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Private student residences:
In some cities there may be privately run dormitory accommodation for students. These residences often offer many of the services and advantages of campus-run accommodation, though they tend to be further from campus and more expensive.
Host families:
Some students arrange to stay with a local family, who provides a bedroom and meals. If you decide to do this, make sure you talk to the family about their rules and expectations. Find out whether they expect you to eat most meals with them as a family, how flexible they are about when you come home, what tasks they expect you to do around the house, and so on.
Private rental:
Many international students rent a house or apartment/flat to live in. This is usually done through a real estate or rental agency. You’ll usually be asked to complete a rental application form. This form will ask you to prove you can pay the rent and provide the contact details of people who will confirm that you’ll take care of their place (called referees). Remember that you’ll be paying for utilities (electricity, water, gas, etc.) if you rent a place. You may also need to pay for the Internet and arrange this through an Internet Service Provider (ISP). If you’re studying in the UK and want to watch television, you may also have to pay for a TV licence. In some countries, like the US, you’ll be required to pay one month’s rent as a deposit as well.
Real estate agencies near your institution list houses and apartments for lease every week. Visit them or their website for details.
Most towns have at least one online search engine for finding places to lease. For the US, try www.collegestudentapartments.com (http://www.collegestudentapartments.com). In Australia, you might like to try www.realestate.com.au (http://www.realestate.com.au) or www.domain.com.au (http://www.domain.com.au).
Your institution may have an accommodation board or website where people with student-type housing advertise. Check with them.
Check newspapers, public noticeboards, and kiosks: some people still advertise places for rent in these places.
If you want to rent, you need to look at what sort of places are available and how much they cost. You also need to decide where you want to live. Close to campus? Close to the center of town? How long are you prepared to spend traveling to get to classes? Do you want to be able to walk to classes? Is there convenient public transportation? If you plan to drive, is parking available and free or cheap?
How much can you afford to spend on rent? Remember that you’ll also need to pay for other things like utilities and the Internet. You may also need to pay to have these connected when you move in.
How close to campus do you want to live? Don’t assume you’ll be able to find and afford somewhere within walking distance of your classes. Think about how much money and time you are happy to spend on travel.
Do you want to live by yourself, or with other people?
Living by yourself gives you privacy, but it’s more expensive and can get lonely.
Sharing with people you know (friends, relatives) can be a good option, though remember that good friends don’t always make good roommates!
It’s also possible to share a place with new people. You can rent a place with more than one room and look for people to stay in the other bedrooms, or apply for a spare room in a place where people are already living.
If you decide to share, remember you’ll need to come to an arrangement with your roommate(s) about how to divide up the housework and the cost of rent and bills.
Be careful: make sure you read all the information on your lease and know how much you have to pay at the start of the process. Many colleges/universities have a housing service or a student legal advice department which can help you with your contracts and can answer your queries. Don’t sign anything before you know exactly what it all means.
When you first arrive
Give yourself time to rest after your flight, especially if it’s a long one. Don’t plan to do too much for the first couple of days. Make sure you know how to get to where you’re staying from the airport when you arrive. Keep your first address details with you at all times so you know how to get back to where you’re staying.
If you plan to find somewhere to stay after you arrive, make sure you have temporary accommodation (a hotel, a friend’s place) where you can stay for at least two weeks if necessary. Finding somewhere long-term to live may take longer than you think.
Transportation
Even if you’re living on or very close to campus, you’ll probably want to travel around the town sometimes to go shopping, sightseeing, or have fun. How do you plan to travel in your new country? Here are some options to look at.
On foot: If you’ll be living on campus and close to shopping and entertainment, you may be able to walk to most places. Make sure you wear comfortable shoes, especially if your campus is large! Some institutions can arrange for a security guard to go with you if you’re nervous walking around the campus after dark, or you can call a saferide service (in many parts of the US). Be sure of safety issues around your campus before you walk around too much.
In the UK, the weather is very changeable, so take an umbrella with you even if it’s not raining.
Campus bus: Institutions which have very large campuses or more than one campus may have free buses for students and staff to get around more easily.
Bicycle: Cycling is a cheap and effective way to travel short distances. Check the laws for cyclists in your new country: Do all cyclists have to wear helmets? Is it legal to cycle on the sidewalk/pavement? In the US, it’s not illegal to cycle on the sidewalk, but it might annoy people who are walking. Bicycle lights and a bell may be a requirement; you may need to buy these separately. Make sure you buy a strong lock for your bicycle (not just a thin chain!): bicycles are often stolen on campus.
Car: If you plan to drive in your new country, bring your driver’s license with you and research the laws for drivers from other countries. The traffic regulations may also be different from what you are used to—avoid fines by reading the highway code. Make sure you can afford to drive: buying or renting a car, paying for fuel, parking, and repairs and so on can be very expensive. If you plan to drive to classes, check the cost and availability of parking on campus and near campus.
Public transportation: What public transportation is available around campus and where you plan to live? Check the fares and whether you can get a student concession or student discount. Do you need to pay beforehand, with prepaid cards or exact cash? This can differ from city to city. Check transportation timetables: international students sometimes find that buses and trains stop running earlier and run less often than they are used to. You may also find that buses are not as reliable, so allow extra time for traveling if you’re not sure.
