It’s part of a parent’s job to worry about their kids, and it’s sure to happen if they read so many study abroad myths. That protective instinct and fear of the worst never goes away, even when you’re a young adult. It’s only natural that it’ll be magnified when you leave home for a faraway land.
But your parents needn’t linger too long on their concerns about studying abroad. These common myths about studying abroad can play on their fears, and put the brakes on your dreams. It’s time to address and dispel these fears.
We’re not about to promise that studying abroad comes with zero challenges or risks whatsoever, but in truth, they would be pretty much the same if we studied in our own countries.
Here, we’ll address the most prevalent myths about overseas education to help alleviate your parents’ worries (and maybe yours too…)
Concerns parents have about studying abroad
3. Will you get lonely or homesick?
4. Isn’t studying abroad just a party?
1. Is studying abroad safe?
Studying abroad is safe! It’s certainly not risky anyway. Remember that universities place their students’ welfare at the very top of their priorities.
Studying in London, Glasgow, Dublin, or Toronto is just as safe as studying anywhere else in the developed world. New Zealand meanwhile, might be one of the safest places to study abroad full stop!
However, it’s always a good idea to make sure that you find accommodation in an area with a low crime rate and with the right people, since pretty much every city has less desirable places to live. Or maybe you could consider living in halls of residence while you study abroad?
Either way, as long as you have some common sense, caution, and invest in travel insurance (just in case), safety needn’t be a concern.
2. What about money?
One of the very best things any young adult (or full grown adult human) can do is learn how to plan financially according to your budget. It’s all a little bit boring, I know, but knowing how to handle money responsibly takes you much further!
On top of this, there are many scholarships and bursary options for studying abroad to help ease the financial burden. We’ve written about 6 study abroad scholarships you can apply for, while we have a whole section of our platform dedicated to finding scholarships in your desired country.
And finally, to ease your concerns further, remember that you can still have fun and live a full life when on a budget. Any university city or town will have dozens of student discounts and student friendly deals, while there are a bunch of other inventive ways you can live on a student budget (which we’ve written about of course!)
3. Will you get lonely or homesick?
Homesickness is natural, but remember that we have video calls these days, so nobody is more than a few seconds away! It’s all a part of taking on the big overseas adventure -- one of the few drawbacks.
And anyway university semesters are only 3-4 months long, so the chance to visit home is pretty regular!
As for loneliness, you’re sure to make great friends while studying abroad -- university is an extremely social place after all. Even if you don’t like your house or classmates, there are loads of societies you can join to make friends (for some inspiration, we’ve written about some truly quirky university societies in the UK and the US).
4. Isn’t studying abroad just a party?
Some students like to party, some students like to study, some students like to do both, no matter where they’re studying! Getting that balance right is one of the challenges of having more freedom at university -- it’s all about taking responsibility.
While there is some data that suggests students from English-speaking countries let loose a little bit more when they go overseas, the opposite appears to be true for students from non-English speaking countries.
It seems that the latter group has a deeper appreciation for the great life opportunities that studying abroad creates, and are therefore more likely to take their academic work more seriously.
5. Is studying abroad hard?
University is supposed to be a challenge, and while there are plenty of hurdles to overcome which we’ve mentioned above, the hardest part about studying abroad is the language. But that’s why we have so many English Language Assessment requirements, which gauge whether or not you’re prepared to attend a university.
A good result in these exams should give you all the confidence you need to know you can succeed at any university. Aside from our ultimate list of entrance exams to study abroad, we’ve got a whole range of articles on English tests and requirements which you can find here.
Now that we’ve tackled those main concerns and myths about studying abroad, it’s maybe time to start planning your university adventure! Explore Edvoy’s amazing partner universities in some of the very best study abroad countries. Click here to get started, or follow the button below!
