Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Moving Overseas As a Student

It's more difficult than ever to choose where to study these days, especially if you're in the fortunate position of being able to afford to look abroad, or perhaps studying abroad is essential for what you're looking to do once you graduate.

Language skills are in great demand in business these days, and many courses in this field entail spending up to a year studying and working in the country or countries in which you want to specialise.

In such an instance, you'll want to make sure that during that time, you can be surrounded by as many home comforts as possible, in order to be able to concentrate of your studies, and to make the most of the experience of living in another country and a different culture.

Rules in place governing whether countries will accept someone coming to study there vary from country to country, so it's essential that you check what restrictions are in place, and whether you are likely to fall foul of any of them.

For instance, while studying in Australia may be a wish for many young people, you need to be able to demonstrate that you have enough funds to pay for your accommodation, air fares, tuition fees, and overseas student health cover in the event of you falling ill.

That sounds quite a tall order, so unless you have substantial funds behind you, studying here may be out of the question.

In New Zealand however, the requirements are less rigorous, and state that you should simply be able to prove that you are a genuine student when you apply for your visa. You should also be sure to arrange to use the services of a trusted New Zealand shipping company. With experience of helping many similar people make the move, they will be able to advise you on many matters to do with going abroad to study.

Canada in particular has a tradition of welcoming foreign students, believing that their presence enriches the country's culture. More than 130,000 people take them up on this offer every year, and it's common for them to be made to feel very welcome.

Learning a widely-spoken language can, of course open many career doors for you, so perhaps you aspire to earning a place at a Spanish university. If you do, you will need to report to the local police within a couple of weeks of your arrival, and take all of your supporting documents with you. Once they are satisfied of your purpose for being in the country, you can expect to be issued with a 'tarjeta de estudiante', which will entitle you to live and study in the place of your choice.

Moving overseas to study is quite different from taking off to a new town or city to do the same in the UK. You will need to ensure that you have all your essential belongings before you leave, and if you are travelling outside the European Union, you will, of course, need to check the requirements for obtaining a student visa. Your place of study will no doubt be able to provide plenty of guidance, along with the British Embassy, but a first port of call must be the government's Foreign and Commonwealth Office, which offers advice for all Britons either living or considering moving abroad.

You will need to ensure that you have all your essential belongings before you leave, and finding an international shipping company is vital. If you are travelling outside the European Union, you will, of course, need to check the requirements for obtaining a student visa. Your place of study will no doubt be able to provide plenty of guidance, along with the British Embassy, but a first port of call must be the government's Foreign and Commonwealth Office, which offers advice for all Britons either living or considering moving abroad.


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