Cab/Taxi: Cabs/Taxis are generally quite expensive in English-speaking countries. In the US, unless you’re in a big city such as New York or Chicago, you’ll have to call a cab/taxi ahead of time. You should tip in the US—15–20 percent is the norm. In Australia and New Zealand, passengers often sit in the front next to the driver instead of in the back seat. In the UK, there are two types of cabs/taxis. You can hail a black cab on the street if their amber light is on, but private hire cars (“mini-cabs”) need to be booked before the trip on the phone or in person. It’s not necessary to tip the driver but passengers often round the price up.
2 Money and documents (#ulink_82a319f5-1167-5ad2-a579-0fc18b269e95)
Don’t be careless with cash … or caught out at Customs and Immigration! Make sure you budget for what you need before you leave home, and manage your money wisely when you’re there. Make sure too that you bring all crucial paperwork. Without the documents you need, you may not be allowed to enter the country!
Important documents
Here is a basic list of documents you should bring. You may need others, depending on what you plan to do in the new country.
your passport and visa details
your health/travel insurance details
prescription for any medication you take regularly
prescription for your glasses or contact lenses
your driver’s license, if you have one (even if you don’t plan to drive overseas, photo ID is a useful thing to have)
documents from the institution where you’ll be studying (the offer letter, Confirmation of Enrollment, class details, etc.)
Managing your money
For many international students, their study abroad experience is the first time they have ever had to take care of their own money. Make sure you have a realistic idea of how much money you’ll need, and keep track of how much money you’re earning and spending. You don’t want to be under financial stress while you’re studying!
How much money you’ll need will depend on where you’ll be living and what sort of lifestyle you choose. Contact your institution or check their website—many institutions tell students roughly how much they should expect to spend on rent, bills, and groceries. Here is a list of things to consider:
your income (money from your parents, money from work (if it’s legal))
accommodation (rent, furniture, bed linen, cleaning products, electrical appliances, etc.)
bills (telephone, gas, electricity, water, Internet service, cable TV, etc.)
transportation (public transportation tickets, cab/taxi fares, car expenses like fuel, insurance, tax, road tolls, and maintenance if you plan to drive)
study-related (study fees, textbooks, stationery, IT related, photocopying, etc.)
health (insurance payments, doctor, optometrist/optician, glasses or contact lenses, physiotherapist, dentist, etc.) In the UK you may be able to go to a National Health Service (NHS) doctor or hospital for free, but medical insurance is still a good idea. In the US, health costs can be huge. Make sure you understand your insurance policy and how much you’ll have to pay at the time of the visit (co-pay), or for medicine. Don’t go to the Emergency Room for anything other than a true emergency.
food (groceries, eating out, etc.)
recreation (travel, concerts, movies/films, entry fees, nights out, gym fees, etc.)
personal (clothing, cosmetics, haircuts, etc.)
Finding work
Many students help support themselves by doing part-time work. If you plan to do this, check your visa restrictions. Most student visas have rules about the number of hours you’re allowed to do paid work, and the number of hours when you’re expected to attend classes. Only some jobs are open to international students. Some will only be open to citizens or permanent residents of the country. In the US, these jobs must be campus-related jobs.
Many institutions have an employment service for students who are looking for jobs. This service is a great place to start, as the service will help you find a job that is suitable for a student. They may also help you with the process of applying for a job.
Online job search engines like www.seek.com (http://www.seek.com) or www.monster.com/.co.uk (http://www.monster.com/.co.uk) are also great places to look for work. With these, you enter the town where you want to work and the type of job you want. The search engine comes up with a list of jobs.
WARNING: Sometimes international students are offered illegal jobs. Employers who hire students illegally usually pay in cash. This means the government doesn’t find out how many hours you work or how much you’re being paid. As a result, your boss can ask you to work more hours than you want, pay you too little, and threaten to call Immigration if you complain. Do not accept this kind of job. In the US, you could also be deported if you’re caught working illegally.
Practical issues
For most jobs, your pay will need to go into a local bank account or a credit union account. Decide which bank you want to use and go to a bank branch to open an account. You’ll need to bring along identification. Good forms of identification include your passport, your driver’s license, your student ID card, or a bill with your local address on it. In the UK you’ll need your passport or national ID photo card, and a letter confirming your study details.
You’ll also need to register for tax. Check what you need to do in the country where you’ll be staying. In Australia, this means you’ll need to apply for a tax file number. In the UK you’ll need to pay income tax when you earn over a certain amount. You’ll also pay “national insurance” (NI) and need an NI number for this, but you only have to apply for this after you start work. In the US, you’ll need to apply for a Social Security card, which is used for tax purposes and many other banking-related issues. Never write this number down or give it to anyone over the phone or email. You’ll also have to fill out a tax return by April 15th of each year. If you don’t do this, you can get into trouble with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Talk to your college/university job center for advice on this issue.
