You might be excited to fly to your dream university, but do you forget to check all the safety measures?
Before going to the details, read this –
Back in 2007, a survey was conducted by Guardian’s Student Insight, which stated that –
A country being a safe place to study is currently the fifth most important influencing factor, which has collected over 160,000 responses from students around the world since 2007.
And the concern is still the same, with a gradual increase in fraudulence.
Hence, experts have presented below a detailed list of the criteria you must consider important to stay safe and prepared for any emergency.
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Table of Contents
Study the location you are going to
The best thing you can do to get ready is to study the place you’re going. Travel warnings for every nation are often updated by most countries’ state departments.
These warnings provide comprehensive details on the safest areas of the nation, the best public transit to use, the best times of year to visit, common travel scams, and more.
Recent guidebooks on Proofreading Service, like those from Rustic Pathways, are a fantastic addition to the official material because they include trustworthy local knowledge about cultural practices, etiquette, and the finest areas to stay.
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Learn about local culture & customs
As you investigate your destination, pay special attention to any laws or regional customs.
There may be different laws or cultural norms surrounding the university area. For example, suppose you need to go for a field trip for research and are unknown to the local government. It can cause a major hamper in terms of judicial cases.
So, you should do your homework in the areas nearby before you depart.
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Make emergency plans
Suppose you lost your backpack, which includes all your valid documents, including identity proof. Do you have the backups to recover?
This is one of the common mistakes every student makes. Note that, although soft copies will help you, you may lose them accidentally.
Hence, make at least 3 or 4 copies of the important documents, such as your passport, visa, university admission details, other IDs, passport photo etc. and keep them separately from the original ones.
Before you depart, make a note of or digitally preserve the phone numbers for the local embassy and consulate as well as emergency services.
To request assistance or alert a doctor to any allergies, learn a few simple words and phrases in the local language as well.
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Balance your health to match the local weather
If you have certain health issues, like indigestion, asthma, allergies etc., it’s always preferred to carry enough precautions to survive abroad for at least the first half of the year.
Take enough of any necessary medications to last the first couple of months, or make arrangements to have your prescription filled abroad. Having a sufficient supply is crucial because sending drugs by mail is typically against the law.
Even though many campuses have their own medical team, it won’t be a problem. However, it’s always preferred to carry a medically fit certificate so that you don’t have to undergo an extra scanning of your system.
You must also research the weather, and any recent virus spread if it occurs there. If so, either you need to take suitable vaccines, or you can prefer not to travel there.
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Stay “Digital safety”
In case your phone is stolen while you are abroad, it is a good idea to have a lock screen passcode.
In addition, many services, including Apple’s Find My iPhone and Google’s Find My Device, will let you remotely wipe your phone.
It might be a good idea to bring a “throwaway” phone that you can wipe when you get home if you’re travelling to a country with severely restricted internet access and a high likelihood of hacking.
Apart from university Wi-Fi, connecting to the Internet through unidentified networks, using a virtual private network or VPN service, may be beneficial.
Many countries let you buy a prepaid SIM card for service once you are there with your current smartphone or one you buy overseas.
However, if you’re bringing your own device, be sure your phone is unlocked and functional in the destination nation.
You can check WillMyPhoneWork.net as it helps you find out if your phone works overseas. Others will use open Wi-Fi, which is often accessible in most countries, or a mobile hotspot with roaming coverage.
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Take extra precautions for personal safety
Pickpocketing and baggage theft are two of the most frequent incidents faced by outsiders and even foreign students.
Use a technique like the OODA Loop to practise situational awareness. Here, Observe, Orient, Decide, Act, or OODA, is a strategy that helps you become aware of your surroundings and prepares you to respond effectively to criminal activity and other risks.
Keep track of your personal items and lock them up when you’re not looking. Also, avoid travelling at night if you’re planning a cycle ride to the nearby towns because the lighting and road conditions can be poor.
And, of course, there is an abundance of mischievous gangs and robbers everywhere. Hence, it won’t be difficult for you to choose the safer side.
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Avoid participating in unnecessary protest
Avoid participating in or going to huge gatherings or protests. While taking in a protest may be an interesting cultural lesson in the civics of the area, a protest could quickly turn violent or call for police intervention.
Even local pickpockets may occasionally use the event as a diversion. So, it’s wiser to be an audience to understand the decorum rather than being a part of it.
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Don’t Forget to Network
Just because the world is surrounded by evil people doesn’t mean you won’t stop exploring the good. This is why you still need to talk to your classmates.
Some of them might turn into true friends, while others might become acquaintances who can help you in your future professional endeavours.
A friendly reminder: As long as you exercise caution, attending parties can be a good way to meet people. However, various additional activities can help you connect with other students, including volunteering, amateur pursuits like student theatre, joining other student organisations, etc.
Maintaining contact with your foreign instructors is equally important. Who knows, perhaps you’ll get the chance to work here eventually.
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Holding Prejudices
One of the most exciting opportunities in your life might be the chance to study abroad. But you cannot ruin it by any preconception.
Don’t worry about the language barrier or ‘what if people there won’t be friendly to you’. Such issues occur only to those with narrow minds.
They view it as another item to mark off their list.
However, the experience is more than just travelling to a foreign country to attend a specific university; it is letting a new culture and new people teach you something significant.
Conclusion,
To keep a long story short, you should avoid going to extremes while studying abroad. Be vigilant, but also be receptive to fresh information. Rest, this blog is the guide to staying safe and being wiser.
Author Bio – Katie Brown has a PhD in Comparative Literature and is a professor hailing from London, the UK. She is also associated with the academic brand MyAssignmenthelp.com, where she offers help with nursing assignment help to students. In addition, Brown is a voracious reader with insatiable wanderlust.
