Want To Study Abroad? Here’s How To Do It

Broaden your horizons with our tips on how to study abroad, from how much it costs to how to apply.

Studying abroad can be a life-changing experience, learning about different cultures and environments alongside your studies. But knowing where to start is a different story. If you’ve taken a gap year, or travelled a lot, then you probably already have itchy feet thinking about your next step. Factoring in your studies can make it a little more complex.

There’s lots to think about — from the cost of studying abroad, which country you should go to, and even how to apply in the first place. That’s where we come in. We’re breaking it down so you can find out everything you need to know about studying abroad. From scholarships to making friends — we’ve got you.

And take it from the experts, we’ve got their tips to help you on your studying abroad journey. 

In this article:

• How to study abroad
• What are the benefits of studying abroad?
• Where should I study?
• How much does it cost to study abroad?
• Top tips from the experts

How to study abroad

You’ve decided you love the idea of studying abroad — and rightly so, the world is your oyster and there’s just SO much to do and explore. Which is part of the problem, if we’re honest. Figuring out where you want to study and how to even start can be intense even before we look at student loans and scholarships. 

Let’s break it down. To study abroad you’ll need to:

• Research where you want to study
• Choose what you want to study
• Work out the cost situation — can you get a scholarship?
• Make an application
• Get any appropriate travel documents, like a visa
• Figure out where you’re going to live
• Sort out anything you need to travel, like vaccinations and insurance
• Jet off to your new destination!

It’s not exactly as simple as 1, 2, 3 — but knowing the steps involved makes it feel a little more manageable.

What are the benefits of studying abroad?

If you’re trying to work out whether studying abroad is right for you, working out what it could do for you can be helpful when making your decision. 

Lana Spour, the Global Education and Community Manager at Newcastle University, says, “embarking on a study abroad journey is an exhilarating and life-changing experience, with so many benefits. Some of these include:

• Experiencing new cultures, which can broaden your worldview and enhance your intercultural understanding. This can help make you more adaptable and empathetic​.
• Developing your independence, resilience, and problem-solving skills in a new environment. Overcoming some of these challenges abroad can help you build confidence and maturity​.
• Accessing different academic resources and perspectives, which can help to enrich your studies. Having experience of different teaching methods and styles can really enhance your learning​.
• Enhancing your employability with international experience, language skills, and a global network. You’ll find employers often value the skills gained from studying abroad, such as adaptability, cross-cultural communication, and independence​.”

Sign us up. 

Where should I study?

First things first, where do you actually want to study? The world is a big ol’ place and narrowing down where you want to spread your wings and fly to is a challenge in itself. There’s lots of things to consider when choosing a destination. Do you want to go somewhere that speaks the same language? Does your chosen university offer a program with your chosen destination? How easy is it to study there?

So let’s do the hard work for you. We’ve had a look at Project Atlas to explore the top five most popular destinations outside of the UK for international students. 

Most popular destinations for studying abroad

• United States — with over a million international students taking to the States in 2023, and many of their universities and institutions taking the top spots in QS World University Rankings —it’s unsurprising that people are headed across the pond. With a country as vast as the USA, there’s so many places you could explore, whether you want a rural setting or city living. The costs vary too, but there are scholarships opportunities available.

• Canada — known for its absolutely stunning Pinterest-worthy scenery, it’s also the second largest country in the world. Tuition fees are generally lower than the UK, which is an added bonus, and you have the option to live somewhere English-speaking or French-speaking if you want to broaden your language skills. 

• France — for those of you wanting to channel your inner Emily in Paris, then studying in France is a great way to start. With excellent institutions a stone’s throw away from the UK and lower tuition fees, what’s not to love? But the cost of living is pretty high in city centres so you’ll have to bear this in mind. 

• Australia — if you’ve travelled here on your gap year then you may have a strong urge to revisit the sunny shores of Australia. With three universities in the top 20 world ranking, high quality of life and its reputation for welcoming international students, it’s a great place to consider your study abroad. 

• Germany — another EU destination for those who’d rather stay closer to home, Germany is an ideal place to study, with fantastic universities and fairly affordable student cities such as Munich.

Lana adds, “choose a destination that aligns with your academic interests and offers courses that suit your degree. It’s worth researching universities that excel in your field of study and think about their reputation and resources available.”

How much does it cost to study abroad?

