If you choose to study in an English-speaking country, you might turn your attention to the States and Canada. With top universities and colleges, high-ranking departments and a reputation for first-class lectures, it’s easy to see why. Inevitably, rising tuition fees and living costs in the UK have boosted the trend to go to North America for many students - either for full-time study or a year abroad. Although studying across the pond is not exactly chump change, with many colleges in the US charging upwards of $30,000 in private institutions and Canada marginally cheaper at $25,000 for international students, it is still an appealing option for many. Aside from the fact financial help is available through grants and bursaries and the bureaucratic paperwork studying abroad may entail, over 9,000 UK students decided to make the switch. The big question is: where should you study, Columbia, UCLA and Harvard or McGill, British Columbia or Trent? Read on to find out what are the pros and cons to each country and what they could offer you.

It’s coming to that time of year again...No, not Christmas, nor the end of exams, but rather a fun weekend involving your year abroad, your best mate/partner in crime/parents coming to visit and you’re not only looking forward to pretending to be a tourist in your new city (ahem, you’re now officially a local of course) but you’re also planning on doing loads of typical things with them. Going to cute little cafés, munching on local cuisine, visiting the [insert name of famous museum] together. Just one little hitch in the plan - they virtually do not speak any foreign tongue; yes and no are trying at the best of times, their pronunciation is totally off-key and regardless of how many times you have tried to teach them basic words, they can’t seem to muster them up on command. What to do? The weekend can’t just be you translating all the time, can it? That’s where these simple steps and hints come in...

Spain is known for its dancing, its passion, its cooking and its sense of theatricality. If you are one of the lucky few who’s made it to the Iberian peninsula, you should think about taking out some extra classes to help you get to grips with this captivating culture. Whether you’re working or studying, there is bound to be something to suit your tastes and timetable. ¡Arriba!