Are you one of thousands of high school
and/or university students planning to study abroad during the upcoming school
year? Have you decided yet where you
will stay during the course of your study abroad program? Studying abroad is a dream shared by a countless
number of young adults, and the types of available accommodations for
international students will usually depend on a number of factors, including
the type of program in which you enroll, the country and/or university at which
you plan to study, available transportation and, of course, price. It can be a difficult decision to make, and
in most cases it is a decision that needs to be made quickly, so as to
guarantee you reserve a residence that’s right for you. To help you get
started, below we have compiled a short list of the potential accommodations
for international students, along with some of the advantages and disadvantages
of each type of residence.
Accommodations
for International Students: The Pros and
Cons of Residence Halls and Student Apartments
Once you have decided on a country you would
like to visit and located an appropriate study abroad program, the next thing
you will need to decide is where you will stay while participating in the
program. This can be a painstaking
process, but once you understand the pros and cons of each of your options, you
will invariably find it much easier to make an informed decision that best suits
your interests and personality. Two of
the potential accommodations for
international students, along with some of the advantages and
disadvantages of each, are listed below:
Accommodations
for international Students: Residence
Hall
A residence hall, also called a dormitory or
dorm in some countries, is an on-campus student housing option that is very
popular among individuals studying abroad.
Typically, a residence hall is located on or close to school grounds and
features a few large common rooms and dozens of smaller rooms known as living
quarters. Students will usually share a small
room with one or more students—rooms that contain just enough space for beds, a
desk and various closets or cabinets where both you and your roommate can store
your clothes and a few belongings. The
larger common rooms in a residence hall can include a large gathering room with
sofas, chairs and games, a place where you and other students can socialize,
recreate or simply watch television together; a kitchen area, a laundry room;
and a quiet area, where you can study, either alone or with others.
The advantages of living in a residence hall
are many, beginning with the proximity to classrooms and other school
amenities. You will be able to walk to
your classes, participate in college functions, watch games, and eat meals in
the school cafeteria. Living in a
residence hall will allow you to take in the whole college experience and make
lasting friendships you will never forget.
However, there are a couple of disadvantages you may not have
considered. Your privacy may be limited
in this type of living arrangement, and because there are several rules you
must follow, a residence hall may not provide the freedom and independence you
seek. Additionally, because this type of
arrangement is so very popular, spots may be limited, so you will need to act
quickly to ensure the university has room to accommodate you.
Accommodations
for International Students: Renting an Apartment
or Flat
Living in an off-campus apartment or flat,
either alone or with one or more roommates, is also one of the more popular accommodations
for international students—one with several advantages. First of all, there are no rules to follow
when living in an apartment, so if the feeling of independence and the freedom to
create your own schedule (outside of your studies) appeals to you, this may be
the perfect residential option. However,
before you sign on the dotted line, consider some of the potential drawbacks to
this type of arrangement:
·
Price. Residing in an apartment or flat can quickly
get expensive, especially when you consider meals and other expenses.
·
Transportation. How will you get to your classes? Is there reliable public transportation? These questions must be considered before
deciding to rent a flat or apartment.
·
Friends. Unlike living in a residence hall, where you
will be surrounded by like-minded students, living alone in a flat—in a country
in which you are not familiar or totally comfortable—may get lonely.
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