best of all, once you arrive in your country of choice, we offer Kick-Off Meetings to provide you with plenty of information and resources to adjust, including how to open a bank account and the popular places to visit.
Stay tuned to our blog for updates on experiences in popular destinations. Take the leap with GrowPro for an experience of a lifetime!