Words you may see when looking for a job
CV (curriculum vitae) or résumé: “CV” is the word used in the UK and Australia whereas “résumé” is usually used in the US (except in academic and many high-level positions, where you might see “CV”). This is a summary of your education and previous work experience. You can also include any awards you have won, and a description of any other activities or interests which are related to the job you’re applying for. It may also list referees (see below). Look online for examples of how to put together a CV. Prepare this before you leave your home country.
References (Referees): You usually list two or three people who can recommend you when you apply for a job. These people are called “references” or “referees.” A reference could be a previous boss, a professor/lecturer, or someone else who knows you well. If you want to use someone as a reference, contact them, tell them about the job (or that you’re going to use them as a reference on your CV or résumé) and make sure they’re happy for you to give out their contact details.
Cover letter (or Covering letter in the UK): This is a letter that you submit to possible employers with your CV or résumé. The letter says which job you are applying for and why you think you would be suitable for the job.
Selection criteria: Sometimes employers will put up a numbered list of the qualities they want in the person they want to hire. These qualities are called “selection criteria” or “job specifications.” You need to show them that you meet all of their selection criteria to get the job. Sometimes they divide the criteria into “essential” (which you must have) and “desirable” (which if you have, you have a better chance of getting the job).
Job interviews
When you apply for a job in writing, employers may invite you to come to a job interview. This means that they have read your application and CV or résumé, and would like to talk to you to decide whether they will give you the job. This usually means that they think you have the skills to do the job, but want to find out what kind of person you are before they hire you.
Here are some tips if you’re invited to a job interview.
Do:
Turn up at least ten minutes early. This shows your employer that you’re reliable and punctual, and gives you time to rest a bit and prepare yourself before the interview.
Dress carefully. What you should wear will depend on what sort of job it is. For a professional position, such as an internship at a big firm, you should dress well (e.g. a suit and tie for men, a nice skirt or pants/trousers and a blouse for women). For a casual job, you may not need to dress up so much, but your clothes should still be clean, tidy, and free of any wrinkles or damage. If you need ideas on what to wear, ask your college careers advisor or friends who’ve had similar jobs. If you can, look at what other employees of a similar level to the job you’ve applied for are wearing. Check photos on the company website, or look at employees at work or walking into the building.
Try to be relaxed, friendly, and confident. Remember that you’re being interviewed because the employer thought you sounded like a good employee! Show them that you’d be a good person to work with. Breathe deeply, sit up straight, look your interviewers in the eye, and speak clearly.
Don’t:
Don’t try to be humble, or downplay your achievements. In English-speaking countries, you’re expected to “sell yourself” at a job interview. Focus on your strengths, and remember that you can always learn new skills and obtain new knowledge if they need it.
Don’t keep referring to information that’s written on your résumé or CV, such as your grades or marks, unless the interviewers ask you about it. Your interviewers will have read your résumé, and probably have it in front of them. Even if your grades are excellent, remember they’re looking for a good worker, not just a good student!
3 What should I pack? (#ulink_09e61c16-52de-5c9f-9525-5302c8592c51)
What will you need during your time abroad? Many international students take too much stuff! Remember you’ll have a luggage allowance on your flight. Go online to check what your luggage allowance is. The airline will charge you a lot of money if your luggage is too heavy.
Start thinking about what to pack a few weeks before you leave, especially if you haven’t lived abroad long-term before. This gives you time to buy things before you go. Check the website of the institution where you are going. It often has suggestions for what to pack.
You’ll also need to think about dividing up your luggage into carry-on luggage and what goes into the hold.
Carry-on luggage
Carry-on luggage is the luggage that you take on the plane with you. You have access to this during the flight. This can also be called “hand luggage.”
You’ll need to decide what you’re going to take as carry-on and what items you’ll put in your main luggage that goes into the hold. Remember airlines have restrictions on how much carry-on luggage you can take and what you can take, in particular regarding liquids and gels, so check the website of the airline you are flying with.
These are some of the things you should carry with you in your carry-on luggage:
your passport
your visa if you need one
your credit card or bank cards
details of your travel or health insurance
a list of people to contact in case of emergency
details of any significant health issues
prescriptions for medication, contact lenses, or glasses
documents relating to your study, such as the enrollment details for your classes, results from previous study, transcripts, etc.
Anything of high value, such as jewelry. You don’t want to risk things being stolen while being handled by the airline.
You might also want to consider taking the following:
Toothbrush and toothpaste. Don’t forget that you can only take a very small tube of toothpaste in carry-on luggage.
a clean pair of underwear and change of clothes in case your luggage goes missing on your flight
Most airlines are pretty good about returning lost luggage to passengers. Often this takes place within 24–48 hours so you don’t need to take too much with you on the plane.
Clothing
Don’t pack vast amounts of clothing. Remember that the fashions and climate in your home country are likely to be different from those in your study country.
Make sure you research the climate of the place where you’ll be studying. Don’t trust what you’ve heard about the weather in that country: depending on where your campus is, the weather may be very different from season to season, and even from day to day. Go online to do research. There are lots of good websites where you can find out about local weather.
