Study Abroad Accommodation Options

Choosing the right accommodation for a university that’s thousands of miles away can be, to say the least, a difficult experience. There are, in general, three choices for most international students when they’re choosing their accommodation. The three options are, in no particular order: homestay, apartment living, or student dorms.

We’ll discuss each of these in detail below. Remember that you can always change your mind once the year is finished, so you’re not stuck in one location forever. And yes, a year is a long time, but nevertheless the option is still there – you’re not choosing for your entire university experience, just one year of it. After your first year of studies you are likely to have a much better idea how and where you want to live for the remainder of your course.

Homestay

Many international students enjoy homestay more than any other option simply because it makes life very easy – you’ll be staying with a family in the city you’re studying in, and if you’re lucky you’ll have your meals cooked for you and will be treated as a guest of the house. Homestay hosts usually go through a vetting process with their university to ensure the correct environment is in place for a visiting student, which reduces any chance that you could end up in the middle of a dysfunctional household – not what you want when you’re trying to study.

If you have any dietary requirements then you should let your university administrator know before they start planning a place for you to stay – vegetarianism in the west, for example, is nowhere near as common as it is in countries like India. This is important – make sure that someone knows or you’ll end up having to pass the meals that are prepared for you.

One problem with homestay is that you’ll have less interaction with the people on your course and others who may be otherwise interested in getting to know you. Something most international students worry about before they study abroad is getting to know their peers at university, and a homestay may deny you of some of the opportunities you could have to get to know other students.

Apart from this, though, staying with a family in their home can be a great experience, with a lot of time to study and to talk to people in their native language – and the more experience you get in learning their language, the better – it’ll make university and socializing a lot easier for the next year.

Apartment Living/Private Accommodation

Living in your own rented apartment or room can be a good option if you feel confident enough to do your own cooking, laundry, and everything else that needs to be done in a house. You could live with other students in a shared apartment, or you could rent a single bedroom apartment for just yourself to live in. Generally, this is a more expensive option than homestay or staying in student dorms, especially if you choose to live just on your own. Remember that in private accommodation you might also be expected to cover household bills such as utilities like your electricity and gas supply.

Your university will usually be able to help you to find private accommodation and may have a list of recommended landlords in the local area. It is possible to look for your own but this might increase the risk of choosing an unsuitable place to live. Unless you are in the position to visit before your studies, you won’t be able to have a good look around until you begin your studies so be very careful with your choice.

Living in an apartment with other students can be a really great experience and a great opportunity to fit in with the locals and make some great friends. Again, you’ll have the opportunity to practice the native language and perfect your conversational skills, and the more people you get to know at university, the better – you’ll know a lot of people for a very long time after you graduate, and living in a shared apartment is a great way to start that.

Student Dorms/Student Accommodation

Living in a student dormitory is what most native students choose to do when they go to university, at least for the first year. Here, there will be loads of first-year students all in the same boat as you, looking to make friends and get to know everyone. It’ll be busy, messy and exciting, and a great opportunity to get to meet lots and lots of people, to practise your language skills, and generally to fit in as a ‘normal’ student. People will happily talk to you and you’ll get to know a lot about everyone, whether you like it or not.

As an international student, you may have the option of living in dorms for overseas students, where you’ll have the opportunity to get to know a load of students from all over the world. This is a great opportunity to share your stories and culture with each other, and you’ll all be in more or less exactly the same situation with regards to getting to know people and being in a foreign country – it’s a great chance to make some long-lasting and strong friendships.

Whether you join a dorm with local students or with foreign students, the set up will be the same: you’ll have a decent amount of independence, will be expected to do your own laundry, and may be expected to also do your own cooking. The university may have a canteen, but often they won’t – it just depends on your university; check before you start studying and see what you want. Bills tend to be inclusive so you do not need to worry about your internet, heating and electricity to the extent that you might in private accommodation.

Student dorms, particularly the local ones, can be a messy, loud and very busy place to live in. There may be a lot of alcohol consumed on the premises, and there’s every chance you could be kept up late by people having a good time. If you’re social, don’t mind a night away from your studies every now and again, and have a good command of the native language, then this shouldn’t be too much of a problem. If that doesn’t sound like your kind of thing though, then the local dorms for domestic students are perhaps best avoided.

How much will Study Abroad cost?

The cost depends on the type of program that is chosen, the length of stay, the sponsoring school, etc. If the program is through your student’s home university, fees will be about the same as current tuition rates, but can vary depending on the program. If the program is a full time Master’s or MBA program then it may vary between Zero to Rs 40 lakhs depending upon the country, that you may chose. The other fees, which are often due prior to departure, may include costs such as airfare, meals, additional travel, etc. In order to evaluate the overall cost of the program, it will be necessary to contact the program department of the sponsoring institution to find out exactly what is included.

How long is a study abroad program?

