6 Things Indian Students should know before Studying Abroad | Gradway

The general system of any two countries almost always happens to differ. And when we are talking about India vs. a developed nation’s system, the foundation itself varies. Whether it is the education system or civic administration, the difference is so much that a sudden exposure could boggle any sane mind.

And when that mind is a young growing mind, the whole shift could be overwhelming. So, to help international students sink in that shift without a shock, we are listing here 6 major things that are alien and needs to be known NOW:

Rules

The major lesson that would save you from a cultural shock is knowing about the rules of the country. And the first ones are general living rules. How to behave with your friends, neighbors, and passersby.

And the next set of rules is knowing the rules of the country. For eg, the travel restrictions, the driving regulations, the work permits, et al. Research about them beforehand so that they seep in before you land there.

Punctuality

Students in India are known to procrastinate their assignments and general routine tasks; for they get enough leeway from their teachers as well as parents. But developed nations are famed for their punctuality. So be mentally prepared to follow the deadlines; be it for your part-time job reporting or assignment submission.

Accommodation

The accommodation types overseas are not what an Indian student would have thought of. Apart from the general hostel rooms or apartment sharing, the most unique and famed accommodations abroad are studio apartments, ensuites, and cluster flats. Know them to select a perfect match. Changing them mid-semester may not be possible or even feasible.

Work-Study Balance

Where most of the students in India get the privilege of parental support during their study years, students in developed countries start working in their high school. Thus, they learn the work-study balance early on.

But for Indian students migrating there, it comes as a shock that needs a great deal of time and strength to get adjusted to. Try to start working while studying, the moment you finalize your overseas education dream. This will not only prepare you physically but mentally, too, to give in long hours of hard work.

Get a forex card

This step is knowing all about financial independence. Where most of the students pack their debit or credit cards, they overlook the fact that banks charge exorbitant charges on every transaction made through these cards. The ATM withdrawal fee alone is 1-4% depending on which bank you choose. And let’s not discuss swiping them internationally.

Hence, the wiser mode of payment is a forex card. They practically charge you nothing and can be easily topped by your parents back home. Make sure to purchase these from reputed banks and not any middleman. And choose Visa forex cards instead of Master cards owing to RBI’s recent crackdown on the latter.

Student Bank Account

This is the ultimate aim of being financially secured in a foreign land. A student bank account would help you get rid of slow and faulty international wire transfers. And not to mention the high cost of them all. A single transaction charge could be anywhere between 2.5-3.5% of the transaction value and then there’s a conversion fee of 3-3.5%.

To save all that hard-earned money, open a student bank account from your country itself. These banks are popularly known as neo banks and allow opening such an account while you are still in India. But make sure to check the ATM network before choosing one.