What to do in your first week of studying abroad

Your first week in your host country is simultaneously the most exciting and nerve wracking time of your year abroad. It can feel overwhelming as there’s usually plenty of admin to do. However, this is also just the start of a great adventure. Here’s your guide on what to do in your first week of studying abroad!

Update and validate visa

It’s number one because it is the most important thing you need to do during your first week. You might think your visa process is done because you have the stamp in your passport, but alas there is one final hurdle. Thankfully, this hurdle is not insurmountable and usually just takes a few minutes. Most countries require you to validate your visa when you reach your host country. This usually entails either a quick form online or a trip to a police station, where they’ll do it for you. They normally give you a few weeks to do this. However, it’s best to rip the plaster off straight away. Life can get busy and this is the one thing you do not want to forget.

Figuring out public transport

If you are lucky enough to live in a city with a good public transport system, try to get acquainted with it ASAP! Life is that much easier when you know what buses and metros you’ll be needing the most, where they go, where to catch them, etc. Figure out which ones will be the most relevant to you and disregard the ones that you won’t be needing. The best way to weed out the irrelevant routes from the useful ones is Google Maps. Enter in where you’re staying and the places you’ll be heading the most (like campus) and click the public transport icon. It’ll bring up the station and the bus/metro you’ll need. No need to stare aimlessly at a map!

Amenities

This goes hand-in-hand with the former task on your to-do list. Locate your closest markets, supermarkets and pharmacies and figure out the routes. Places really do start to feel like home when you can get around on auto-pilot and by locating your closest amenities, you’ll start to feel more comfortable in your new local area.

Registering at uni

Different universities have different processes for international students and their registration. During my first week, I had to go to the admin centre of my university and register. I had to supply proof of my visa, my acceptance letter into the university and proof of registration at my home university. This is all paperwork you’ll have submitted during your visa process. Registering at my host university did not take long. Check your emails to see when you need to register.

Sign up to classes

Again, the process of signing up to classes looks different depending on the institution. I strongly suggest talking to students from your home university who attended the same host university to get the inside scoop on what classes to choose and which ones to avoid! Talk to the coordinator of your exchange programme as well. They will help you with your timetable, obtaining the right amount of ECTs, etc. I had to sign up for classes in person. You should receive an email from your university that will explain how, where and when you need to complete this process!

Make Your New Room a Home!

The temporary nature of a university room might tempt you to believe it pointless to decorate your new place. But do not fall for this! There’s no need to spend tons of money on stuff you’ll just need to ship back, but there are a few ways to cheaply decorate your space. I recommend using apps like FreePrints to have some photos to put around your room. Bring home comforts and make your space your own!

International Students Events

Universities host welcome events for all their incoming international students. These are incredible places to meet new people who are all in the same position as you! There are usually Erasmus/international Instagram pages where all the events are publicised, so make sure to be following them. Try to attend one international event in your first week. Even if you don’t come away with an entire new friend group, you’ll at least have some friendly faces in your classes!

Tick Something Your Study Abroad Bucket List

You might remember in this Unifresher guide how important it is to plan exciting things for your year abroad. If you can, try to tick something off in your first week. I studied in Rouen, which is just shy of two hours from Paris. I had never been before, so I made sure to go within the first few days. You want to stay excited about this whole experience and giving yourself a taste of the next year will help you to do so!

Food!!!

When you land, immediately eat some good food! As I mentioned, I lived in France and one of my first stops was to a bakery. Make a list of everything you want to try so you have more to look forward to. In the first week, you need to keep your excitement levels high so you can help fight against some of that inevitable homesickness and food is the best way to do it! Don’t put too much pressure on your first week abroad to be the best week of your entire life. It will be fun if you make it fun. However, there will be the stress of admin and unpacking that might detract from that goal. Focus on meeting new people, settling in and getting those little tasks done. These tips alongside the tips in this Unifresher guide to preparing for a year abroad, which will help you set yourself up for success!