Packing bags is a crucial task for everyone, especially if you are a
student going to study abroad. You think of hundreds of things
which you may want to take with you. Baggage allowance is one
of the major factors to come between taking everything you
want. You need to consider the weight can take with you
otherwise you may face trouble on airport or will have to pay
extra money for it.

Every student wants to take everything they can with them as its
their rst time traveling abroad. It’s not just you, but your
parents also overwhelm you with things you should take. You
should keep in mind that most things are easily available in the
foreign country so you can skip taking those along with you. On
the other hand, there are few things that you can avoid taking
with you from saving yourself a burden packing list for studying abroad

Sheets/Linens

Bed sheets or linens, pillow covers, cushion covers, blankets and
everything furnishing. A total no for including them in your
packing list. Save yourself a huge space by not taking furnishing
items along with you abroad. Sheets or linens are found easily
wherever you go. Hostels and apartments with furniture provide
basic furnishing items so you will be good to go.

Food or Snacks

Like sheets and linens, food is available everywhere. You can take
little amount of snacks to munch on your ight but don’t consider packing food bags in your luggage. Even the smallest
bag will occupy a good amount of weight from your only allowed
luggage. You cna nd your preferred food brands in the country
you are going to study, if not, then you willnd its alternative.Either way you will bene.

Shampoo/Soap Hair Dryer, Curling Iron

Basic or everyday use electronics are easily available everywhere.
These electronics are heavy and will add weight to your luggage.

Books

If you need books for your college or university, buy them when
you reach your destination. For easy access or to be bulk-free, buy
ebooks. Ebooks are easy to take wherever you go and don’t add
any weight.

Shoes

Take only one or two pairs of shoes. One pair can be formal and
the other can be an everyday casual shoe. Again, shoes are heavy
even the lightest ones.

Hangers

This is an absolute no thing, believe it or not; hangers are heavy
and you will get them at cheap price in the country you are going
to study. For cheap hangers you can check the OP shops or
charity stores. Supermarkets have cheap hanger range available
all the time.
Let us know if we missed something or we should add something
to the list in the comments below.

Studying abroad means cultural change, coming across different cultures; meeting people from different walks of life, coming from different families. Studying abroad has a lot of things to offer with its basic advantage to provide education to you. Gain personal and professional benefits when you study abroad.

See a Whole New World

You get to see the world through your own eyes and by your own
ways. No more travel photographs of others, but you and your
visits to the places you wanted to see. Finding new restaurants,
taking the adventure lane, eating new delicious cuisines and so
much more comes in when you study abroad.

Education

Education is the base of studying abroad, it is your main goal.
Rest of the things are complementary to the package of studying
in a new country. Education qualification of a foreign country will add extra weight to your career in the long term.

Live in a New Culture

A new place means new cultures and traditions to see. Every place
has a different culture, customs, festivals and traditions that their
people follow. When you study abroad, you get to enjoy their
festivities and be part of their lifestyle as well.

Manage Your Finances

Living and studying abroad means doing everything on your own,
without any reminders from your family members. You learn to
pay your own bills on time, divide and save your money. This
makes you a more responsible person.

Finding New Interests

At times we leave trying new things and get comfortable with our
everyday lifestyle. Living in a different country, experiencing a new
life and making new friends change your life. Even if you don’t
hang out with your friends, you can sign up for different extracurricular activities, tours and adventures while you’re in the
country.

Make New Friends

As universities and colleges welcome students from all over the
world, it helps you make new friends. Making new friends help
you gain more knowledge about their culture and know about
them well. In a new country, your friends can also become a great
support system for you to hang on to.

Better Command Over Language

Moving to another country to study not only means adapting new
lifestyle but also means adapting the language people speak in
that country. Interacting with people from the native land helps
you improve your second language, which is spoken
gently by the natives.

Life Experience

Everything you do while studying in a foreign country adds to Ask Our Counselor perspective and attitude towards life. Experiences make a person live and learn new things.

Become More Independent

When you are in a different country, especially alone like studying
away from the comfort zone of your family and friends; you learn
to be more independent than you ever were. Getting things done,
making your meals, doing your laundry, managing your expenses,
studying for your college or university, etc., it all makes you an
independent person.

