Scholarships
Challenges for International Students Seeking Scholarships to Study Abroad
Traveling abroad to study is challenging, but it’s also an opportunity for individual growth and cultural and academic achievement. However, as an international student, you might also face some unforeseen challenges, making the experience more complicated than you thought.
Now is the time to overcome any challenge that is trying to hinder your academic pursuit. That way, you can share your numerous experiences while studying abroad.
Studying abroad is not easy. Students face many challenges, ranging from cultural and societal issues to currency. Below are the common challenges international students undergo and the amazing lessons learned.
What are the challenges a student may face when studying abroad?
1. Language barriers
The language barrier is a major challenge every new person faces. Even if you can speak the host country’s language a bit, you will have some difficulties with the slang and other languages they may be saying. These languages are hard to understand and blend with. It might even be difficult for you to relate to and express yourself in the school environment. In such a situation, learning will take a long time.
2: Homesickness
Some people become sick when far from their family and loved ones. Living at home is not easy, considering the distance. You might be homesick, missing your favorite foods, functions, cultural events, and traditions. The feeling of absence is enough to make one homesick, especially for someone not used to staying away from family.
3: Culture shock
The host country’s culture may be different from your own, which can lead to cultural shock. It’s not easy to adapt to a new cultural setting or environment. The cultural difference could be quite frustrating and might throw you off balance. You will find it difficult to express yourself in social gatherings or know how to behave, and you might be isolated from your own students, too.
4: Academic expectations
Another major challenge is adapting to the academic environment and meeting the associated expectations, which may vary from those in your home country. This adjustment can induce feelings of nervousness. Understanding the teaching methods and coursework may prove challenging initially. Additionally, the passing grade requirements could be higher than those in your home country, and the criteria for students to advance to the next level might be more rigorous.
Scholarships often require a high level of academic performance, which some students find difficult to attain. As the saying goes, scholarships are typically awarded to exceptional students; therefore, your academic performance must be sufficiently impressive before applying for any scholarship.
5: Financial Strain
Financial constraints are a major challenge because studying abroad is very expensive compared to other countries, plus the cost of travel, health, accommodation, etc. Also, you might be denied access to work legally, which could reduce your chances of earning money. When you lack money, it will also affect your academic performance.
6. Independent Living
Living independently is an excellent task; you must consider your accommodation and general welfare. You must decide whether to live in a school hostel or rent an apartment. If you rent an apartment, you must deal with different prices. Decide on the one that fits your budget. Apart from cost issues, you still have to deal with the fear of robbery or fraud from the house agents since you are new.
Sometimes, you must share an apartment or pay for the entire house. Then, you have to adjust to the environment to relate to your neighbors. You have to become responsible for everything concerning you, including caring for your house. It becomes more difficult at this point, primarily when you are not used to such a lifestyle.
7. Saying Goodbye to Your New Home
This phase might seem simple or neglected, but it’s also challenging. After you have succeeded in adjusting to the new environment and have taken it as your home, you finally finish schooling, and it’s time to go back to your original home.
Saying goodbye to a place you have taken as your home after some years will be quite challenging. You will miss the new friends you have made, the language you just learned, food, and other activities. Now, you must learn to detach from these things you took time to adapt to.
8. Limited Scholarships
Scholarships for international students are limited in number, making competition fierce. It is tough to secure a scholarship of this nature; the requirements are high, and people from different countries apply. The chances of getting it are very slim.
9. Eligibility Criteria
Meeting the specific eligibility criteria of each scholarship can be challenging due to diverse requirements. Sometimes, the requirements scare some people from pushing through with the scholarship.
10. Language Proficiency
Many scholarships require proficiency in the host country’s language, which can be a barrier for non-native speakers. This is a big challenge if you are not good with languages. So, in such a situation, only those who can speak their language will be given the scholarship.
11. Visa Requirements.
Meeting visa requirements and handling paperwork can be challenging, especially for first-time travelers. You will be asked to get a lot of documents, which will stress you out. These documents most often take time to get.
12. Recommendation Letters
Gathering strong recommendation letters can be tricky, especially for students new to a country. Getting a trusted person to recommend might be a considerable challenge; not everyone will be willing to do that.
13. Interviews
Some scholarships may require interviews, and the language barrier can pose a challenge. You could end up failing the interview because you are unable to communicate fluently in their language.
14. Discrimination
Discrimination or bias in scholarship selection processes can be a significant hurdle. Some countries are given more preferential treatment than others. You might lose the scholarship if your country doesn’t fall into that category.
15. Economic Fluctuations:
Exchange rate fluctuations can impact the cost of living and tuition fees, affecting the financial aspect of studying abroad. Once the economy is terrible, it will affect your ability to sustain yourself, especially in finance.
16. Health Insurance
Understanding and obtaining the required health insurance can be complicated in a foreign country. It takes a long time and a long process to get health insurance, especially for a foreigner. The requirements are complicated, which will also cost you a lot.
17. Work Regulations
Understanding the restrictions and regulations of part-time work can be challenging, as they vary by country. Work operations differ between countries; your host country may not have favorable work regulations.
18. Cultural and social isolation
International students may experience feelings of isolation or homesickness, affecting their well-being and scholarship application focus. Adjusting to the new cultural system and social environment is a considerable task; not everyone can survive the stress involved
Final Piece
Overcoming these challenges requires determination, meticulous planning, and seeking support from universities, scholarship providers, and local communities. You must equip yourself with the necessary information to get a scholarship abroad.
ALSO, READ How To Plan a Healthy Traveling
Originally posted 2023-12-11 00:37:21.
