Tips for International Students

Taken from: https://www.gostudy.com.au/blog/10-tips-for-international-students/

Being an international student could, for most people, be a great step for a new life (changing) experience.
Here are some recommendations for a better experience abroad.

1. Practice communicating in a different culture

We are pretty sure that one of the main reasons for your journey is about learning a language. We
recommend avoiding hanging around students from your own country or that speak your native language.
In this way you will improve faster and you’ll also get to know other cultures and make friends from
around the world.

2. Manage your funds

Being an international student also means being on a budget. You can spend wisely and save by: - finding a
job (if your visa allows it). - having a bank account to avoid bank fees - wisely choosing your phone plan
according to your real needs. - using your student card to get some deals on transport, and in restaurants,
bars, cafes, gyms, etc. - living like a local. - cooking your own meals.

3. Get involved
We advise you to go and visit the student services at your university as soon as possible, because they can
tell you everything you need to know about the city and its surroundings! You can also take advantage of
their resources and activities, which may lead to you making new friends! Remember: everyone wants to
make friends at university. It is an opportunity to get to know people from different cultures.

4. Take care of yourself

Medical fees can be costly, so make sure you have access to an activated health insurance that can cover
you in case anything bad happens.

5. Experience and travel

Take advantage and immerse yourself into the culture and in your local life (food, activities, places to
visit...). Read local or national blogs to find where to go, what to see or eat and what to do. We definitely
recommend you have a look at this one: https://www.theurbanlist.com/

6. Be open minded
Foreign countries might not be like your home country in all aspects: from the food, to the climate, to the
mentality, even to the education system. It might be surprising so don't start to focus on the differences
between home and this new country. Being open minded abroad gives you the most opportunity and the
best experience ever!

7. Find accomodation
While you arrive to your destination we advise you to have a temporary residence. Once you are in the
country, you can start to look for a share house. It’s very important to see the flat and meet the people in it
before paying the rent “eyes closed”. Otherwise, it's easy to get ripped off. A shared place is a way cheaper
and more comfortable than living in a hostel.

8. Fight your homesickness

This feeling is an unfortunate fact of life, and the better you are prepared for it, the easier it will be. We
highly recommend you keep in touch with your friends and family back home as talking to loved ones can
really strengthen you. We also advise you to go out, meet new people, try new things and do things that
keep you busy.

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