Career Opportunities

Adding educational qualifications after completing your studies
from abroad will help you have held on your career in a much
better way than it was otherwise. Your experience and education
of a new place always speak positively for you.

SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE FOR INDIAN STUDENTS IN USA

The United States is a one-stop destination for international students who wish to study in the most prestigious Institutes, Colleges, or Universities of USA. Most of the Indian students select the USA as the destination to study abroad. This is because the USA is one of the leading countries which provide quality education with a wide area of research and expertise. The expensive cost of education in the USA is an obstruction for some Indian students. To overcome this, there are financial aids, grants or scholarships which are offered to Indian students.

Scholarships can be of an immense help for the Indian Students towards nancing the future goals. Scholarships catch the attention of the Indian students so that they can study in USA and gain access to quality and global education of USA.
Scholarships available for Indian students in USA are Government-funded, Non-Governmental and University-specic scholarships. Some scholarships oered to Indian students are mentioned below:

Fulbright-Nehru Master’s Fellowships

Fulbright-Nehru Master’s Fellowships – This scholarship is given to international students for Master’s and PhD programs in the USA. More than 3000 students receive this scholarship including Indian students. It includes tuition fees, travel expenses, health insurance, living expenses etc. The eligibility and selection criteria vary in different countries.
Joint Japan World Bank Graduate (JJ/WBG) Scholarships for Joint

Japan World Bank Graduate (JJ/WBG) Scholarships for Developing Country Nationals –

Developing Country Nationals – This scholarship is provided to pursue graduate studies leading to a master’s degree. The Indian student must hold a Bachelor’s degree. This scholarship includes travel costs between the home country and the host country, tuition fees, cost of medical insurance and living expenses.

Agha Khan Foundation International Scholarship Program –

Agha Khan Foundation International Scholarship Program – This foundation provides a limited number of scholarships to the international students for Postgraduate studies. Indian students must have outstanding results to attain this scholarship. Those students who have no other means of financing the studies are also considered. Fifty per cent of the scholarship is a grant and the other fifty per cent is considered as loan which has to be reimbursed with an annual service charge of 5%. The deadline for submission of this scholarship application is 31 March.

UCD Global Excellence Undergraduate Scholarship UCD Global Excellence Undergraduate Scholarship

This scholarship is not awarded for Clinical programs, are merit-based and there are certain terms and conditions.
Tata Scholarship by Cornell University – Tata Scholarship by Cornell University – This scholarship is awarded annually for undergraduate studies to the Indian students. It is ensured that 20 scholars are provided for the scholarship. Indian students must have citizenship and have attended secondary school in India. The application deadline is mostly in February

Stanford Reliance Dhirubhai Fellowship –

Stanford Reliance Dhirubhai Fellowship – This is basically for Indian students who wish to obtain an MBA degree in the USA at Stanford. Up to 5 Indian students are selected based on their merit, commitment to developing India and financial need. Thus, it is one of the boons for Indian students.

Michigan State University International

Scholarships and many more Michigan State University International Scholarships and many more Universities or financial aid to Indian students …. Universities or financial aid to Indian students ….
There are many more scholarships provided as financial aid to the Indian students. Scholarships for Indian Students are partially or Scholarships for Indian Students are partially or fully provided to the students by different universities based on their academic scores and standardized test scores i.e. some scholarships are merit-based scholarships are merit-based which are offered to the Indian students. However, there is no thumb rule for eligibility to any type of scholarship. Some universities also oer scholarships based on the standardized tests like TOEFL/ SAT/GRE scores along with the academic results based on 4.0 grade point average (GPA) scales. However, scholarships based on scores of GRE and TOEFL are very less. The score must be above 165 in quantitative and verbal sections of GRE, 4.5 in analytical writing of GRE and above 110 in TOEFL to get a minimum scholarship. Most of the Universities and Colleges require 3.0 GPA (4.0 scale) to oer good amount of international scholarship to Indian students to study in USA. The GPA score requirement is also dierent in dierent Universities.
Scholarship application essays are also helpful in gaining Scholarship application essays are also helpful in gaining scholarships for Indian Students scholarships for Indian Students. Some scholarships are given if you pursue education in certain eld as listed in the scholarship eligibility criteria. Thus, a student needs to visit the particular website of the institution or organization which would oer dierent scholarships to the Indian students to study in USA.
Eligibility for scholarship to Indian Students entirely depends Eligibility for scholarship to Indian Students entirely depends upon the type of scholarship and the Universities or the funding upon the type of scholarship and the Universities or the funding organizations which provide scholarships. organizations which provide scholarships. To be on the safer side, it is always recommended to search that particular University’s website for scholarship in USA provided to Indian Students. For more details, the Indian students can contact the college college admission ocers admission ocers or the Financial Aid Experts Financial Aid Experts who are ready to help the students for the same. To avail the scholarship in USA, the Indian students can also contact the award administrator award administrator of that particular scholarship.

