Getting your visa feels like the finish line, but the first month abroad sets the tone for your whole course. A little planning now saves a lot of stress later.
Before you fly
- Book accommodation for at least the first few weeks
- Buy a forex card or open an international account; carry some local currency
- Arrange health insurance if your country requires it
- Get any prescriptions and medicines with a doctor’s letter
- Inform your bank in India and set up international transactions
- Check your university’s arrival and orientation dates
Hand luggage (never in checked bags)
- Passport, visa and printed copies
- Offer letter, CAS/CoE and fee receipts
- Accommodation confirmation and university contact numbers
- Original academic documents
- Insurance papers and prescriptions
First week after landing
- Get a local SIM card
- Complete university registration and collect your student ID
- Complete any police or immigration registration your country requires
- Open a local bank account
- Register with a local doctor or health centre
First month
- Attend orientation and meet your course adviser
- Learn the rules on part-time work hours for your visa before taking any job
- Set a monthly budget and track spending
- Join student societies — it is the fastest way to make friends
Our students get a pre-departure briefing before they fly. Start with a free session.