Lessons learned from a semester abroad.
Being an Australian studying abroad in the United Kingdom was full of challenges and surprises. While one of the most distressing struggles was grappling with the lack of seasoning on food, there was also the deep existential questioning of my identity that came with being alone and unknown in another country. Both were pretty tough!
Before you partake in your endeavour abroad, you are going to have many questions and expectations. I had plenty. Unfortunately, most of the advice from my university fell into the general “don’t forget your passport” basket.
That’s why I’m here to share seven things I wish I had known before studying abroad.
1. Be prepared for something less magical than your expectations
During my exchange, I met people who believed studying abroad would be a means to escape many of life's challenges. One of these people just happened to be me.
My romanticism of exchange as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity had blinded me to the reality that no part of life can be all fun times, rewarding studies and lifelong friends. There are going to be dull moments too, as I discovered one night alone in my sharehouse, when I had no large pool of family or friends to call upon to fill my boredom.
This independence was a valuable learning experience, but I had overlooked the hard truth: being on your own can be challenging and sometimes tedious.
Remember to remain grounded as you think about what your exchange might look like. No matter where you are in the world, laundry exists and it's a chore.
2. Studying abroad can be an emotional rollercoaster
One minute you’re experiencing a natural wonder and feeling on top of the world. Next, it’s exam season; you’ve caught a cold and you just want to be in your own bed at home.
Being abroad means certain comforts that would normally help fill your social and emotional cup will be inaccessible. This can make emotions feel a bit more like a rollercoaster.
According to a 2023 report from the Institute of International Education (IIE), research shows that students participating in study abroad programs may be “at a greater risk than their domestic peers of experiencing mental health challenges” due to “adjusting to a new environment, culture, and language while undergoing the added stresses of living away from home and their regular social support networks.”
When you are feeling the pinch, it’s important to keep in mind that there are resources available. Most universities will have study abroad-specific counsellors and doctors who can help. There will also be others in a similar position to you who you can talk to.
But sometimes, you just need to remind yourself of where you are and what you are undertaking and cut yourself some slack. Go for a walk and find somewhere new. For me, jumping on my bike and exploring the neighbourhood always made me feel better.
3. Social media shouldn't be a crutch
“You will never believe who I was talking to about you last night!”
“You need to call your aunty; she wants to hear about your exchange.”
“Jordan, why is there a fine in the mail from the Spanish police here?”
Waking up to messages and social media posts from people back home is often not the gentle cortisol release our brains need to start the day. Video calls to family and friends can be great, but hearing stories and details from back home can also be hard. What does filter through often only comes in snippets and leaves your mind to fill in the gaps.
Sometimes, you just need to remind yourself of what you are undertaking and cut yourself some slack.
One of my favourite parts of being abroad was the five-hour time block when everyone back home was asleep and I could just be fully present in my new home.
What ultimately helped was setting time aside in a day to respond to messages from home, but being careful not to let it dictate my time abroad. To make the most of exchange, be present and independent. Treat a communication line back home as a privileged resource rather than a requirement you must fulfill—this approach will help clear your mind from the swirl of pressure and stories.
4. Systems at your host university may not be set up for study abroad students
Despite wider assistance from the university as an exchange student, I often felt like I existed outside of the system. This included getting access to doctor appointments, joining sporting clubs and taking advantage of student benefits like discounted transport. As a temporary visitor, you may find yourself locked out of some things.
Further to this, teachers were not necessarily aware I was an exchange student, leaving knowledge gaps. I was sometimes left to my own devices to navigate systems. Even classmates sometimes took the whole semester before even noticing they had an imposter amongst them.
To make this transition easier, sign up for any services you can as soon as you arrive, whether it’s counselling, doctor services, student unions, or student railcards. Even if you think you won’t use them, this pre-planning could pay off.
5. Culture shock can be more subtle than its name implies
The term “culture shock” suggests the feeling will hit you fast and hard—and that may be true if you’re studying abroad in a country with a dramatically different culture. But if you're planning on studying in a country with similar values to your own—for instance, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United States or the United Kingdom—that doesn’t mean there aren’t differences. Rather, as the cultural divide becomes more subtle, it becomes a nuanced psychological challenge that can be difficult to navigate.
An example of this for me was the humble greeting: “You alright?” Despite its nice undertones, it sounded like a check on my well-being and social aura, and I often replied with a confused and agitated: “Um, yeah, are you?”
This meant there were often times when I walked away from talking to locals with a feeling I had done something wrong. Sometimes this made it hard to get to a deeper level too. This can start to rock your confidence, particularly when it’s not obvious to you where a conversation went wrong.
Remember that plunging into a new environment and then leaving just as you start to adjust can be disorienting. Don't be too hard on yourself if there are awkward moments or if your humour doesn't quite translate. That's what I told myself after a joke fell flat anyway!
6. Exchanges are an opportunity to try new things
Say "yes" to opportunities, even if they are new, scary, or different. It will make studying abroad all the more worthwhile. It’s a rare chance in your life where family, friends, and the culture you grew up with aren’t on immediate watch.
Research continues to show that trying new things can foster new ways of thinking. One 2022 study, published in Psychological Science, found that everyday exposure to new concepts helps prime people to learn better. Pushing outside your comfort zone can build confidence, resilience, and the capacity to handle stress, anxiety, and uncertainty and contribute to more well-rounded and positive outcomes.
I met people from across the globe who picked up running, karate, kayaking, korfball (a Dutch sport similar to basketball), raving, hiking, blogging, food reviewing, and cycling, to name a few activities. Most of them had never tried these things at home, and not a single person regretted it. In dating, political activism, and music, my peers found new outlets while abroad.
7. Coming home can be just as hard as moving away
I was anxious when the time came to move back home. Despite what people say, a year or a semester is a long time, and the growth that takes place is enormous.
This growth leads to identity change. With that come questions about relationships and ways of living back home.
Don’t do what I did and stress about this for the last two months on exchange before returning home. Try not to suffer both in your head and again in reality.
Returning home did realize some of these anxieties; certain relationships had changed, often for the better, and sometimes they naturally shifted—but the important takeaway is that it was all okay. So much so, that I’m already planning my next semester abroad. Despite the challenges and obstacles, studying abroad provided such a unique opportunity to grow and discover new ways of doing things that I can’t wait to do it again.