I will be leaving New Zealand after 2 pretty fabulous, yet difficult, years as a international postgraduate student. With the current recession, discussing travel/study abroad will seemed privileged or even fiscally irresponsible but a majority of the student I have met saved for years, earned scholarships, worked multiple jobs, and lived on the cheap in order to fund their overseas education.

It is a hard slog, especially if you are intending to complete your entire degree in a foreign country and not just a semester. This post is for those women who are heading for international schooling for a duration of 1 academic year or more as they are more likely to be under the complete "care" of their institution instead of a program that operates in their home country. I only speak from the experience of a once-single hetero but I will try to be as all encompassing as I can. That said, this post is a balance between the economical costs of being a woman overseas and the educational issues that affect everyone

BEFORE YOU LEAVE:

1. Know thyself and brace thyself- Think hard about what you value. Write them down and research the laws that exist in the country that you are intending to visit. Wikipedia is quite a good source for giving you a round-up of the issues but you would also do well to contact the Student Union/Association of the school you want to attend as well as any related student organizations that may exist at said institution. Find out if local/national newspapers are online and search their articles. Figure out what the popular forums/websites are for young people in that country. If this sounds like obvious advice then good, the less surprises the better. You must make your own judgements about what you can and cannot tolerate or live without for the course of your degree/program.

2. Most universities, if not all post-secondary institutions, are required by law to provide medical/dental insurance to incoming international students. First, figure out if you country of citizenship makes you exempt from using the sponsored service. If not, carefully read the policy of the sponsored insurance as well as any additional insurance providers that the university approves of. Study and compare the following: Contraception, abortion, pregnancy, fertility/infertility, sterilization, STD testing, pap smears, prostitution, coverage for dependents & Spouse, vision etc. Really, you should readd the entire policy but starting with the above, even if you don't think you will need it, will allow you to make some educated week-before-departure decisions like getting that pap smear out of the way, stock-piling contraception etc... This leads to..

2b) Contact the University clinic and ask about the cost of services. How much does it cost to see a nurse or a doctor. Is there a difference in cost when the visit is about sexual health versus mental health. In NZ there is and sometimes the policies will only cover a limited number of sexual health visits. Ask for them to send you their price list and compare to your insurance policy.

2c) Contact the University pharmacy (often the most convenient and sometimes cheaper place to get your prescription). Ask if they have your birth control/plan B/particular medication in stock and its cost. You may have to change brands or pay more due to what the government may deem as health risks particular to your b/c. Example: I took Marvelon in Canada at low cost via Blue Cross. In NZ, I was on the Uni insurance plan which didn't cover any contraception and my doctor tried to talk me out of Marvelon b/c it cost more in NZ due to the Heart Attack risk. I also paid more for being an international student.

3. Determine if contents insurance is available in the destination country. International students carry a lot of sweet tech gear with them that can be stolen or damaged anywhere and at anytime by anyone. Pick a provider and budget for it.

4. This may sound silly to some and even heterosexist but research the prices of your favourite condoms, lubes, and sex toys. You may want to think twice before ditching the astroglide and that supersized box of brand condoms that you like.

4a) The same could be said for almost any hair/face/body/comestic product. Take a brand like Sally Hensen, Cover Girl, N.Y.C, and see what goes for a regular price and what goes for a sale price. If you're a make-up fiend, your upcoming move will either be a boon or a bust in that area.

5. Need to replace the DIVA cup or interested in buying one? This would be the best time to do so. The last I heard, they cost 25$ Canadian. I just bought my first one for 54$ NZD. Now, in the conversion to Canadian dollars I've seem to have done okay but since you eventually end up living on the currency of the country you're living in, a 54$ dent in my account is the same as any other 54$ dent.

5a) On a related note and keeping with the economic theme of this post, sanitary products can take a huge bite out of a scholarship stipend/loan payment/limited income. Alternatives may become preferable. If you are already abroad when this happens, a good bet would be Organic/whole food stores.

6. Issues of citizenship: Depending on your situation, you can reduce your tution by applying for permanent residency thereby making you eligible to pay domestic fees. You can also dig around your family tree as you may be eligible for foreign citizenship through your parents or even grandparents. If you are taking your partner along and they are not student, you are not married, or you are not heterosexual, you will have extra work to do in terms of proving the stablity of the relationship and your independent eligibilities to work.

6a) On the other hand, students on scholarships should read the scholarship policy and be well versed in the conditions that will terminate/void their funding and how long they may remain in the country after they successfully complete their studies. You never know who you will meet or what you might want to do but don't risk losing a free ride due to common-law relationship rules or co-ed housing.

