Study Abroad Guide – Studying abroad is a critical decision to make for both students and you, as their parents. It is an emotional roller coaster involving systematic research and planning. This is a step towards your child’s academic and career future, so it is very important to understand their expectations while planning this trip and arranging the resources, like funds, academic documents, insurance, etc., accordingly. We are here to explain all the information about the study abroad guide for parents.

Why should I let my child study abroad?

With growing globalisation, competing in a global job market is inevitable. Tackling global competition without global interaction and limited exposure to knowledge is toilsome. The impact of studying abroad is not just on their career but also on their personality and personal life. Here are a few reasons why you should let your child study abroad:

1. Studying abroad is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, very different from visiting a country as a tourist. 
2. Your children will be self-dependent in managing their work, finances and the household.
3. They will gain a great deal of knowledge about diverse cultures. Living in a new country requires them to understand the local culture, law and language.
4. They’ll gain access to global career opportunities. A study by the School of International Training showed that 72% of their students reported that their study abroad experience significantly impacted their careers. 
5. They will be exposed to different methods of learning. This helps in exploring different techniques and unlocking unknown skills.
6. They will appreciate your family more. The hard truth is that they will miss home, but staying at a distance makes them grow fonder of the family and appreciate the little things you have done for them.

How do you pick a Study Abroad Program?

Choosing the right study abroad program is the crux of the entire process. It is crucial to research well and evaluate all the options available. The main study abroad guide is about picking up the right course. What can you do as a parent to help them choose the right program?

1. Talk to them about their fields of interest. You have seen them stay interested and perform well in some areas since childhood. Remind them of those forgotten interests.
2. Discuss their professional objectives and how a course would align with those objectives.
3. Analyse various factors, such as expenses, climate, healthcare facilities, lifestyle changes, career opportunities, and others, while choosing a country and shortlisting universities.
4. Help them through the application process. The application process and intake period differ from country to country and university to university, so start the process well in advance to have enough time to complete the process and provide the necessary documents on time.
5. Take professional help. The entire process could be tedious, and it can be draining. Secure My Scholarship has a team of expert counsellors who can seamlessly guide you through it.

Medical Examination

It is exciting to move abroad for studies, but it is necessary to fulfil the medical requirements of the host country and the institution before moving abroad. These tests are necessary for two reasons.:

1. The Host countries do not want new diseases to enter their country
2. It is safer to know the medical status and be cautious while moving abroad as the student’s family is not with them during their stay abroad to care for them in case of a medical emergency.

Here are a few tests that are to be taken before moving to study abroad

• General Health Checkup

This is the first step of medical examination, where a basic physical examination is done, medical history is assessed, and vitals like blood test, blood pressure and urine test will be done so that any underlying diseases can be identified for further follow-up of examination.

• Immunisation status

Many countries require incoming international students to be vaccinated with a few vaccinations, such as Covishield, tetanus-diphtheria-pertussis, varicella (chickenpox), and hepatitis B. Check and find the required vaccinations during the application process itself.

• Tuberculosis/ Infectious Disease Screening

This is mandatory in countries where Tuberculosis is prevalent. It might include a chest X-ray, IGRA blood test, or tuberculin skin test. Screening for other specific diseases, such as HIV/AIDS, syphilis, and hepatitis B and C, will also be done.

• Mental Health Assessment

Certain institutions require a mental health assessment to spot any pre-existing conditions or provide support services if needed while studying abroad, as it is an important aspect of overall well-being. 

• Health Insurance

The host country will have a few requirements and guidelines for medical insurance coverage. Ensure that insurance covers hospitalisation, medical emergencies, and repatriation if necessary, and also adheres to the guidelines specified by the host country and the educational institution.

Safety and Staying in Touch

There are a lot of safety measures that the Government of the host country and the educational institutions take and suggest for the well-being of the international students. However, it is the students who have to follow the guidelines and stay in their safe zones. 

As a parent, here are a few things that you can do to ensure that your child is safe:

• Learn about the local law, embassy locations, and customs of the host country. Learn a few travel tips, the availability of public transportation, and safety measures. Also, advise your children about the best practices they can follow to stay safe in a foreign country.
• Have a safe arrival call routine. Make it a practice for your children to update you daily once they return home. Set a specific time to connect with them daily, once a week or once at any convenience.
• Keep calling the program provider as a last resort in an emergency.
• If your children miss calling you once or twice, do not panic. They probably got busy with something. If something goes wrong (a very rare possibility), your child’s study abroad office will update you immediately. 

Pre-Departure Guidance 

The students are adventurous and ever-prepared, but take time to sit them down before they leave to guide them about a few things as listed below:

• Financial planning – Though they have planned to take up a part-time job while studying abroad and have enough money, it is better to avoid spending it lavishly. I prefer public transport, and I only spend a little on excursions.
• Travel insurance is handy, even if it is a small inconvenience or a major setback.
• Always have backups ready, such as extra cash in hand, a fully charged power bank, and a copy of documents stored in the cloud.
• Stay cautious of theft and pickpocketing, especially in crowded places. Tell them to leave valuables in a secure location and carry a small amount of cash while on short trips.
• Have medications, pain balms and spays that could come in handy during emergencies.

Welcoming Back

This must be the most heart-warming phase of the entire journey. Some students may return to their home country to build their careers here, while others may stay or move to a different country. Anyways, they will come home to meet you and your family. It is important to understand the following things when they return home after a long time,

• There will be a change in accent of speech, and a few of their preferences might have changed over time. Acknowledge them with a broad mind.
• After being used to the host country’s culture and customs, there will be a reverse cultural shock. Guide them through the transition.
• They are eager to tell you a lot of stories and experiences. They might bring in a lot of references from abroad during your conversations. Listen to them and stay curious to know more about it without being judgemental.
• They might seem all grown up and mature, but remember, they are still your kid, just with new experiences and learnings.

Travelling to study abroad is a huge step, and it takes a lot of research, analysis and courage to leap in. We hope that the help of the study abroad guide for parents will help you as a parent to know the entire process and benefits of sending your child to study abroad education. Look at the big picture and support them enough. These days might seem a little hard, but the days hold great potential for a successful future for your child. 

FAQs for  Study Abroad Guide For Parents

Q1. How do I get my parents to agree to study abroad?

For your parents to agree, you must give them all the information regarding the university, intake details, course, and benefits after pursuing the course. Therefore, with the right information and your great career transition, your parents can help you with your tuition fees.

Q2. What are the main reasons for studying abroad?

There are many reasons for studying abroad – Great career opportunities, and You can earn more money, You can expand your network, getting world class education and more. 

Q3. What are the working hours during college?

During college time, you are allowed to work for 15-20 hours per week. You can only work after the time of the college.