Being in a long-distance relationship, either during or after your year abroad, is an emotionally exhausting experience.*  However, if you are communicative, proactive and thoughtful you can both get a huge amount out of it - from a better understanding of what you both want out of life (you will have a LOT of time to talk! Thank heaven for Skype) to mysterious and exciting parcels arriving by post, surprise midnight cookie deliveries and romantic mini-breaks half-way between you.  And after all, you know what they say - "absence makes the heart grow fonder!" (eurgh. You definitely don't want to hear that.)

• Independent article: How to cope with a long-distance university relationship

* Believe us - we've been there...