What New Students Need to Know About Applying for College Overseas

The decision to attend school outside of your home country can be enthralling, but it is also a big responsibility. In addition to planning for college like every other student, you also have to strategize an international move. Get a head start and research your options now by reading this guide on how to apply for college overseas. If you aren't able to make the hop across the pond this year, there's always the opportunity to transfer or attend graduate school down the road.

Find an Accredited University

The first step is to find a college that is American accredited. This means that the program meets American educational standards and the degree you earn will be valid in the United States after you return. While you can study at a non-American university, you will be unable to receive any federal financial student aid during your studies.

Most students can't afford to cover the cost of an entire degree program out of pocket. When you're studying abroad, you also have to take factors like housing and currency conversion rates into account. While you can apply for grants and scholarships, it's worth investigating additional financing options for college as well. This is especially true if you want to study at a foreign school like Oxford University.

One of the easiest ways for you to access the educational funding you need is through a private student loan. These aren’t necessarily just for tuition, but many of the other costs that might be associated with attending a college or university abroad. There will be things like laptops and lab equipment, as well as living expenses that often aren’t considered. There are undergrad and graduate program loans specified to your particular needs. Make sure you borrow enough for your total cost attending school, but also keep in mind that you need to be prepared to make payments later. You can use a student loan calculator, and other online resources available, to gain insight on what you’ll be paying each month. In order to make sure the college you’re hoping to be enrolled in is accredited, you should check their website.

Acquire Your Student Visa

Unless you have dual citizenship, you’re going to need a student visa. A student visa is an addition added to your passport that allows you to be enrolled in the schools in a foreign country. They don’t require you to be an actual citizen of the country to attend school there. However, your student visa has to be for the country you’re looking to study in. To obtain your visa, you’ll have to go to the consulate and file for one. It takes months to process a visa, and times may vary depending on the country and delays due to the coronavirus pandemic. Bear that in mind before the start of the academic school year.

Figure Out Your Living Arrangements

While you wait to receive your student visa, use the time to start planning out your living arrangements. Determine whether you’d like to live on the college campus, look into student housing or find your own apartment. If you choose to live on campus, you’ll be privy to a wide variety of benefits.

For one thing, you won’t have to spend extra cash on transportation to and from school. You’ll also live alongside other students, which makes socializing and making friends easier. Living on campus can be a lot cheaper than getting your own place, but there is a bit of a downside to it. College campuses do charge by rates, which can be higher than you think.

Renting your own apartment provides the greatest flexibility, but it can also be extremely difficult for a foreign student. You would need additional money to put down a security deposit, so you would need additional funding from the start. You would also be responsible for paying utilities, including water, heat and gas, electricity and WIFI.

Securing cable and internet in an apartment overseas requires a visa, bank account and possibly a national security code. This is the equivalent of the American social security number. Be sure to thoroughly research all the requirements and potential restrictions of various housing situations before just assuming you can easily rent and live in your new city.

Student housing is rented through the school, and it functions the same as a dormitory. You may have your own bedroom or greater privacy because you live in a residence rather than a school building. The cost of student housing is factored into tuition, but you may still have to pay for home essentials and utilities separately.