Essential non-academic questions to consider before studying abroad

Language barriers and how easy they will be to overcome

Your degree abroad might be taught in a foreign language. In that case, the university must have required proof of upper intermediate or advanced proficiency in that language.

French universities, for example, require a B1 to C1 level in French from international students for courses taught in the local language. For degrees in literature or other fields that depend a lot on language, such as law and communications, an advanced C1 level is usually needed. Yet, many programs are also now taught in English to attract a more diverse range of international students. In the case of France, Campus France provides a lot of programs taught in English in French universities. Even if you're applying for a course taught in English, these are a few questions you should ask yourself:

• How proficient will you need to be in the local language to get by in everyday life? To buy groceries, communicate with your landlord, book a taxi, and make local friends? If your language level is too low, you might find yourself isolated, even if you're able to study for your course.
• Are the locals in your study destination multilingual, and is the average level of English there high enough for them to talk with you when your ability to use the local language fails?

For instance, as shown by statistics of EF Education First, while China has many great universities that welcome international students, the level of English proficiency among the local population of smaller cities, for example Guangzhou and Chongqing, remains quite low. These cities are home to top public universities; Chongqing University is among the top 500 of the QS World University Rankings 2025. Yet, an international student studying in Chongqing who only speaks elementary or lower intermediate Chinese might struggle to integrate and fully enjoy what the city has to offer.

• How much time and money do you have to invest in language classes before moving abroad to study? Consider taking a few months off to dedicate yourself fully to learning the language.
• After starting your degree, how much free time will you have outside of your degree coursework to take extra language classes and strengthen your skills in the local language?
• Do you have friends or relatives in your study destination who are fluent in both your native language and the local language? Could they help you as interpreters during your first weeks as you adapt to everything that's new?

In the major English-speaking study abroad destinations, that is, the US, the UK, Australia, and Canada, Chinese students make up a high percentage of all international students. A major adaptation challenge they face is limited English proficiency. While they need to pass the IELTS test to get admitted to British universities, they often do so by rote learning the language just to pass the exam. Once they arrive in the UK, they struggle with actual communication that is more spontaneous than a standardized test.

This leads them to become isolated, suffer from declining mental health, and even drop out.

The plight of Chinese international students highlights the importance of developing real communicative competence in the local language of your study destination. If you don't feel confident about this, you might want to consider one of these options:

• Attend your university's summer school before your fall semester and actual degree start. Many universities offer special language classes during the summer months.
• Live with a bilingual host family during the course of your studies, so they can guide you in developing real communicative proficiency and keep you from getting socially isolated.
• Choose another study destination where your native language is commonly spoken.

The cost of living and your ability to maintain a good standard of living

Tuition fees can often be only half or even less of the total cost of studying abroad. A lot of your money will go towards rent, other academic expenses like textbooks, groceries, and entertainment. You should be careful to research how much it would actually cost to live a decent life in the exact city or town where your university is located. Here are the important questions and issues you should consider:

• What kind of student lifestyle do you want to have? Would you be OK with mainly eating from the university canteen or having to cook, or would you like to be able to order takeout? Do you want to be able to afford student entertainment like clubbing, going to the cinema and theatre, and traveling with friends during the spring or summer break? Are the cost of living of the city, the lifestyle you want, and your budget compatible?
• Where is funding coming from? Will you receive a stipend as a form of financial aid from your university? Does your student visa allow you to work part-time, and will that work be limited to jobs on campus?

Weigh the pros and cons of studying in big cities like London, Perth, or New York. These cities offer an exciting student experience because they are full of museums, bars and clubs, bookstores and open mics, public talks by world-famous artists and intellectuals, parks, and historic heritage sites.

In fact, London has been ranked as the best student city in the world for the seventh consecutive year by QS Best Student Cities 2025. Some of the reasons cited are that it is incredibly cosmopolitan, has plenty of culture, entertainment, and green spaces for students, and is home to the headquarters of many companies that recruit new graduates. Here's the hitch: its affordability rating as a destination is 21.3 out of 100. While international students in the rest of the UK can live off £1,000 (1,200 USD) or slightly less per month, in London, they need around £1,500 (1,800 USD).

The example of London illustrates that, as a prospective international student, you may face a choice between an exciting yet expensive metropolis and a quieter, more budget-friendly small city or town. In a smaller city or town, you could afford to rent a more spacious room (or even apartment!) and potentially avoid the need for part-time work, but this might come at the expense of a less socially and culturally vibrant study-abroad experience.

Opportunities to live and work in the country after graduating

For many international students, studying abroad is the first step in a long-term plan to work in that country as expats. Others might be undecided about where they want to be in 3-4 years' time, but they still want to keep the door open to working in their study destination after graduating as one potential path. This is why it's essential not only to look into the quality of the universities when researching a study destination but also to consider the work visa options offered by the state and the skills in demand in its labor market. These are some questions to ask yourself:

• Is the field you will study in high demand in your study destination? For example, as Australia is facing a skills shortage in software engineering, an international student who moves to Australia to study computer science has a high chance of getting hired there after graduating. If you are studying a field that is already saturated, you should at least have a Plan B of moving back home after graduating, because it might be harder for you to land a job there.
• Does a work visa specifically designed for international graduates of the country's universities exist, such as the Post-Completion Optional Practical Training (OPT) work permit in the US? If yes, are there restrictions on who can apply for it (field of study, age, minimum income for your first job there)? How much does it cost?
• Is there the possibility of renewing your first work visa after graduating, and does that eventually lead to permanent residency and citizenship?