Studying Overseas

Money
Speaking of scholarships, depending on where you want to go, a good many are available. The Australian government is running a programme entitled the Prime Minister's Australian-Asia Endeavour Awards, which are available to both local and Asian students at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels (www.endeavour.deewr.gov.au). You have to study in Asia, of course. That's the whole point. Furthermore, 40 awards are offered to Australians annually - 20 at an undergraduate level and 20 at a postgraduate level. Competition is fierce.

The afore-mentioned Study Overseas website is a good starting point for finding out about scholarships specific to certain regions, countries or institutes. Keep in mind that very few scholarships are going to cover everything. Most will cover a part of your fees and possibly only for a short time (a year, for instance). Furthermore, with scholarships comes added pressure to perform academically. On-going scholarships will typically require you to perform at a certain level if you're to continue receiving support.

Researching the various scholarships that are out there is a worthwhile exercise. Studying overseas is expensive. The fees you'll pay will probably be significantly higher than what the locals pay. Subsidies and loans available to local students probably won't be available to you. And to make matters worse, your visa will probably place severe restrictions on the amount of work you can do. In the United Kingdom, for instance, you won't be able to - legally, that is - do enough work to pay for your tuition. Their restrictions on work mean you'll have a bit of play money, but that's about it. You'll need some other stream of income - a very good scholarship or very generous parents, say - to cover the fees and everything else. Depending on where you're going and the type of student visa you apply for (the US, for instance, offers a number of different ones), you may have to provide evidence of suitable financial support or resources.

We hate to labour a point, but seriously, don't relax when it comes to the financial side of studying abroad. Though governments do everything they can to ensure incoming students have financial support, the responsibility ultimately rests with you. Your parents might offer to support you, but a sudden change in their financial situation could leave you in hot water. Consider taking a break of a year or two after school to work and save some cash. Of course, if you've already been in the workforce for a number of years, you're in a much better position. If you're still in school or an undergraduate course, bust your arse getting good marks and research the various scholarships that you might be eligible for. The careers advisor at school might have some valuable information. Similarly, if you're still completing an undergraduate course, ask the university about partnerships they have with international universities. You might find that there's some arrangement that could make your financial situation easier or your acceptance into an international institute more likely.

Finally, consider yourself. Even if you get a scholarship or have adequate financial support, you may not be a suitable candidate for studying overseas. Some students who come here just can't cope when the excitements wears off and they realise they're a long way from home and don't know anyone beyond the confines of the campus. Language and cultural barriers contribute to this significantly. My friend who went to South Africa, for instance, had only ever known a culture where it was completely normal to walk to the pub after dark. That's not the done thing in Johannesburg, unless you're looking to be relieved of your wallet and possibly be gifted with a Soweto smile. This was her first time overseas and she spent almost all of her time, even during weekends, on campus for a fear that, while somewhat founded, was made worse than it probably would've otherwise been because she didn't do a great deal of research on the city before applying to study there and adequately prepare herself. Make sure you do your research. If you're uncomfortable with the sound of a place in terms of culture or security, either don't go there or do your best to visit as a tourist before applying to study there.