- Find out what's out there!
- Read Case studies written by students who are doing what you're doing.
- Buy insurance
- Pick up some language learning resources
- Get your wallet in order
- Check out the top free online resources for year abroad students
- Stick to The Definitive Year Abroad checklist.
- Follow the essential steps for the year abroad.
- How to make the most of your holidays and get your languages up to scratch.
- Get the checklist of what you should pack in your suitcase.
- And of course, our great debate - should you work or study abroad?
- Oh - before you go, do a Time Zone Check!
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How much of what to pack for your year abroad
Written by Lois Bentall and Vicky Warrell Sunday, 03 March 2013A crucial question that all year-abroad students face: what to pack, and how much of it. Vicky and I were volunteering in Orion - a tiny therapeutic community in the Russian countryside. Our nearest and only shop had a very limited and sporadic stock of items, so we had to pack many things that perhaps you could buy when you reach your destination. Though this list isn't complete by any means, we hope that this might help you, the reader, decide how much to pack when going on your year abroad, and guide you to not over-pack as we did.
Published in What to pack? -
When I first contacted ThirdYearAbroad.com about writing for the site, I was asked whether there was anything I'd liked to have known prior to my current situation (which is starting the physical journey down to Jean-Moulin University in Lyon from Lancaster University). To be honest, I found this website whilst in one of my many emotional flaps in the hope that I'd find a childlike version of instructions which essentially reassured me I will survive. This time last year, or even 3 or 4 months ago, I'd have appreciated the following basic advice when it came to my preparations...Published in Planning and preparationTags -
Flying halfway across the world to beaches, the outback and koalas is a dream for many. The best time to make the most of Down Undah is before you set off for uni or even during your year abroad, as you’ll get the chance to see something totally new and fresh, work or study, without having to worry about language requirements - i.e. an opportunity open to all! From what costs are involved, where you could go, where to study or work, as well as getting your head round paperwork, it’s all in here!
Published in What's out there? -
Everything you need to know for your year abroad in France
Written by Natacha Cullinan Wednesday, 18 January 2012Although preparing your year abroad back home may seem like a lot of faff, paperwork and what not, but the prospect of going to France and dealing with all of that, all over again and in - aaargh - French can leave you with a bit of a headache. Filling out forms, no speaking the bureaucratic lingo and no knowledge of protocol. This is where this article comes in: what to watch out for, how to get the most out of your money and what you can sign up to. Read on to find out more:
Published in Before You Go -
BBCs - Basic British Comforts for your year abroad
Written by Natacha Cullinan Tuesday, 30 August 2011Heading out abroad, to a gorgeous sunset as you take off from the tarmac, unto the world of the kooky, the eccentric, the known unknowns and the unknowns knowns...This is the start of a new adventure, your heart cries. As you hit the ground running, find your new flat without (too much) trouble and set up camp a la [insert nationality], you’ll feel as though life has just begun. There will be a time - morning, lunch, early evening - when you’ll want to reach out for...Oh no, crap, you didn’t bring it with you. After reading lists and lists about what to cut out of your packing (15 jumpers too much?!), you might have forgotten the BBC (ahem, British Basic Comforts). Make sure you wrap these up in cotton wool, you’ll need them once you’re out in the wild:
Published in Planning and preparationTags
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There is a lot of discussion about years spent abroad during your degree; lots of thought about great work experience, improvement of your foreign language skills and an amazing CV on your return home. All of this is true - although you may not be taking a year out in a country which speaks another language - but I cannot help feeling that these people are missing some other, equally valuable, points which are worth considering in conjunction with your employability.
Published in Before You Go -
Year Abroad tips from current students
Sunday, 13 May 2012We asked our Fans and Followers: "Any current year abroaders have a tip for those preparing now?" and were deluged with advice!
Instead of letting those nuggets of wisdom disappear into the social media ether, we've decided to immortalise them on TYA.
Learn from the experts, and please do add your comments below if we've missed anything...Published in Before You GoTags -
Everything you need to know for your year abroad in Spain
Written by Natacha Cullinan Friday, 20 January 2012If you’re planning on moving to Spain for your year or semester abroad, you will be thinking of accommodation, bureaucracy, bank accounts and much more. It might be wise to read our Culture Shock section for more tips about Spanish working hours, politeness and more before you set sail to the Iberian Peninsula. Read on to find out what you should do when you arrive, how to sort out lodgings and what to look out for regarding money issues and more...
Published in Before You Go -
Packing for my stay in Mexico, I realised something: aside from the fact I’d have to pick which shoes/dresses/hair products to bring, I’d also have to make a tough decision regarding which literature I could fit (carry) in my two suitcases. Yes, hand luggage was still an option, but my bag was already bulging with my laptop, charger, camera, passport and important documents, a couple of packets of sweets (no Percy Pigs in the airport), my over-filled diary and more clutter I care to recall. What to bring? How do you pick between Molière’s dramatic comedy, Ruiz Zafón’s page-turning novels and Pratchett’s sarcastic fantasy? What about all the other loves in my life, the Arabic classic literature, the socio-economic tirades of South America, the sharp wit of America’s finest authors, or the Renaissance literature of Britain? -
We’ve ploughed through our resources, asked hundreds of travellers and managed to come up with this: the definitive guide to suit every traveller’s needs. It's so important to go on adventures while you're abroad - spend weekends exploring, use your holidays to travel, go on a tour of music (and beer!) festivals... Have a read, pick out a few items you fancy, get your parents to chip in and enjoy these nomadic treats!
Published in What to pack?
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Browse our before you go articles:
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How much of what to pack for your year abroad
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A crucial question that all year-abroad students face: what to pack, and how much of it. Vicky and I were… -
What is the point of a year abroad?
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There is a lot of discussion about years spent abroad during your degree; lots of thought about great work experience,… -
Step By Step: a journey to your year abroad
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When I first contacted ThirdYearAbroad.com about writing for the site, I was asked whether there was anything I'd liked to… -
Year Abroad tips from current students
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We asked our Fans and Followers: "Any current year abroaders have a tip for those preparing now?" and were deluged… -
Transporting your stuff
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It really is very easy to go over the 15kg limit on planes these days, especially if you've lived abroad… -
Down under: Study or work abroad in Australia
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Flying halfway across the world to beaches, the outback and koalas is a dream for many. The best time to…
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