The program duration depends on the program chosen. Full time Study abroad programs generally range from one year to two years and exchange courses range from one to three weeks for summer sessions and three months to one year for school year programs. The amount of time the student is able to spend abroad and the time of year he/she chooses to go abroad.

How much spending money is needed?

The amount of money that will be needed for the trip depends on the expenses that the student may be required to pay while abroad. It is a good idea to create a budget prior to departure that separates any known living and school expenses such as food, housing, transportation and text books from general spending money that can be used for independent travel, tourist attraction entrance fees and souvenirs. Keep in mind that having a budget does not mean that the student needs to have to carry cash around for each of these expenses – just know about how much is allotted to each so money for meals is not spent carelessly on souvenirs!

Always remember:

Traveling with large amounts of cash is not recommended. The student should consider using several different forms of payment for expenses. Traveler’s checks, credit cards, ATM cards and cash are accepted almost everywhere. Although U.S. dollars are also widely accepted throughout the world, the student should make every attempt to use the local currency.

Where can the student exchange money?

To obtain foreign currency, any of the following can be used:

AIRPORT EXCHANGE BUREAU – Currency exchange offices are available at almost all international airports. Although the rates may not be the lowest, it is probably the most convenient location to exchange money when the student first arrives. Note: because the destination airport is certain to have a large supply of the local currency, its rates for exchange may be lower than the rates at the student’s home airport, which may only have a limited supply of the foreign currency.

BANKS/ATM/CREDIT CARDS – After the student has had a chance to get accustomed to his/her new surroundings, a national bank or an ATM machine can be found, which are known to offer the lowest exchange rates. Using a credit card can also secure a decent exchange rate and is often safer than carrying around a lot of cash. American Express, Visa and Master Card are all widely accepted around the world. Keep in mind, however, that using an ATM/debit card may incur additional bank/commission charges.

LOCAL STORES/RESTAURANTS – Travelers cheques can be used for payment at a variety of stores or restaurants. If U.S. dollar travelers checks are being used instead of foreign currency travelers cheques, make sure the student knows the merchant’s exchange rate and is aware of how much change should be returned to them.

With all the money changing options available, the best thing the student can do is to be an educated traveler. Know what the current exchange rate is and be able to calculate how much should be receive in return for each transaction. Also, be safe when carrying money and do not carry all of it at once.

What are Travelers Cheques and where can they be obtained/used?

Travelers cheques can be purchased at a bank or local travel agency (American Express, AAA, etc.) in a variety of denominations and currencies. They can be used for payment at many local establishments or can be exchanged for cash at any bank or exchange agency. Travelers cheques come in both US Dollars and in many foreign currencies and can be replaced if lost or stolen. Make sure to keep a list of the serial numbers from each check in a safe place so it can be given to the bank representative for replacement! More information about travelers checks can be found on the American Express website by clicking here.

What are the housing options?

The housing options depend entirely upon the program that is being offered. Many students are expected to live on campus in either single or double occupancy dorm rooms. Others may have the option to live off campus in apartments or participate in a home stay and live in the home of a nearby family. If the student is expected to arrange his/her own housing, ask for recommendations from the sponsoring institution because student housing in foreign countries is not always easy to come by and may be expensive. It is also a good idea to find out what is included in the housing package (meals, linens, etc.) so your child will not be caught off guard with any unexpected expenses.

The Schengen Visa for International students in Europe have made traveling between its 25 member countries (22 European Union states and 3 non-EU members) much easier and less bureaucratic. Traveling on a Schengen Visa means that all the International students can travel to any (or all) member countries using one single visa, thus avoiding the hassle and expense of obtaining individual visas for each country. This is particularly beneficial for persons who wish to visit several European countries on the same trip. It is issued to citizens of countries who are required to obtain a visa before entering Europe.

The purpose of the visit must be education, leisure, tourism, or business. Upon the issuance of the visa, the visa holder is allowed to enter all member countries and travel freely throughout the Schengen area. It is strongly recommended to plan your journey within the timeframe of the Schengen Visa as extensions can be very difficult to obtain, thus forcing you to leave to stay in compliance with the Schengen rules and regulations. A Schengen visa allows the holder to travel freely within the Schengen countries for a maximum stay of up to 90 days in a 6 month period.

The following 25 countries are Schengen Visa members:

1.         Austria

2.         Belgium

3.         Czech Republic

4.         Denmark

5.         Estonia

6.         Finland

7.         France

8.         Germany

9.         Greece

10.       Hungary

11.       Iceland

12.       Italy

13.       Latvia

14.       Lithuania

15.       Luxembourg

16.       Malta

17.       Netherlands

18.       Norway

19.       Poland

20.       Portugal

21.       Slovakia

22.       Slovenia

23.       Spain

24.       Sweden

25.       Switzerland

All Schengen countries are in Europe. However, it should not be confused with the EU (European Union). Schengen and European Union are two different agreements between European countries. A total of 25 countries, including all European Union countries (except Ireland and United Kingdom) and three non-EU members (Iceland, Norway, and Switzerland) have signed the Schengen agreement.