The student must rst apply to the graduate or an under graduate program of any institution or university to apply for a particular scholarship. This is because a scholarship application can be made only during application process to the graduate or undergraduate program in those universities of USA.
The international merit scholarship international merit scholarship is awarded by many universities in USA to Indian students who have strong academic strong academic achievement and outstanding talent or achievements achievement and outstanding talent or achievements. Note that, application deadlines are dierent for dierent Universities. The Indian students must have a check at the University’s website to know the deadlines and benets provided by the Universities to the students for their studies in USA.
The scholarship amount for Indian students may remain same or The scholarship amount for Indian students may remain same or vary depending upon the University vary depending upon the University for all the years of your course. The scholarship has to be renewed year-after-year in some universities of USA for which some criteria are specied by those universities to attain scholarship. Every institute has its own requirements and dierent nancial support.
Most of the scholarships are oered for Fall or Spring intake to Most of the scholarships are oered for Fall or Spring intake to the Indian students the Indian students. So students are advised to check the deadlines of the application for any Undergraduate or Graduate programs along with the application deadline for scholarships on the University’s website. A list of scholarships for Indian students is mentioned at the University’s website for the reference of the students who are likely to study in USA regardless of their nancial circumstances.
As a whole, the Indian students are advised to visit a particular University’s website or the ocial website of the scholarship granting Institutions to clarify and apply for the scholarship to avoid scams. After reading this article, the concerned Indian students can nd it easy to avail the required international scholarships and carry on their dream with a pool of scholarships available for Indian students to study in United States of America. Now, the goals are not too far to achieve as the steps to the destination are identied.

Moving abroad is a difficult task for everyone. You have to think about many aspects of living abroad. People think about various big and small details they should do before they move to another country. It is important for every student to keep in mind some pre-departure tips before they leave their home’s comfort zone and start a new life in a new and strange place.
We have compiled a brief yet important to follow pre-departure tips for every student going to study abroad. These pre-departure tips will help you be more confident about your journey as well as about your stay in a strange land among new people.

• Pack and take the things that you will require in your duration of staying abroad.
• Keep your travel documents safely in a place where they are easily accessible and you will not lose them.
• Plan your travel with an airline that lets you carry a good amount of baggage.
• Search about the weather conditions of your destination and keep clothes accordingly.
• Get currency converted to carry for your travel and to use it when you reach your destination. Also, check how much money you are allowed to carry when you travel.
• Buy an international SIM card if you can before you leave for studying abroad. It will be easier for you to stay connected with your family once you reach your destination.
• If you have a smartphone, then download some navigation apps for the city or country you are going to study in. You can also search and download apps that will be helpful in that city or country.
• Pack some ready-to-eat, easy-to-cook, and instant cooking food to avoid having expenses for food and to avoid sudden cuisine change.
• Take a universal travel adapter with you. It will help if the electricity sockets are of different design in the place.
• You can buy some gifts for your host family if you will be staying with a host family.

If there are some tips that you would like to share with other international students before they leave, then do comment below.

Studying abroad is a big and tough decision which you make, this decision might be taken under some inuence or by opinions or even with the preconceived notions which you got from your acquaintances or friends, etc. There are many myths and misconceptions connected to studying abroad. These myths and misconceptions dier from person to person and can have an impact on their perception to study abroad.

