Gearing up for your year abroad? Here are 4 must-have tips on what to expect and how to prepare

Thrilled. Anxious. Overwhelmed. (Repeat)

If you’re gearing up for your year abroad, chances are you’re somewhat familiar with this sequence of emotions.

While studying abroad is an enriching and transformative experience, the heaps of planning, research and application-writing that go into it beforehand are enough to make anyone want to pull their hair out.

I’m Neha, a Philosophy & Modern Languages student, and I’m beginning to prepare for my upcoming year abroad. To gain a clearer picture of what to expect, I spoke to Alex – a recent Management & Modern Languages graduate who spent their 3rd year in Madrid.

Read on to learn the key tips that Alex has to offer on navigating this highly demanding yet rewarding journey.

Best: Realising these fears were a form of catastrophising, I was able to overcome them and have a wonderful time. I made great friends, excelled academically, and even spent time volunteering at a cat café!

Worst: My immense anxiety towards living outside of the country for the first time and not having a solid support system abroad (plus dealing with visa delays)

Although problems with visas and expat anxiety are unavoidable for some, always remind yourself that no obstacle is unbeatable. Perseverance and having some faith in yourself can truly go a long way! 

Planning ahead was critical for me. I recommend reaching out to people heading to the same destination as you from early on so that you have an additional source of information and support for meeting deadlines, tackling visa requirements, etc.

Also, prioritise your tasks according to their level of urgency. This could mean setting aside an essay or presentation to give yourself enough time to complete an important programme application, or vice versa. It’s all about balance.

Expectation: I’d speak Spanish constantly, and effortlessly improve my language comprehension as a result.

Reality: Locals defaulting to English when talking to me, making it harder to gain ‘real-world’ speaking experience. I also generally struggled to keep up with native speakers’ jargon and slang.

The language barrier wasn’t as easy to overcome as I had thought. However, there’s still lots you can do to prepare. Learning everyday colloquialisms and slang through podcasts, for example, can be extremely helpful in improving your conversational skills. But most importantly– remember that real-life conversations aren’t graded assignments, so don’t exhaust yourself trying to speak ‘perfectly’ all the time. Instead, just put yourself out there and try. The more you practice, the more your skills will develop naturally.

• Friends: Although it may sound cliche, they really were the most valuable pillars of support available to me while navigating all the logistical and emotional road bumps that my year abroad entailed. If you have questions, worries, or confusion over anything, try asking a friend or course mate first– you’d be surprised at how much you can learn.

• Erasmus Student Network: If you’re travelling within Europe, the ESN can provide a solid support network while introducing you to other exchange students. (In fact, I met many good friends through ESN during my time in Madrid.)

• King’s Counseling: Prioritising your mental health is no less important than prioritising productivity. If you find yourself feeling particularly overwhelmed or drained, don’t hesitate to seek further support.

The year abroad is, in two words, incredibly stressful or should it be ‘stressfully incredible’?

Well – perhaps it’s somewhere in the middle.

Regardless, just remember that you won’t be the first nor last one to experience it– so work hard, trust yourself and you’ll be okay!