How to Prepare for Study Abroad

If you’ve arrived at this page, you’re probably considering or getting ready to study abroad. Whether you’ve applied to a program or are just getting started, adventure awaits. But you still have an important task to complete: getting ready for your global experience.

This might feel overwhelming, and you probably have a lot of questions. This guide gets you started, covering travel, academics, and emotional prep. Use it as a resource or checklist to ensure you’re ready for this monumental step.

Laying the groundwork for your study abroad experience: Frequently asked questions

Getting your application ready for submission might seem like the first step, but there might be a few questions you’ll want to answer before you get started:

• Do I need to speak the local language to study abroad? The short answer is no. We have many opportunities that do not require fluency.
• Can I pursue my major abroad? This is particularly relevant for students in STEM majors or other more demanding majors. In addition to reviewing the different opportunities for students in more demanding majors or workloads, this piece offers suggestions for students to still embark on a global experience while preserving their academics and completing their responsibilities.

Application preparation:

From choosing a program to meeting deadlines, the application is something you know you need to get right to ensure your experience is getting started on the right path. Breaking up your application into steps can help you apply with confidence.

Our guide, How to Apply to Study Abroad Programs: Tips for a Strong Application, provides preparation and support for applying for your global adventure. Content spans choosing a program by explaining different options and experiences, to covering key requirements. Knowing what to expect at each stage can turn surprises into manageable steps.

Travel preparation:

Getting yourself ready to travel may be the part you’re thinking most about—and that’s valid. Packing to live in another country for an extended period can feel more daunting than packing for a vacation. And if it is your first time leaving the country, it is natural to have questions and a few nerves. Feeling like you’re prepared can help you set out with confidence and can help quell that annoying “what am I forgetting?” feeling.

• Travel documents. Check our guide, What Travel Documents Do I Need to Study Abroad? A Pre-Arrival Checklist, which explains the specific documents you need to study abroad, as well as instructions on how you can obtain them, and answers frequently asked questions students like you have asked in the past.
• Packing. Along with essentials, such as luggage and academic materials, there are other things to consider. See our guide, What to Pack for Study Abroad, for a complete packing list breakdown.

Pro tip: Keep packing simple by doing a little at a time, and you’re less likely to forget something important. Keep a packing list on your phone as a note or file that you can add to on the go. That shirt that goes with everything? Moleskin for blisters? Even if it’s a movie you’d like to watch on the plane, add it to your list! Feeling prepared puts you in the driver’s seat.

“Over the years, I’ve become quite adept at packing and moving, by traveling from Hawaiʻi to Georgia for school at least twice a year. I know where to leave room for trinkets, which outfits to bring with me, and other necessities. My friends say that I have packing down to a science. I know the weather in Australia will be like the conditions at home. I’ve done research on what I should and shouldn’t bring. I’ve read blog posts and student stories and tried to account for every eventuality.  Still, I’m unsure. Everyone keeps telling me, “This experience will change who you are as a person.” How am I supposed to pack to account for that? It felt like a monumental task—one I wasn’t ready to face. But my flight was scheduled to leave in a few days, and it was truly now or never. So, I fell back on my trusty list, developed from my bi-annual migration from Maui to Atlanta.” —Tallulah S., James Cook University, Townsville.

Academic preparation:

Preparing yourself for a semester at your home institution is different than preparing yourself for a semester abroad. There will be differences in the overall academic structure, as well as teaching and communication styles to adjust to.

“One of the highlights of my semester was my Mandarin Chinese language class. While I still find studying Chinese challenging, there’s something uniquely special about learning the language in China—and over time, I’ve come to love the process. Our classes were small, and mine was the smallest—just my roommate and me! We went far beyond the textbook, incorporating Chinese culture, idioms, slang, and sayings that would impress a taxi driver.” —Brooke C., IFSA Shanghai.

While the level of adjustment can vary by program, count on differences. This guide, Tips for Academic Success Abroad, reviews elements to keep in mind and offers tips on how to maintain academic success abroad.

Emotional preparation:

Studying abroad is an incredible experience that can also be emotionally draining. Our guide, How to Prepare Emotionally for Study Abroad, breaks down what to expect and provides tips on how to manage them. It also outlines how to prepare for homesickness and over-exhaustion of your mental health.

IFSA also offers resources that help you embrace your identity abroad, an essential exercise for every traveler. Use our Identity Guides to explore the cultural landscape of your host country, and prepare to navigate your journey with confidence.

“I’m the first in my family to study abroad [and] to live in South America for an extended period of time. Studying abroad has given me so much more insight into how the world works. On top of that, I’ve had the chance and the privilege to do things that no one else in my family has ever done and for that I am so grateful. I can honestly say that my belief in myself and my determination to further my education have brought me to a better and more educationally enlightened place.” —Briza M., IFSA Summer in Buenos Aires.

While this guide is more heavily focused on getting ready for your study abroad experience, there is an important element to prepare for that often gets overlooked–coming home. This resource, called Tips to Handle Culture Shock and Reverse Culture Shock, helps define these feelings as well as provides testimonies from students who have experienced this. It helps to know you’re not alone, and it’s even more helpful to be prepared for this feeling before you leave.

Start your journey

You can’t prepare for everything life throws at you; however, you have control over how you prepare yourself for this experience. The more you prepare, the more you’ll be ready to embrace all the opportunities of being in a new place. Ready to apply? What are you waiting for? Let’s get started!