Myths and Misconceptions About Studying Abroad

It’s too late for me to study abroad

It’s too late for me to study abroad
Some people think that it was better if they went abroad to study right after their junior years, thus they conclude that it is late for them to go abroad for further studies. This is merely a misconception as there are so many options in graduate and postgraduate studies that you can take up and continue your studies abroad.

Choose university based on its world ranking

Choose a university-based on its world ranking While choosing a university to study, you must look at the course structure. It is important to look for the ranking of the university depending on the subject you are going to study. A university might rank differently on the individual course or eld of study.

Native or foreign language is a must

Native or foreign language is a must English is widely accepted in most of the countries. It is the social language in countries like the U.S.A, U.K., Canada, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, Scotland, Singapore, etc. Even in some other countries, English is a secondary language like in Turkey, Korea, Japan, Sweden, Germany, Thailand, etc. The language will not be a problem if you are willing to understand the environment of the country you will be studying in.

Studying abroad means traveling

Studying abroad means travelling to Studying abroad does not mean travelling and seeing the world. You may or may not get time to travel in or around the city depending on the studies you undertake. Some students think that they will have a lot of leisure time and can use that time to travel around.
Studying abroad is only for international relations majors or Studying abroad is only for international relations majors or related fields Students who go abroad to study take admissions in varied fields of different core subjects. Some even do specialization in very different eld which usually people don’t know about but are relevant and are required in the job market. So thinking that you can’t study abroad in different fields is absolutely wrong.
Studying abroad won’t make a difference to my career Studying abroad won’t make a difference to my career Getting a degree from abroad is helpful in boosting your career aspects. Some companies and organizations give preference to candidates who studied abroad compared to candidates who studied within their country. Studying abroad is also helpful in career as it reects that you are responsible and capable of taking new challenges and fullling the job role responsibilities.

It is better to study abroad after graduation

It is better to study abroad after graduation If you get an opportunity to study abroad after your high school then it is a right decision to make. As you will get exposure to studies and life of a new place at an early age compared to later years. People who study after their graduation are right as well as they gain almost same experience as a person who studies after high school.

Studying abroad is expensive and I can’t afford it

Studying abroad is expensive and I can’t afford it Studying abroad is considered to be expensive for most people. But it varies from country to country and from program to program. There are many universities that provide some kind of fee waivers. You can also apply for scholarships and bursaries. alternatively, you can get an educational loan or financial aid to pursue higher studies.

My score or grades haven’t been perfect

My score or grades haven’t been perfect Having perfect score or grades does is not important in a long term as long as you fulfill the criteria denied by the university or college you are looking forward to studying in. In addition to your academic score, some universities in many countries ask candidates to appear for aptitude or standardized tests such as GMAT, GRE, SAT, PSAT, etc. These tests help you as well as the universities to understand your capabilities in a much easier and better way.

Europe is the only place to study abroad

Including Europe, there are many places where you can go for higher studies. USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, China, Singapore, and more countries our undergraduate and postgraduate programs for international students.

Shortage of scholarships for studying abroad

Shortage of scholarships for studying abroad If you think that you require a scholarship but there are fewer opportunities to get a scholarship to pursue studies abroad then you’re wrong. Scholarships can be found based on department of education you are willing to take up,

university and also by awards and grants are given by hosting countries. There are multiple scholarships for a single course or department by many organizations and universities.

My parents will not allow me to study abroad

My parents will not allow me to study abroad Many students who went to study abroad are first in their family. Talk to your parents about study programs and opportunities that you can get by studying abroad. Take an appointment with a study abroad counsellor or a study abroad visa consultancy, this will make them have a better understanding of why studying abroad is a better choice and pathway for you.

Traveling independently offer the same experience

Travelling independently offers the same experience Traveling and studying are two different things, travelling can give you some life experiences but it will not give you in-depth information on various educational programs. Studying may include travelling sometimes but considering travelling over studying is not a systematic approach to getting an education.

Employers don’t consider studying abroad valuable

Employers don’t consider studying abroad valuable Studying abroad can give you a better understanding of academic, personal and professional life. This is valued by most of the employers who are looking for a cross-cultural competency, candidates who interact and collaborate with people from different parts of the world.

