You may observe that a huge crowd of international students arrives in foreign countries intending to receive degrees from the world’s best institutions. Well, that’s not as straightforward as studying in your own home country. It is noted that studying in your own home country is very easy. Whereas studying in a different country alone comes with lots of challenges that are known for their mind-baffling attributes. To act smartly, one should practice how to tackle every situation in advance. This strategy will help them in getting prepared to meet future obstacles easily.
We don’t intend to stop you from transforming your dream into reality. We are just giving you an idea of the challenges that can problematize your stay abroad. So that you can plan it out in advance and simplify your stay abroad. Therefore, if you are going to invest your hard-earned money into it, make sure to get the best help from professionals who have adequate knowledge of the study visa application process. For this, you can consult with the best study visa consultants.
Challenges International Students Commonly Face While Studying Abroad
The following pointers will shed light on the topmost challenges that every international student faces during the initial phase:
A Huge Heap Of Activities
By living alone abroad, you have to travel alone, along with managing domestic chores with studies, and activities for your survival. On the other hand, when you study in your home country, you can seek support from your loved ones, which simplifies your stay there. Well, this is not the case when you change your study destination. Therefore, you have to learn time management skills to manage your tasks on time abroad.
For this, you will need a perfect schedule that is suitable for your health and allows you to pay attention to every task. So, you will be left with no chance of skipping important tasks. Also, a healthy breakfast will help you gain adequate energy to complete your tasks on time actively.
Homesickness
Another factor that may put you in difficult survival abroad is missing your home. The wonderful moments that you spend with your loved ones in your home country remind you family back. At a point in time, you will just feel a sudden urge to go back and give a hug to your loved ones.
At that time, your smartphones will be going to help you with that, and remember distance doesn’t matter when you wish to stay connected with your loved ones. Just get your smartphone out, use the calling option via WhatsApp, Instagram, FaceTime, and connect with your loved ones in just a few seconds. This way, you feel that distance is just a number; instead, you feel close to your loved ones.
Language Barrier
Being an non-native speaker, it is common to feel language difficulty while interacting with foreign students. So, it is advisable that don’t ignore your poor speaking skills as it will has a great impact on your acdaemics when you are unable to understand the lectures. No only this, due to hesitation, you will be unable to ask for your doubts, which results in unsorted concepts.
No doubt, the environment and your interaction with the English language will help you a lot with facing that challenge confidently. But with time, speaking fluent English wouldn’t be a big deal to you when you interact with native people. You will get to know their accent and common slang. Just keep on learning three new words from your dictionary to improve your fluency in the English language.
Culture Shock: Adapting to a New Environment
Culture shock is a common phenomenon experienced by international students. Adapting to a new culture, customs, and way of life can be overwhelming. Students may struggle to understand local norms, values, and social cues. Simple tasks like grocery shopping or using public transportation can become daunting challenges. To overcome culture shock, students can research the host culture, join cultural clubs or organizations, and seek guidance from university support services. By being open-minded and patient, students can gradually adjust to their new surroundings.
Financial Challenges: Managing Expenses
Managing living expenses, tuition fees, and other financial obligations can be stressful for international students. To overcome financial challenges, students can create a budget, prioritize expenses, and explore scholarship opportunities. Part-time jobs or internships can also help students earn extra income and gain valuable work experience. By being financially literate and proactive, students can manage their expenses and focus on their academic pursuits.
Accommodation: Finding Suitable Housing
Finding suitable and affordable housing can be a significant challenge for international students. Students can explore on-campus housing options, shared apartments, or homestays to find a comfortable and affordable living arrangement. By researching and planning ahead, students can secure suitable accommodation and focus on their academic pursuits.
Joining Student Communities
Joining student communities, such as cultural clubs, student organizations, or sports teams, can help international students build a support network and engage with their new environment. By participating in campus activities, students can develop new skills, make friends, and enhance their overall study abroad experience.
Learning Styles: Adapting to New Teaching Methods
International students may need to adapt to different learning styles, such as independent study or group work. To succeed, students can develop effective study habits, such as creating a study schedule, setting goals, and seeking feedback from instructors. By being flexible and open to new learning styles, students can thrive in their academic environment and achieve their goals.
Connecting with the people
During the starting phase of living abroad, whn everything is new to you. You may find is difficult to connect with people on the first meet just because of different country, language, and culture.
However, to survive smoothly abroad, one should have quality of behavior, politeness, and good communication skills to make new friends. With the company of good network, one can easily tackle the obstacles of overseas life in the initial phase.
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Wrapping Up
To wrap up, apart from the above challenges, you also have to deal with survival challenges that can include finding the best job and accommodation. Don’t worry! because you will get assistance from the international student support system, the social media sites, or the people around you.