The foremost requirement for a student going to a new country for his education is a place to stay. A new home in a new country is also something that a student looks forward to and is really excited about, because for someone leaving the comforts of their house in their home country, their accommodations and the significance of it takes new meanings. It is therefore of prime importance to the student, and should be taken care of in advance so as not to face any hassles when you arrive at the place.
But looking for and finding a nice place to stay for the duration of your studies in a country where you do not know anyone can be a little troubling and difficult. Because you not only have to find a place and make it your home, you also have to make sure it is good enough to make you stay for the whole duration of your studies and also be good enough so as not to make you move. All these things should be kept in mind, and a few more while you choose the right accommodation for your studies abroad.
While this may seem intimidating and difficult, worry not. For we are here to help you choose the right accommodation for yourself at your place of study in a foreign country.
First, let us talk a little about the types of accommodation that you can choose from for your stay. These depend on your personal preferences as well as your budget.
On-Campus
On-campus accommodations are run by the university and lie within the campus area. These are preferred because of the proximity to your classes as well to other academic activities. These can be in the form of hostels, dormitories or student apartments.
Off-Campus
Countries like Germany offer only this type of accommodation and these lie outside the campus. These are exciting and enjoyable because of the proximity to the local culture and the student community. These also include rented apartments which you can share with other students.
Home Stay
In countries such as Australia, Canada and the United States, international students can live with the local families. This not only provides a home-like feeling, but also helps you to get acquainted with local cultures and the people.
Which type of accommodation you are allowed to choose will depend on the university regulations and the bookings done for these places. Facilities like gyms, internet access, social clubs etc. also depends on university regulations. You will also make your choice depending on your budget and your finances. Besides, you can also browse through institutional websites to take a virtual tour of these places and get in touch with the residing students to help you make the choice.
Besides these, you must also factor in these
Cost of utilities,
Distance from your campus,
Local transportation costs,
Choice of roommates,
Lease agreements
Accommodation is one of the most important aspects of studying abroad, and you should be very careful and diligent while making this choice. Making a good choice and a wise decision will ensure that you do not have to move midway through your studies. This would require that you go through each of the factors listed above thoroughly. Besides, you can also browse through a number of websites that help students look for and book apartments in different countries. These include Study Abroad Apartments, Nestpick and Uniplaces etc.