The big question here. University fees are a topic that’s never going away. So how can you juggle the cost of living with studying abroad?

Can I get a student loan to study abroad?

It depends. 

If you’re studying abroad as part of an exchange programme or you’re enrolled in a UK university, then you’ll usually be eligible for all the usual student finance. The Turing scheme (replacing Erasmus) is there to help with funding placements abroad. 

If you’re planning to do your whole course overseas, then you won’t be eligible for UK funding. You’ll find a lot of universities in the EU offer funding and grants to help with the cost of studying abroad. However if you’re venturing further afield, you’ll unlikely be able to receive funding. It’s always worth checking with the university you’d like to study at to see what individual opportunities they offer for international students. 

How can I get a scholarship to study abroad?

Scholarships are a great way to study in other countries, but they can be incredibly competitive. If you think you’d like to apply for a scholarship, then it’s worth reaching out to the university you want to apply for. They’ll be able to fill you in on what scholarships are available and how to apply for them. 

You might even find that reaching out to your hometown, or where your university is, can provide an opportunity. 

We spoke to Milly, who did a year abroad in Spain. She said, “I applied for a grant in my hometown and that paid for my materials and books at uni which was a great help.” So it’s worth thinking outside the box when it comes to funding and scholarships.

Scholarships to study abroad

It’s always worth reaching out to your local town and charities to discover any scholarship opportunities. But you’ll also find that there are some scholarships available for UK residents looking to study abroad. The most common scholarships are often available to postgraduate students, and can be incredibly competitive, especially for undergraduates.

Some scholarships you could apply for include:

• Fulbright Commission – offered to UK students looking to study in the USA
• Chinese Government Scholarships – offered to international students looking to study in China
• Turing Scheme – replacing Erasmus+ following Brexit, enables UK students to study in the EU

You can also find more scholarships available around the world by searching the International Scholarships database.

Can I work when studying abroad?

Many students find part-time work to help them fund their lives when they’re studying abroad. It’s not always that easy though, UK residents aren’t always allowed to work abroad. This will depend on a few things like where you’re studying, how long you’re staying for and the type of visa you have.

Top tips from the experts

So you’re convinced studying abroad will be a game changer for you. But when it comes to starting an application, what do the experts think? 

We spoke to Eleanor Ehlen, Global Opportunities Manager at the University of Liverpool who shared her top 3 tips for preparing your application:

1. “We know you want to travel — just by applying for a Global Opportunity you are showing you want to travel and explore a new country. Don’t focus too much on the want to travel in your application answers — focus more on why you want to travel to your specific destination, what is it about the country or city that you want to learn, explore, or experience.

2. Express yourself — When reading applications we really want to get to know the student, we don’t want to learn facts about things that we could google for ourselves. We want to understand what has inspired you and why you want to apply for your specific global opportunity and how that will help you in future. We get lots of applications for a few spaces, your application needs to stand out.

3. Do your research — It is so obvious when a student has done their research and really thought about their application. It doesn’t need to be a referenced academic answer to the questions but doing your research will help you structure your answers and get your points across.”  

How to prepare for studying abroad

If you’ve applied to study abroad and you’re keen to get going, there’s still a few things to think about. Lana suggests, “understanding all the costs involved and any visa requirements for your destination country, making sure you have all the necessary documents!”

Some of the most important things to think about are also the most boring, but being in the know will save you a lot of drama when it comes to setting off. Things you’ll need include:

• Visa documents — check what kind of visa you need (and apply early!)
• Travel insurance
• Flights – airlines such as Ryanair have low-cost flights making booking your flights so easy.
• Details of where you’re staying
• University documents

If you’re travelling to a country where English isn’t the official language, then you might want to consider brushing up on your language skills so you have the basics down. 

But what about when it comes to meeting people, especially if you’re travelling alone?

Former student Milly says: “when you’re out there, explore as much as possible and speak to as many different people as possible! It can seem scary but everyone’s in the same boat. There are lots of people on their year abroad and networks to help you meet up with them. Finding a group or an activity is a good way in if you’re nervous.” 

So embrace the change and throw yourself into your new life abroad — because who knows what the future might hold?

Looking for travel insurance or deals on flights? Check out Student Beans travel discounts for all your study abroad needs. If you want more inspiration or advice for your next trip, check out our essential student travel tips.