How to Prepare for Studying Abroad as an Exchange Student

Last September, I swapped the skyscrapers of New York City for the cobblestone streets of London! I ate good food in the Borough Market, visited the British Museum, and said hello to the King at Buckingham Palace! As I look back on my study abroad journey, I recognized that studying abroad requires extensive planning and preparation. I’ll tell you some tips on how I successfully called London my home for three months.

Apply for ETA or a student visa

Among my long list of study abroad preparation to-dos, the first one I did was apply for the Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) . Earlier this year, the United Kingdom required the ETA for incoming visitors. Since I did not stay for more than six months and did not require a student visa, I only applied for an ETA to ensure a smooth arrival in London. You have to apply for an ETA before arrival, or you will not be allowed to the United Kingdom!

If you are staying longer than six months, you have to apply for a student visa. IES will support you throughout the student visa application process, but if you want to read about the requirements, you can do so here.

Academic preparation

Since I did a Direct Enrollment program at the University College London, I familiarized myself with the Department of Political Science and International Relations. UK universities operate differently from American universities, so I wanted to know the system I was getting myself into. I perused through the modules available for exchange students, which you can also view here, to choose what modules I was interested in taking. I also corresponded a lot with my department to ensure that I was eligible for the modules I wanted and communicated with my home university to guarantee that credits will transfer.

It can feel overwhelming, I know. Don’t worry though: Before the week of classes, there will be a week-long orientation through the department to get you acclimated to the academic environment! I learned about the academic expectations for exchange students, programme structure, and met a lot of exchange students through social events. Orientation week will be jam packed with events, but they are meant to help you transition into your new home.

Save up some dough

Last summer, I worked at my home university full-time, so I was able to save up a lot of money for study abroad. London, similar to New York City, is an expensive city to study and live in. (The GBP to USD conversion rate always hurts my pockets.) As someone who has the tendency to spend money on cute cafes and restaurants, I recognized that I had to create a balanced budget before leaving for London. It could be difficult to control yourself from spending money in the US, but you will quickly learn that you want to spend a lot of money in London and other cities quickly. Trust me on this!

Do research on your home base/country!

A common misconception about the United Kingdom is that it is similar to the United States. That cannot be more wrong! While I mentioned that London is akin to New York City, it is not New York City. I remember going on TikTok and YouTube weeks before I was scheduled to leave for the UK to learn about London/UK customs and lifestyle. I specifically taught myself British vocabulary, so I wouldn’t get bewildered when someone mentioned “aubergine” or “motorway” to me. While you may not encounter this often in London, it is great to have the knowledge in the back of your mind!

Create a packing list

Oh boy, this was the hardest one! How many clothes were too many? How many suitcases should I even bring? Should I fill up my suitcases?! These questions floated in my head constantly weeks before I left. I scoured TikTok and YouTube videos to get an idea of how many clothes I should bring for hours!

Ultimately, I decided to bring two suitcases, one carry-on, and a backpack. One suitcase was for all my clothes, and the other was for medicine and toiletries. My clothes suitcase was around 80% full, while my toiletries suitcase was half full. I decided to leave space in both suitcases since I knew I was going to shop for a lot of knick-knacks, souvenirs, and clothes in Europe. When I came back a few days ago, I was glad to have space for all the new things I bought abroad!

Moving abroad marked an exciting new chapter in my life. I was eager to immerse myself in a new culture, push myself academically, and grow in ways I couldn’t imagine. In hindsight, preparing for study abroad takes more than just a suitcase and a passport; it’s about doing the work to make sure you’re ready to thrive from day one.