7. If you are going the student housing route, the one thing that you can do about your assignment is to be very clear if you want co-ed or single sex accommodations and that you absolutely do not want the other option. Be aware, however, that unless you are moving to a country were single sex housing is mandatory then you are unlikely to immediately live with students from your new home.

8. Contact a potential academic supervisor. It is surprising how many people will not do this but it is incredibly important for the international student. This should be done before you even apply to the program as you need to establish a relationship with this person, often for the sake of application forms and scholarships and VISAs. Once you find a school and department you like, contact the faculty member you are most interested in or write to the Head of Department to recommend a staff member.

Introduce yourself, your academic credentials, your latest thesis (if applicable) and your research interests. Tell hir why you might like to work with them and what they have available in terms of fellowships/TA/RA positions. Tell them when you intend to apply, for what degree, and ask if they will be available during that time. Also ask if, as someone with international qualifications, you will be required to do an extra semester or even an extra year at such-and-such institution before enrolling in the program that you desire.

9. Ensure that the institution/program that you want to attend is recognized by your country/accredited by the relevant and important organizations of your chosen profession. In Canada, one can receive Orphan's allowance until the age of 25 as long as they are attending school full time. Education can occur abroad but it must be at a school that the Canadian government recognizes. Just saying that the wrong school can mean the difference of an extra 200$ or so a month.

10. Ask your potential department about the universities Intellectual Property policy and how it will affect you research and, if applicable, your affiliation with 3rd party sponsors. This can impact your personal profit from the project down the line as well as your ability to publish results. One university has attempted to implement policies that take control of any and all IP created by students even if it is not related to anything that they are doing at the university. That attempt failed but if you are not aware of the conditions of the policy, you may find yourself signing away certain rights the minute you enroll. The Student Association/Union SHOULD be able to give you a list at the pros and cons of the current policy.

11. There are alot of things that you just are not going to understand until you get there and people sometimes are just not going to give you the complete picture. This is not always because people are manipulative or malicious but because they won't always understand you or the questions you ask. These include things like Internet, holidays, the weather, heating a house, etc. If it is possible, try Couchsurfing.com until you sort it out. Personally, I would advise to go with student housing for at least a semester so you will have time to learn by experience in a place that slightly better, safer, and warmer than the average student flat.

WHEN YOU GET THERE

1. Take a deep breath, drop yours luggage at your new place, and find a grocery store.

2. Find the nearest Internet cafe. This will be the quickest way to get online until you officially enroll and can then log-on on campus. 

Then go to campus IT and learn about internet costs and service. Why go wireless when it is only available sporadically around campus? would you use the net as much if you learned that you pay double for visiting international websites? What about paying by the Megabite? Think about your net usage and ask questions like how much would 30 minutes of Streaming Video cost?

As someone who doesn't youtube and watch all that many trailers but does download lots of articles and spends lots of time online reading, I easily use 4 to 4.5 GB a month at a cost of 30$ for 5 GBs. But that is the student housing deal where I lived. Off campus the same provider offered 1GB at the same price.

3. Say goodbye to TV as you know it. Some countries require you to buy a license for your TV. In others, your favourite shows can be a year behind schedule.

4. Read locally- Bitch Magazine can cost up to 18.99$ due to airfreight and book price inflate more than they deflate so reinvigorate that library card.

5. Read every possible university policy about your degree and its administration. Read about the appeals process, mid-term reviews, and grading. Know what you are responsible for and what your supervisor is responsible for. Record all interactions with supervisors, print it off, and store in a safe place.

Good Luck and Safe Traveling.

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3 Comments

February 17, 2009 4:59 AM

[0+]  Ziggy said:

Nice :) I'm leaving Holland this Friday to do fieldwork in Sana'a, Yemen for half a year. Some tips do not really apply (yemen is .. different), but it's great you're putting them up..

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February 17, 2009 6:56 AM

[0+]  K.Rae said:

I'm sick and can't concentrate long enough to read this piece in its entirety, but I'd like to add some advice (sorry if it's a repeat).

Know the number(s) to dial in case of an emergency, and the locations of local police stations and hospitals. This is doubly important if you don't speak the language and would have difficulty asking a random person for help.

I'm living in Germany right now, and early in my time here, I had an experience with a man trying to talk to me and following me for several minutes (I lost him by walking into a Starbucks). What was really frightening was the realization that if I had needed help, I didn't know what numbers to dial or even the closest police station. Be prepared!

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February 17, 2009 3:13 PM

[0+]  meganaut524 said:

THANK YOU! I am leaving to study for a year in the UK and I am constantly looking online for information. I didn't think I'd find such helpful stuff on my favorite blog. I am printing this and keeping in my school file. Good luck on your travels!

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