by Jane Rutherford

Created on: January 03, 2010

Studying abroad when you have a tight budget can be a real challenge. Affording a tuition fee alone isn't something everybody can do. At the same time, studying abroad can be an amazing experience and it can help your professional career like nothing else. Here are several tips on how you can study abroad without blowing your budget.

- Research and apply for scholarships

It's one of the obvious routes, but at the same time many people overlook other options. While financial aid at the University of your choice really is something you should apply for, it's not the only source you should consider. Apart from the University financial aid,you can also apply for government scholarships. Some countries offer scholarships to international students to encourage them to study there. Some scholarships not only cover the entire tuition, but also give additional allowances.
It's also worth to check some of the non-profit foundations who often fund scholarships. Additionally, some scholarships can also be modified to support studying abroad.

- Visit International Student Office and Financial Aid Office
Once you arrive and start studying, you shouldn't give up hope, even if you didn't get a scholarship in the first place. Right after the academic year starts, there may be additional money to be handed out. Some students who were awarded financial help decide to go to a different university and the money can go to somebody else. And nobody was ever hurt by inquiring politely if you were still eligible. International Office often posts information about scholarships for international students who are already studying at the University on their message boards and newsletters. And some offers come in all year long so you shouldn't limit yourself to just one trip at the beginning of the year.

- Make friends and get roommates
As an international student, your first accommodation choice should be dormitories, even if only for the first semester or the first year. It's usually cheap enough and provides you with a certain comfort. But it's crucial for you to actually agree to a roommate. It not only means you'll pay less for the room, but it'll allow you to make some friends quickly after arrival.

Take part in all the orientation events and meet as many people as possible. If you're studying in Europe ask about the local branch of ESN. ESN stands for Erasmus Student Network and it's a group of students who help international students within the Erasmus exchange program, but they are amazing

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