Top 5 Common Challenges of Studying Abroad

Top 5 Common Challenges of Studying Abroad – Late-night sessions cramming for an exam. Long talks with roommates over that dining hall, well, “food.” Bonding with classmates over a challenging but ultimately rewarding syllabus. For many college students, studying abroad is another must-do in the list of quintessential college experiences.

Whether you’re eyeing a “classic” study abroad destination like Australia or France or you want to up your travel cred by studying abroad a little further off the beaten path in a place like Indonesia, Croatia, or Chile, you’re in for cultural immersion, academic growth, and plenty of adventure. Along with the undeniable perks, though, come the challenges of studying abroad.

Preparing ahead of time by learning about the challenges of studying abroad—and how to overcome them—can set you up for a rewarding and fun experience where you build your skills and learn about yourself by learning how to deal with those uncomfortable moments life throws at you.

Is studying abroad worth it?

Studying abroad comes with its challenges but there’s so much to gain from the experience. Ask any study abroad alum and you’re sure to get a list of all the benefits studying abroad offers. You’ll immerse yourself in another culture. You’ll forge lifelong friendships and improve your resume. You’ll gain confidence, practice adaptability, and build independence, and you’ll do it as you get acquainted with the thrill of traveling. In short, studying abroad is totally worth it. But that doesn’t mean it doesn’t come with its challenges.

All that stuff about stepping out of your comfort zone? It’s scary! The idea of encountering common travel problems on your own, stumbling over unfamiliar words in another language, and feeling like an outsider while you’re missing friends and family can make you question whether you’re better off skipping the experience altogether.

Top 5 challenges of studying abroad (and how to overcome them)

Despite the real challenges, studying abroad offers endless opportunities. Sure, you might feel homesick, but you can still visit that museum exhibition or taste a new dish you’ve been dreaming about. Yes, figuring out how to navigate a new place (and in a new language) can be frustrating, but it can also be life-changing. Once you know what the challenges of studying abroad are, you can make a plan to make the most of it.

1. Dealing with homesickness

Don’t let the fear of homesickness hold you back from some incredible opportunities. When you study abroad, you’re in an unfamiliar place far from your friends, family, and support network. You may miss out on important milestones or moments with loved ones back home. Homesickness can feel like even more of a challenge when you start putting pressure on yourself—you’re supposed to be having the time of your life, aren’t you?

How to overcome it:

• Stay in touch. Apps can help you stay connected, and old-school postcards or letters can be a great way to have fun sharing international updates.
• …but don’t spend all of your time connecting with folks back home. If you’re constantly chatting long-distance, you won’t have the chance to acclimate to life abroad. Getting out and exploring your surroundings can help you reset.
• Talk to resources like program support staff or friends with you abroad. Feeling homesick is totally natural! Let yourself feel those feelings while still challenging yourself to get out of your comfort zone.

2. Staying on track for your degree back home

Yeah, we get it, there’s a whole world of cool classes you can’t take at home waiting for you overseas. Courses on food and wine in Italy? Anime in Japan? Marine science in Australia? Sign us up. But if you enroll in a slate of subjects just because they, well, look cool, you run the risk of taking classes you can’t transfer and jeopardizing your graduation. Before you tap into your inner marine biologist as a history major abroad, do the work to ensure you’ll stay on track for your degree. Studying abroad is the ideal time to explore new subjects in new contexts. You just want to make sure you plan ahead.

How to overcome it:

• Talk to folks at home, including your study abroad advisor, for help picking a program, choosing classes to take abroad, and then making sure you get all the right approvals.
• Get extra courses approved! If a course is canceled, you’ll find yourself scrambling less when you have some backups in your back pocket.
• Have some room to take elective credits? Use ‘em for study abroad. And if you’re thinking ahead for studying abroad in a few years, now is the time to save your electives so you have more flexibility.

3. Adapting to a new academic structure

Study what your new professors expect from you before the semester begins! You can find classes that work for just about every major abroad, but transitioning to a new academic environment can still come with its surprises. Teaching and learning styles and academic expectations can be very different from place to place. For example, if you’re a student in the United States, you’re likely used to your final grade coming from a variety of assignments, with a final exam making up just a piece of the overall grade. But if you study abroad in the United Kingdom, you’ll find most classes are a lot more lecture-based. Your whole grade might come from one final exam.

How to overcome it:

• Look into the academic culture of the program or university you’ll attend before you go.
• Ask for support if you need it. Many universities and providers have dedicated staff to answer your questions and help you adjust.
• Getting the hang of a new routine always comes with challenges, no matter where you are, so go easy on yourself as you learn the ins and outs of your new schedule. Remember, learning about the academic culture is part of the journey!

4. Figuring out how to afford study abroad

Before you can hop on a plane and learn how to overcome the challenges of studying abroad at your destination, you need the funds to get there in the first place. The cost of studying abroad can make just deciding to apply for a program feel impossible. If you feel yourself writing off the chance to study abroad because you think you can’t afford it, think again. It’s totally possible to apply for (and get!) scholarships for study abroad. It’s also completely possible to get financial aid for study abroad, too. You’ll have to do some research and make sure you check all the boxes at your home school and program abroad, but there are plenty of ways to deal with the financial challenges of studying abroad.

How to overcome it:

• Research and apply for scholarships for study abroad before you go.
• Think carefully about the timing of your study abroad experience to find something that works for you. A short-term summer or winter program might offer an easier-on-the-wallet price tag, while a semester or year abroad can give you access to more scholarship opportunities or financial aid.
• Get creative with location. Smaller cities and less frequented destinations can be more affordable (plus they often mean a more authentic experience than life in a tourist hub surrounded by a study-abroad-student bubble).
• Create a detailed budget—then do your best to stick to it!

5. Taking on a language barrier

Practice, practice, practice, and remember—others are learning too. If you’re studying in a place where the first language is not the one you speak, facing a language barrier and the communication challenges that come with it can feel daunting. Going abroad is the ideal way to immerse yourself and learn another language. But it’s also unsettling to picture yourself struggling to make yourself understood, whether you’ve studied the language before or you’re jumping into study abroad with just a few phrases in the local language.

How to overcome it:

• If you can, study the language before you go. Even a few simple, polite phrases can go a long way.
• Don’t be afraid to use tools like language books and apps while you’re abroad. Translation apps aren’t perfect, but they can help ease your initial discomfort when you’re having trouble communicating.
• Take every opportunity to practice. Live with a host family, make international friends, and just try to have a conversation with native speakers even when you want to fall back on English. The more you let yourself practice, the faster you’ll find yourself learning the language.

In conclusion, studying abroad is a rewarding adventure filled with both challenges and opportunities. You can better navigate the complexities of living and learning in a new environment by preparing for potential hurdles such as homesickness, academic differences, and financial constraints. Embrace every moment, from the struggles to the triumphs, and you’ll find that the experience of studying abroad not only enhances your academic journey but also enriches your personal growth in ways you never imagined.