Top Tips for creating a stand-out Study Abroad application

  1. Become familiar

 

First thing’s first – you need to familiarise yourself with the application process, the universities available to you in your department, and think about your options.

 

  1. Research, Research, Research!

 

We can’t stress this enough. Make sure you’ve really researched the universities you are interested in studying at to make sure you are a match for each other. The application will ask you about things like the modules you are interested in taking and the accommodation options available to you at the host university. This is all for your benefit! We want you to show us that you really want to study abroad, not just go to California because it’s sunny there…

 

  1. Preferences

 

The application asks you to list four preferences. Make sure you do this! Listing just one destination won’t increase your chances of studying there, it will decrease them.

 

  1. Be open-minded

 

Like it says above, you need to list four destinations in preference order as part of your application. We would love to give everyone their first preference institution, but unfortunately it is not always possible. Be open to the idea of studying abroad and try not to become too focused on just one destination.

 

  1. Enthusiastic

 

Be enthusiastic! The process can be pretty competitive, and we want to make sure we send students away who have put the effort in, and really do want to go.

 

  1. The academics

 

Try to remember that you will be studying abroad. Yes, you can take weekend trips, make new friends from all around the world, and embrace several new opportunities, but at the end of the day you are there to study. Make sure the modules available to you fit with your interests, and be open to new academic systems, teaching and assessment styles.

 

  1. Personal preferences

 

Think about YOU. Would you be happy to share a dorm room with another person? Would you prefer to stay close to home, or do you want to go further afield? Are there societies at the university that mean you can keep up with your hobbies and pursue your passions whilst away? Think about what will make you happy and be realistic with yourself.

 

  1. Think about funding

 

Make sure you look into potential scholarships and funding opportunities that are available to you. You will also be asked about how you expect to fund yourself whilst away, so think about things like visa and insurance costs to make sure you don’t get caught out.

 

  1. Be honest

 

Like we mentioned in number 7, you need to be honest with yourself and with us. Part of the application asks you about the challenges you expect to face whilst away. This isn’t a test! We want you to show us that you’ve thought about things like homesickness and the fact you might spend your 21st away from home, and how you will overcome these things whilst you’re away.

 

  1. Use your resources

 

Finally, use the resources available to you. Whether that’s through reading the various blog posts we have, getting involved with social media Question and Answer sessions, or popping into our office to speak to a Peer Advisor, use what’s out there to your advantage.

Broadening Horizons and My Time at the University of Sydney – Lily-Maria Baraclan-Smith

When applying for universities in Year 13, something I took into consideration was the chance I could get to spend some time during my degree abroad, as I knew at that point I was not going to take a gap year and travel, like a lot of my peers. For BA History, King’s students have the opportunity to spend their second semester of their second year abroad, but upon my move to London, I wasn’t so sure anymore that I wanted to move away, because I was enjoying the city so much. I applied for study abroad rather randomly a week or so before the deadline with no real expectations that I was going to be accepted, but I thought that it was worth a shot. I applied for universities in Melbourne, Sydney, Auckland, Hong Kong, and Singapore, as I knew that this would be one of the best chances for me to travel further than Europe. Although the University of Sydney was my second choice when applying for study abroad, after my experiences there I am very happy that that is where I was allocated to go.

Once I was accepted, I had the panic of thinking: how am I going to afford flights to Sydney and back? Is it going to be too difficult being that far away for such a long period of time? (I had never traveled abroad alone before this!). After weeks of weighing up the pros and cons, I decided to accept my place at the USyd, as this was a once in a lifetime opportunity that, frankly, I would be stupid to miss out on.

The Broadening Horizons Award is a fantastic funding opportunity awarded by King’s for students who are looking to embark on an overseas experience, whether this be for part of their degree or other short-term placements. I was awarded £400, which put my nerves about not being able to afford this opportunity at ease, as I put this money towards my flights to Sydney and back. Being from a single-parent, working-class background, I know without this award, it would have been difficult for me to fund such an experience. Once my flights, visa, and health insurance were all sorted out, the excitement (and nerves!) began to kick in.

I arrived in Sydney on 15 February, and the only real shock that I experienced was that of the weather. After months of snow and single-digit degree weather up North during Christmas and New Year, the immediate heat when stepping out of the airport was shocking, but it was not something that I was at all angry about (every Brit loves the sunshine, don’t they?).

Australian culture was easy to settle into, as I didn’t find it to be that different from British culture; the warm weather called for constant trips to beer gardens and the various beaches in Sydney – the relaxed atmosphere of Sydney called for a well-needed break from the hustle and bustle of life in London. I also did not find university life to be that different than what I have experienced at King’s, though it was different to experience university as an international student. It was almost like experiencing freshers again as there was constant events and nights out organised for international students – trips to Manly, party cruises on Sydney Harbour, and the constant barbies on the roof of our student accommodation were all definitely highlights of my time away.

Overall, despite the fears and nerves I experienced before going to Sydney, I am incredibly glad to have had this opportunity as it was definitely one of the best experiences of my life. Australia is such a beautiful country, that perhaps without the Broadening Horizons Award I would never had been able to visit. Even USyd’s campus is incredible, and I often found myself having to stop and pinch myself in between lectures because I couldn’t believe I was actually in Australia.

Though I admit that it is rather cliché to study abroad and come back feeling like a ‘changed’ person – but this is definitely true. Travelling alone and being on the other side of the world for such a long period of time gave me a new sense of independence, and my time abroad gave me a lot of new friends from all around the world, who I hope will be friends for life. There is a big, wide world out there, and I have learnt that fears and anxieties surrounding new experiences cannot (and will not!) hold me back from doing things I want to do.

Expectations VS reality of studying abroad: expect the unexpected – Michaela Tranfield

Looking back to May 2018, just over a year ago at the time of writing this post I had just submitted my study abroad application. Continue reading “Expectations VS reality of studying abroad: expect the unexpected – Michaela Tranfield”

Why Should History Students Study Abroad in Australia? – Sophie Roland

When people asked me about my plans to study abroad and I would tell them that I was going to Australia, their responses were usually the same. They all asked me ‘why?’.  ‘Why Australia?’, ‘Don’t you study history?’, ‘Isn’t that a waste of time?’. Continue reading “Why Should History Students Study Abroad in Australia? – Sophie Roland”

Are the Clichés True? – Carlee Carter

It was during the middle of my third year in college when I realized just how quickly time had gone by and that I would be graduating before I knew it! I wanted to make the most out of my final year by trying something new and taking advantage of the activities and programs that my university in California had to offer. Continue reading “Are the Clichés True? – Carlee Carter”