3 Challenges You May Face While Studying Abroad And How To Overcome Them

Studying abroad is an aspiration that many Indian high school students uphold. It promises a variety of benefits and opportunities for growth, ranging from access to a global learning community, research-driven academic exploration to novel interdisciplinary coursework and attractive global career opportunities. These are some motivators that drive lakhs of Indian students to apply to universities abroad every year.

What is great is that universities abroad have also recognised this demand and aspiration for Indian students which has prompted not just them but also governments to take steps to make higher education more accessible for international students, specifically those who belong to countries like India or China.

Challenges Faced By Students

With lakhs of Indian high school students realising their dream of studying abroad very year (and the number of Indian undergraduate students abroad gradually increasing yearly despite challenges like Covid), an important discussion needs to be had about the challenges faced by Indian students abroad during undergraduate education and the best solutions to them. This is because securing admission in leading global universities and settling abroad is just the first part of a long, challenging yet rewarding journey that so many Indian students go through. Here are some challenges that students typically face and some tested solutions to them.

Homesickness

Students commence their undergraduate studies abroad as soon as they are out of high school. At this young age, most students have little to no experience of living alone or away from family in a fairly alien environment. Homesickness is hence something that everyone goes through, missing things about one’s home- be it the people, environment, food, or the culture.

Piece Of Home | It is often a good idea to carry a piece of home with you – be it photographs of your family and friends, mementoes from places or memories that you hold dear, or even home-cooked food that can last long, like pickles! This provides a level of grounding to students and reaffirms the realisation that one cannot be too far away from home no matter which continent one is presently residing in.

Keep In Touch | Maintaining regular contact with all those you hold dear is also key. Whilst this might sound mundane, it is much more challenging than one considers it to be, given how divergent individuals’ lives can be. Making the additional effort to speak to your parents daily or your friends weekly or every other day makes a difference which cannot be understated.

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Maintaining Regular Contact With Those You Hold Dear Can Help With Homesickness

Culture Shock

Growing up, we are all used to doing things a certain way- be it the way we dress, how we address others, social manners and etiquette, academic habits and so on. These are dictated by many things, and national identity is one of the most important determinants. Hence, it is natural for students to experience culture shocks when they settle down in completely new countries. This has a direct and often detrimental impact on one’s functioning – be it developing social relationships or performing well academically and socially. Moreover, if one is settling in a country where the language of communication is different from one’s home country, it is even more challenging to settle in.

Have An Open Mind | One important measure to reduce the impact of a culture shock is to keep an open mind and look beyond superficial differences to connect with people. In an increasingly globalised world, one is very likely to find people with common interests (be it sports, music, or media) in any country – these linkages are very important to go beyond the superficial culture shock and develop new meaningful relationships.

Learn The Language | If you are intending to study in a country where English is not the primary language of communication (Eg: Germany, France etc.) it is best to take up at least basic coursework of the language of communication of the host nation before commencing undergraduate education. Adapting to linguistic diversity is an imperative driver of success and wellness.

Financial Issues

Whilst the families of most Indian undergraduate students plan the financial aspect of undergraduate studies (tuition + living) very intricately with the help of admissions consultants and bankers, living alone on a budget is often challenging, especially if one is doing so for the first time. Students often find themselves exceeding their means and being in tricky financial situations.

In addition to solutions like taking up part-time work to supplement income, prudent financial planning is one of the most effective ways to prevent finding oneself in these situations.

Intricate planning of known expenses and saving money for contingencies and indulgences is perhaps as important as finding supplemental sources of income.

Strict financial planning should hence be exercised by students at least six months before they are scheduled to go abroad and live by themselves.

Planning is definitely something that helps students perform and feel better abroad. Plan as much as possible and as intricately as possible. This includes financial planning, academic planning, travel planning, and so on. The more planned things are, the more streamlined and peaceful the entire process is. Then, talking to people is also key. This is easier said than done and yet is critical. Finding support systems –be it classmates, roommates or even professors and counsellors is important.

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Vijeeth Srinivas is a development consultant with more than extensive experience in the foreign education industry. With the Centre for Career Development and Essai Education he has helped hundreds of students secure positions in leading universities abroad. He is keen to make novel developments in education and skill development more accessible to students from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds.