5 Things I Wish I'd Known Before Applying to University Abroad

Flashback to the fall semester of my senior year of my undergraduate degree when I was wide eyed, bushy tailed, and just beginning the process of applying to graduate programs abroad. I love traveling, and the idea of living overseas not only a tourist but a student living and learning the culture was too tempting to pass up.

Throughout the entire process, though, I was flying solo. Nobody in my family had gone to postgraduate school for something other than law or business, so I was entering into unmarked territory. Thankfully I did have some incredible professors who offered some sage advice when it came to the application, but there were other challenges that, with a bit of foresight, could have been avoided. With that, I wanted to create this list of six things I wish I'd known before applying to a university program abroad. While this comes from my experience applying to postgraduate study, these are also some solid tips for students seeking an international undergraduate degree.

1. Have a valid passport

Possessing a valid passport is probably a no-brainer for people looking to travel abroad, and I planned to renew mine in ample time to move to Europe but failed to consider the fact that, as an international student, I would need to submit a valid passport as part of the initial application. As applications for universities across Europe tend to open in late-fall, it was only then that I realized I needed a valid passport to complete the application for some schools. Others, such as the London School of Economics and King's College London, did not require your passport number as part of the application or allowed you to submit and amendment later on once you had received one. The University of Edinburgh, however, required it upfront. Mine had expired in January of that year. With an estimated processing time of 8-11 weeks (5-7 for expedited at an additional charge) for a US passport, I was limited in where I could apply. Since I cannot stress this one enough, have a valid passport before you plan to apply!

2. Understand standardized testing requirements

Somehow I managed to escape yet another standardized test. This was partially due to waived requirements under COVID-19 conditions, but this was also because many European universities do not require the GRE. As a native English speaker, I was also not required to complete the TOEFL. Before registering to pay $200+ and sit for a four hour exam, check your intended university's standardized testing requirements.

3. Consider where you will live + how much it will cost

During my undergraduate program, I served as a resident assistant (RA) for three years through which I was compensated by my work with room and board. For all four years, I lived in a freshman community. Over the summers, I returned home or stayed with family friends for work. As graduation loomed, I realized that as a 22 year old I did not know how to navigate looking for an apartment or battling a lease, let alone I planned to move to another country to which I had never been and was expected to ascertain the "safe" neighborhoods and a decent cost of living. Before accepting an offer of admission to any university, dig into housing options offered by the university and/or see if there are any opportunities to live with fellow graduate students who will be on a similar schedule.

4. Consider possible language barriers

With two undergraduate degrees in economics and communications, I planned to pursue a communications and media-related postgraduate degree. Ranked as two of the top universities across the globe for such programs were the University of Copenhagen and the University of Amsterdam. While many master's programs were taught in English, I was worried about my ability to communicate outside of the classroom and didn't want it to impact my experience immersing myself in the culture. Studying abroad in a country with an unfamiliar language is an excellent way to gain proficiency in it, but I shied away. Before submitting your application to a university overseas, consider not only the language of instruction but also that spoken beyond the classroom.

5. Search for scholarships...EARLY!

One of the beauties of attending university in Europe is the relatively low tuition compared to that of universities across the states, but be careful to factor in other costs, including the cost of living, commuting to class, and other everyday expenses. For instance, the tuition for a one-year taught master's of science in Global Media and Communications from the London School of Economics and Political Science is roughly $30,000 - less than half of that for the University of Southern California. The cost of living, however, is staggeringly higher. Living in one of LSE's residence halls could cost between $12,000 to the $30,000. As a citizen of the United States, however, it is possible to receive federal funding for your program abroad if the application is submitted correctly. Additionally, there are several full-tuition scholarships with early deadlines to look out for before you even start your application, including the Fulbright and Marshall Scholarship. Even if you miss the deadline to apply or are not awarded the funds, all is not lost. Keep searching for local, organizational, and national scholarships that will fund your study outside of the US.

Applying for a university abroad can be both incredibly daunting yet exciting. Trust me, I've been there! The opportunities are endless, so best of luck as you set out on your journey!