In all honesty, there will be times on your Year Abroad where you just want to curl up in a ball and teleport back to your nice comfy bed back home. There will be times when you find yourself  hastily searching for flights, trains, ferries, Eurostars, anything to take you back home, to somewhere where you feel secure, organised, in control and, above all, at home. There will be times where you consider emailing your university and saying look, I just can’t do this (you can, by the way!). Finally, there will be times when you doubt your progress.

Counting coppers: advice on how to fund a year away

As tantalizing as the prospect of spending a year abroad may be, the one thing you have to do before anything else, is to work out how exactly you’re going to cover your overall expenses whilst you’re out there. From your tuition fees and accommodation to food, book supplies, clothes and travel; you’ll soon see that once you tot up all your bills, it really adds up. Although the UK government has pledged to make educational loans and grants transferable, this has not yet come into effect. Here are several options which could help you finance your study abroad, whether you’re a language student or looking to find something to do as part of a sandwich course. Just have a look at our suggestions for racking in those pounds...