For first time study abroad students, the web can be an endless list of websites, articles and blogs claiming to have the most important information before they head overseas. Some articles have recently claimed that millennials are suffering from ‘scroll fatigue‘ when they research travel experiences, meaning they become disinterested in endlessly scrolling and researching after just 40 minutes.
Although this particular term was used to describe what happens when researching vacation planning, we have no doubt that future study abroad students face these same frustrations while searching for helpful resources to use before and during their study abroad experience.
That’s why we have broken down our top eleven resources for students into three categories: Scholarships & Finance, Travel & Safety, and Language & Communication.
Click a category to jump to a particular section or scroll down to view all eleven resources for study abroad students.
Scholarships & Finance
1) StudyAbroad.com – StudyAbroad.com has a massive listing of study abroad scholarships that are available to students. Their website is also a great resource for any other general study abroad information students may be seeking.
2) NAFSA.org – NAFSA has compiled a list of resources that students can use to research study abroad scholarships and grants. This is a helpful place to start one’s searching.
3) XE Currency App – We recommend downloading a currency exchange app so students can stay on top of their spending. It can be easy to forget that one Euro does not equal one dollar!
For more information and resources on spending abroad, check out our article on debit and credit card usage abroad.
Travel & Safety
4) Travel.State.Gov – Although most study abroad programs provide updates on places that are considered safe to travel to during their time abroad, it is important for students to keep up to date on travel warnings published by the U.S. Department of State.
5) Citymapper – Citymapper is a great tool to locate and map out a route using public transportation. This app is growing in Europe and is currently available in more than eighteen European cities.
6) Google Maps – Trusty Google Maps is a must-have app for students in a new foreign city. The app also has the capability to download a map to use offline so you don’t have to burn through your data usage to get around your new home city.
7) TripAdvisor – TripAdvisor has become more than just a hub of reviews for which it is most well known; through the app and website you can also book dinner reservations, activities, and accommodations which is useful for anyone traveling abroad.
Language & Communication
8) Google Translate – If your language skills aren’t quite at a level of fluency before heading abroad, Google Translate will become your new favorite app. Just like Google Maps, you can also download a library of the language you want to use offline. Be warned that Google Translations of long sentences and paragraphs are not always one hundred percent accurate.
9) WhatsApp – WhatsApp is the most used messaging app in the world and is incredibly widespread among Europeans. This is also a great solution to keep in touch with family and friends back home without incurring international text messaging fees.
10) Duolingo – In advance of your study abroad, we recommend learning some useful and common phrases of your future destination. Duolingo is a useful free app to help you learn the basics or improve your skills if you’re more advanced.
11) Word Reference – Word Reference is often times better at locating multiple meanings of a word and also includes many slang terms that may not populate in a Google Translate search.
What resources do you recommend for your students? Let us know what we missed in the comments.
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