Applications in all universities are accepted till May

Applications in all universities are accepted till May Admissions and intake depend and may vary from country to country. Most universities around the world are open in the months of January and September. Application deadlines are different depending on some universities as well. It is important to check the yearly calendar or contact the university you are willing to study in for information regarding the deadline for an intake.

Baggage allowance is the most important thing that clicks every student’s mind after receiving their visa. There are various factors that must be considered while looking for international rights with student baggage allowance. Allowed baggage diers on the destination where you are going to study. It is also dependent on the route you are from. Some airlines provide excess student baggage allowance after completion of certain formalities and documentation, thus it is important to check baggage allowance details on the website of the airlines.

Usually, airlines allow up to 40 KGs baggage allowance to students. This may not be available across all airlines. Airlines such as Air India, Jet Airways, Thai Airlines, Southern China Airlines and few others provide 40 KGs or 2 piece check-in baggage for students. Where it is mentioned that 2 pieces are

Here is updated information on international baggage allowance for students:

Air India: Free Additional Baggage Allowance (Piece Concept): Free 1 additional piece to YYZ (max. weight 23kgs) valid on AI-AC codeshare over London(LHR) on AI 171 only for oneway travel. Free 1 additional piece to USA (max. weight 23kgs) valid up to Newark (EWR) on rights AI171/172 only and interior points via Newark connecting rights AI171/172 only. The Maharajah Scholar scheme is not applicable on AI191 for travel to Newark(EWR) Free 1 additional piece to the USA (max. weight 23kgs) valid up to New York(JFK)/Chicago and interior points via New York(JFK)/Chicago only. Free 1 additional piece to USA/(max weight 23kgs) valid up to San Fransisco (SFO) and interior point Via San Fransisco (SFO) only. Free 1 additional piece to the USA (max weight 23kgs) valid up to Washington and interior points via Washington only. Free 1 additional piece to the UK (max. weight 23kgs) valid up to London/Birmingham and interior points in UK/Europe via London only Free 1 additional piece to Osaka/Tokyo (max. weight 23kgs). Free 1 additional piece to Stockholm/Copenhagen/Frankfurt/Paris/Rome/Milan/Vienna/Madrid (max. weight 23kgs). Free 1 additional piece to Europe interior points via Stockholm/Copenhagen/Frankfurt/Paris/Rome/Milan/Vienna/Madrid/(Subject to one interline on through published fares without stopover en route) (max. weight 23kgs).

Free Additional Baggage Allowance (Weight Concept): Free additional baggage allowance (max. 20 kgs) to Singapore/Bangkok/Hong Kong/Shanghai/Seoul. Free additional baggage allowance (max. 20 kgs) to Sydney/Melbourne.

Free Additional Baggage Allowance (Piece Concept): Free 1 additional piece (max. weight 23kgs) over and above the Free Baggage allowance entitlement for Business class. Free Additional Baggage Allowance (Weight Concept): Free additional baggage allowance (max. 10 kgs) over and above the Free Baggage allowance entitlement for Business class.
Note: Cumulative MAXIMUM Baggage Allowance (Free Baggage Allowance + Additional Baggage Allowance) For Weight Concept in Economy class – 40 Kgs ONLY.
Source: Air India

Qatar Airways: Destination Baggage Allowance Atlanta / Boston / Chicago / Dallas – Fort Worth / Houston / Los Angeles / Miami / New York / Philadelphia / Washington – 3 pieces*
Amsterdam / Berlin / Brussels / Copenhagen / Dublin / Frankfurt / Moscow / Nice / Paris / Stockholm / Tbilisi / Warsaw – 40 kgs
Source: Qatar Airways

Qantas Airways On purchase of a one-way ticket to Australia or New Zealand, students get an additional 5 KGs baggage allowance. This offer is available to students on a “Student Visa” travelling from Mumbai or Delhi to Australia or New Zealand. The ticket must be purchased from Qantas website, through Qantas India contact centre on +91 22 61111818 or through eligible travel agents.
Source: Qantas Airways

Please note that the above-mentioned information is subject to change without prior notice. Thus, we request you to get in touch with respective airline customer service