The process of arranging to study abroad can be quite time consuming. You are often advised to begin making preparations a year or more before you are due to go. It can take anything up to three months at the beginning of the academic year to get the information you need to make a choice about country and institutions. Making a decision about exactly which courses to apply for can take up to another three months. If there is a selection process and interviews are arranged, this needs a month or so, too. Making your application and getting it checked can take another month. You may have to wait for a response from the overseas university, perhaps for one to three months.

After that, you may have to obtain a visa, which could add yet another month. Of course, you may get by on far less time than that, particularly if most things are done for you, but you may not. This chapter offers an account of the preparations that need to be made and suggests how you might tackle them.

In making arrangements to go abroad, you need to give thought to:

• Your individual responsibilities

• Getting a study permit/visa

• Health requirements

• Language preparation

• Finding the funds

• Arranging accommodation

• Initial accommodation and funds

• Packing

• Course selection

• Reading ahead

• Staying relaxed