Semester abroad - any tips?

[ShinyBlueTractor]

DS has just finished 2nd of 4 year Uni course and hopefully will be studying abroad in Europe next semester (course taught in English). He's been put forward by home uni but not yet done any of the other admin (not his forte). He'll need a visa and to sort accommodation.

Anyone else got experience of DC studying abroad for a single semester or longer, and what would your learning points/top tips be?

I'm wondering might it be worth the time/money to do a language course in the summer? He doesn't speak the local language and it might be nice to make basic conversation. Or better to just figure it out once there?

If I were you I’d leave it to him to organise, with the support of the uni. He’s a big boy now.

I have one DS currently studying abroad for a year and DS2 going in August (both in Asia). I would definitely recommend some language lessons- there are loads available online. Look for a reputable organisation. Your son will need to be really organised in terms of deadlines especially regarding his visa. Some visas also require a medical check up which can take time to organise. Accommodation can be a bit of a nightmare too (depending on where he is going) so the earlier you start looking the better as accommodation on campus may not be guaranteed. I think home universities vary with the amount of support they offer so don't depend on it but they should have information available online if nothing else. We have found the host universities to be very helpful in providing information and answering any queries. Make sure you have the name and email address of their Foreign Exchange co-ordinator. Good luck to your son! My DS1 has found it a brilliant experience so far despite the challenges of living in a completely different culture. He's even been offered a paid summer internship on the back of it so is extending his stay. Not something that would have happened if he hadn't gone!

Depending where he needs to get a move on as soon as a place is confirmed. Dc went to Canada and needed id check and appointment for the visa and was late booking flights and accommodation which were more expensive. The bulk of the cost was upfront and Turing funding was on,y confirmed and paid much later. They stayed two semesters(7 months) but had to book and pay for accommodation for a full year. It was also more complicated getting a dbs check sorted afterwards as needed confirmation of a clear police check.

Mine did be but was ages ago , they year before covid so with Erasmus. Other than applying to the unis she wanted and arranging accommodation and flights after she didn’t have much else to do . She found accomodation in Facebook ( shared student apartment ) She was already studying Spanish so k ew the language and her lessons were all in Spanish.
id recommend getting acquainted in the language.

Mine went to Japan. It should have been an academic year (2021-2) but due to COVID was only 4 months in spring 2022. Her UK uni organised the initial paperwork then DD booked an appointment at the Japanese Embassy - my role was to take her to the station in Devon and collect her several hours later.
Through her uni, she did a 4-hour class in Japanese every Saturday which we paid for as a Christmas present. She had already done a fair bit on Duolingo. When she went, she could hold a simple conversation in Japanese.
it was the making of her! She had an amazing time, learned lots about herself and the country and it gave her a lot of resilience. A couple of months ago, she used some annual leave to go back there alone to visit friends she made out there, and to do some more touring. She was given discounts in cafes for speaking Japanese and not insisting on English, so she has retained her skills.
i think she used Monzo for banking when she was studying, and she bought an inexpensive SIM card so could use local data. We bought her flights and a decent insurance policy and she sorted out the vaccinations she needed.

Thanks everyone, really great to hear your DCs experiences (love those positive stories, that's so great to hear), and appreciate the advice - I'll be nudging him to get on with things! 😊

Mine is off to a commonwealth country via Erasmus for semester 2 next year. My understanding is that they need to wait until the host university makes the official offer before they can actually firm everything up. Mine has been told that this won’t be until late June. Annoying as the (long haul) flights are only going to get more expensive not less… on the upside the visa requirements are seemingly not onerous and the accommodation is provided on campus which was an attraction. I think you need to let them figure stuff out for themselves about this sort of thing tbh. They’ve usually got a loose plan with more holes than a Swiss cheese but that’s par for the course. Pointing out the increased cost of leaving it to the last minute (for either you or them) plus the visa/potential immunisation requirements is fair enough though.

I studied abroad a million years ago, but one issue I recall was needing to have proof of up to date vaccinations..There was a long list and while I'd had some, not all, some were not as recent as required. Some of the vaccinations were 2 stage X weeks apart, so i ended up cutting it very fine to get them done and get proof issued.

@ShinyBlueTractor My DD did 3rd year abroad as part of MFL degree. Two countries and two universities which were quite different in character. A while ago now!

The first university offered accommodation and the deadline was end of April and, as she knew she was going, she booked a flat with them and it was good value. I think she chose a price bracket and they allocated the room. However another dd didn’t get round to it and had to pay a lot more privately in a less good area in a very expensive city. So if the uni is offering accommodation, meet the deadline!

Second uni had no accommodation so web sites were useful. It was easy to navigate though. The uni was disorganised but that’s another story.