Important: The Schengen Visa holders are not allowed to live permanently or work in Europe. Schengen Visa holders only have the right to travel as a temporary visitor to the member countries.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Schengen Visa?

A Schengen visa obtained by any of the Schengen Area member countries allows free movement to its holder within the whole Schengen Zone regarding the European Union Schengen members as well as the EFTA Schengen members, up to its validity and timeframe.

What does EFTA stand for?

EFTA is an association of ten Fair Trade importers in nine European countries (Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, The Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland and the United Kingdom). EFTA was established informally in 1987 by some of the oldest and largest Fair Trade importers. It gained formal status in 1990. EFTA is based in the Netherlands and has Dutch Articles of Association.

How does EFTA differ from EU?

While the EFTA stands for an association of ten Fair Trade importers in nine European countries (Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, The Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland and the United Kingdom), the EU is a group of mostly European countries, (28 to be exact) that participates in the world economy as one economic unit and operates under one official currency, the euro.

When issued a visa, for how long can I reside in the Schengen Zone?

According to the type of visa issued by the certain embassy/consulate of any Schengen country there are different restrictions that apply to the particular visa in accordance to the nature of travelling and other relevant circumstances. However, the most common type of visa issued to the travellers can reach the maximum of 90 days in every six month period starting from the date of entry.

In which occasion am I allowed to apply for a Schengen visa?

Every person is allowed to apply for a Schengen visa as long as they can get all the required documentation in order and possess the financial means to maintain themselves during their stay to the Schengen area.

What type of a Schengen visa do I need?

Depending on the purpose/nature of your travel there are three major types of Schengen visa issued by the designated Embassy/Consulate.

• – The Uniform Schengen Visa stands for a permit of one of the Schengen Area Member Countries to transit or reside in the desired territory for a certain period of time up to the maximum of 90 days every six month period starting from the date of entry.
• – The Limited territorial validity visa allows you to travel only in the Schengen State that has issued the visa or in some other cases, in the certain Schengen States specifically mentioned when applying for the visa.
• – The national visa is granted to the certain individuals who are to be studying, working or permanently residing in one of the Schengen countries.

It is a test that assesses an individual’s knowledge of the English language and how well he understands it. Similar to the TOEFL exam. It also has four sections

• Reading
• Writing
• Listening
• Speaking Skills of the English language

The only point of difference that lies between TOEFL and IELTS is that the speaking section of the IELTS exam undergoes a one-on-one interview with an interviewer who evaluates the individual’s English speaking skills. Same as TOEFL, no one fails an IELTS exam and the people are awarded bands that mark the scores awarded to them after taking the test. It ranges from a level between 0-9 (refer to the picture below). The average of the results from the four Sections is then used to decide what’s known as the overall band score.

IELTS results are valid up to 2 years after taking the exam and one can take up as many exams as he wants until he achieves the desired results.

WHAT ADMISSIONGYAN DOES?

Welcome to Admissiongyan, provides the individuals with the best overseas education consultancy in Bangalore. Admissiongyan gives the complete guidance for study in abroad. We rank at the top of the list of overseas education consultants in Bangalore as we are readily available to help clients anytime with a staff of highly experienced people. We even mark the 1^st position in the list of visa consultants in Bangalore. So, sit back and relax as the search for the best foreign education consultants in Bangalore is over as Admissiongyan is here. Please contact us now or book and avail this opportunity of studying abroad before time flies.

 The Graduate Management Admission Test is a PC adaptive Online test for use in admission to a graduate administration program, such as an MBA. not a Computer based test, which means that the applicant will get one question at a time and be depending on the accuracy of the previous answer the difficulty level of the next question will be ascertained. The average scores required for universities abroad varies; top-level universities must at least 710, while middle-level universities accept 600. The GMAT consists of four Sections (Test Duration: 3.5 hours)

• Analytical Writing Assessment(30 minutes)
• Integrated Reasoning(30 minutes)
• Quantitative(75 minutes)
• Verbal(75 minutes)

The exam conducted for a total of 800 marks and the results are valid up to 5 years after taking the test. This is the most commonly used entrance exam by the business schools which an individual takes before enrolling in an MBA program.

WHAT ADMISSIONGYAN DOES?

Welcome to Admissiongyan, we offer best overseas education consultancy in Bangalore. We rank at the top of the list of overseas education consultants in Bangalore as we are readily available to help clients anytime with a staff of highly experienced people. We even mark the 1^st place in the list of visa consultants in Bangalore. So, sit back and relax as the search for the best foreign education consultants in Bangalore is over as Admissiongyan is here. We provide professional Coaching and Complete Guidance for Overseas education who are searching for Abroad Study. Get in touch with us now and book an appointment and avail this benefit of studying abroad before time flies.