Accommodation Struggles for International Students and How to Manage Them?

One of the most thrilling periods of a student’s life is studying abroad. It is an exceptional opportunity to travel, make new friends, learn a foreign language, and receive a top-notch education. However, some individuals struggle to adapt to living abroad and encounter challenges along the way. Following tuition fees, accommodation is considered the second-most difficult budget expense. Let’s examine the issues with accommodation for international students and how to manage them.

Problems with Student Accommodation

1. Finding the perfect one

Every student has various needs; some prefer on-campus housing, while others choose off-campus alternatives. Whatever alternative a student chooses based on their constrained capacity, it’s crucial that they select one that’s practical for them. One should choose an accommodation that suits their needs and budget while keeping in mind inclusions like transportation, utilities, meals, and other supplemental services and costs. But it’s not as simple it appears to be.

2. Finances

Due to their limited financial resources, international students are highly cautious about what they are getting for their money. The expense of living and tuition fees have been the two main causes of financial challenges.

3. Lack of Planning and Research

Students must start exploring accommodation options months before their actual arrival. Arriving in a new country without preparation could cause them some stress and significant time, energy, and financial losses. So rather than simply arriving in a new country and starting a house search, it is essential to study, network, and plan ahead of time.

4. Ignorant of services included.

Depending on the destination a student chooses, different laws and regulations apply to tenants. One should be aware of the tenant’s rights. Before signing any contracts, make sure you are fully informed of all the service inclusions. an energy bill or an internet bill, for example.

5. Lack of Extended Support

Living in a foreign country presents a variety of obstacles, such as “racial prejudice, language barriers, lodging issues, separation anxiety, dietary constraints, financial strain, and loneliness. In such circumstances, international students require locations or individuals on or off campuses where they can speak openly about their worries and experiences with discrimination and seek support from others in comparable circumstances. They consistently seek extended support from the student support centre or from other international students or most preferably from their home country.

6. Safety and Security

Nearly all parents who wish to send their aspirant child to study abroad worry about their youngster’s safety. In general, people feel less safe in unfamiliar areas. However, anxiety over social isolation and safety and security in a foreign setting is increased for international students. When confronted with unfamiliar faces, people, weather, and individuals who speak whole different languages and have quite different cultures, some students can feel alienated.

It is always a good idea to ask for assistance from the host families because they are the best people to respond to general or daily questions that students may have, such as the best routes, nearby transportation options, and grocery stores. Individuals should also not hesitate to ask for assistance from larger Indian communities.

A few simple procedures can help you better prepare for a foreign country. Learning the fundamentals of the local language, being alert of your surroundings, keeping emergency contact information close at hand, staying away from scams and frauds, being aware of currency changes, and being in touch with the university’s student support services are all crucial.

Also Read; Types of International Student Accommodation

Things to Consider While Searching for Accommodation

Here are some additional pointers that may be helpful to you or things to keep in mind.

• Be sure to ask your school or agent if they can assist you with booking your accommodation.

• Avoid sending money blindly across any platform, be wary of online fraud and scammers, and meet the owner in person before sending any money.

• University may suggest a placement agency, direct students to do their own search options for housing, or offer accommodation services internally. Determine the policies at the university and take initiative.

• Whatever you choose to do, ensure that you find housing where you feel safe and secure and where you can study and succeed while you are in a foreign country.

• If the university is providing your student housing, your initial point of contact should be with the university housing officer, or whoever is in charge of overseeing the housing. You can try contacting your local authority, the governing body in charge of the neighbourhood, if your student housing is not handled by the university or if for some other reason you haven’t been able to get someone in the institution to help.

FAQs

Such issues are becoming less of a problem as more overseas students become aware of them. Additionally, they ask for assistance whenever needed, whenever they feel, and from whoever they feel most at ease.

The majority of institutions now employ on-site counsellors who may listen to students and help them clinically or psychologically as necessary. Contact our specialists at Leverage Edu to learn more about the procedure and what else you need to be ready for.