You need to consider bank accounts, vaccinations, flights and visas. Some unis abroad have induction sessions for incoming dc and others do very little, but a good admin office for incoming students is a real bonus. It’s a great year but don’t sit around if admin needs to be done.

Thanks, he's been hesitating about whether to go for the uni accommodation but I think I'll prod him to get on it and definitely to try not to miss the deadline!

@ShinyBlueTractormy ds is also hopefully going to France for semester 2 next year. He was approved by his uni and has put the application to the French uni in, but hasn’t heard back yet - has yours had the official offer? Once my ds has heard for sure, he’s planning to try to learn some French!

Aw lovely, good for him, and I guess semester 2 gives him plenty time to do some language learning before he goes.

I think my DS is at the exact same stage as yours actually - waiting to hear back and be all official. (But he only got his form in yesterday..)

Will your DS need a visa for France?

It's exciting (and bit nervewracking) for them isn't it 😁

Dd going for a year, Asian uni.
Waiting for final confirmation "abroad uni". Once she gets that she has access to portal for accommodation and can start the visa process.
Has started on the vaccinations.
Already knows a bit about the language as did GCSE in it.
I'm getting excited as gives me an excuse to visit the country....

Yes @ShinyBlueTractor a visa is required for France too. It is exciting! My ds is wondering whether he can take his car. I can see it would make things easier, but I don't know how it works in terms of insurance, MOT requirements etc - does anyone know?

Exciting times for your dd too @Wronginformation !

Can I ask which country? My DS1 is currently studying in Taiwan and DS2 heading to South Korea in August, all being well. He's also awaiting university confirmation- it all seems a bit late as he can't apply for accommodation or visa until he receives it. Having said that, it all worked out ok for DS1.

A car can be a real hassle and it’s driving on the “.wrong” side of the road. Insurance is surely an issue and how safe is a young person doing that? Parking could be problematic too and giving lifts to others. I’d never suggest dc take a car. Flying with a big bag works well enough. Even my dd managed it and she’s never knowingly underdressed!

My DD went to France for a semester last year at 19, it was an English speaking course and she couldn’t speak French. It was the making of her. She sorted out accommodation thanks to guidance from uni, organised her visa and I paid for it. She shared a wee flat with a friend but got to know other students while out there. Really glad she did it.

Sheeppig,
A bit more west...

That’s good to hear @feemcgee ! Especially that she didn’t know French! Ds will do his best to learn it in advance- he’s obsessive when he’s got a goal in sight! - but there’s a limit to how much he can learn in a few months. I had a look at the uni site today and the accommodation page was baffling but I’m sure Ds will sort it… he’s not one to be fazed by things! How long did the visa take?

My DD was in university accommodation, namely an international “house” with flats of several single en suite rooms but shared kitchen & social spaces. She befriended students from Canada, Spain, Australia, Germany and Italy, many of whom she is still in contact with. She only had 6 weeks from being told she could actually travel to being there, so it worked ok in her case.

If it's France you might have to pay circa £350 to the letting agent for an international guarantor. You can't use normal travel medical insurance and will need to speak to his mobile phone provider to see if he needs to change his contract. Hopefully, UK will be back in Erasmus!

That's a few things to think about - thanks. Think a PP had recommended getting a SIM locally so that might be an idea?
For travel insurance are there specific products intended for students abroad?

Definitely helpful tips - are we back in Erasmus in 2027? In which case, my ds might benefit but @ShinyBlueTractor will just miss out. What are the benefits? Is there potential funding?

It looks like 'UK plates in France' provide specialist car insurance for UK vehicles in France if my ds does insist on that option. It might depend on the cost though! I just know he'll want to be roaming around exploring France. He could of course just hire a car when he wants to do that...

@crazycrofter My DD travelled extensively with other students in both Italy and Switzerland. This might come as a surprise, but there are trains! They are not bad in France. Surely he will want to make friends and maybe travel a bit with them? It’s part of the fun. Taking a car is very odd. Insurance will be high due to his age and driving on the wrong side of the road. I’d travel by train like everyone else! Plus he can have a drink!

No need to be patronising @MeetMeOnTheCorner . Of course there are trains, but they tend to be much more expensive - especially if you're travelling with friends (which of course he will be!). Having a car has proved quite handy at uni in both my dcs' case, as they've found their friends' petrol contributions can heavily subsidise the cost for them! Ds took a load of friends down to the south west to surf recently and dd took some girls up north to a Christian festival. In both cases i think the friends covered the cost of petrol, so it was just wear and tear on the car. Students love having a friend with a car! Anyway, he will obviously weigh up the comparative cost and availability of trains in Provence and make an informed decision. PS he doesn't drink... which is a relief when he'll probably be travelling to cliff-jumping locations and the like 😂