Have you received a wonderful opportunity to study abroad? Well, this is really great thing but before you move ahead there are certainly many things that you need to prepare before leaving. Going abroad whether it is for studying or for any other purpose means you'll be going to a completely different country, probably with a different language, foods, cultures and traditions. This is obviously very exciting to this you will be able to experience this but from the practical perspective you will need to thoroughly prepare so that you can cope with the changes you will experience. Given sufficient time however there are some simple things you can do to help ensure you minimize the chance of problems when landing in your destination country and also ensure your study abroad experience is a positive one.

Here are few of the things that you should thoroughly prepare:

• Check out whether the institution where you would study is reputed enough or not. This is important to find out because once you have already invested your money you will not have the opportunity to make this decision again. So beware and ensure you have thoroughly researched your preferred educational institution before making the decision to pay fees. It's also worth investigating what, if any, insurances or government supports are available for international students in your destination country. For example, in Australia, certain safe guards exist to ensure that if a school or educational institution goes out of business, students will be able to transfer to another school without being financially disadvantaged. It may also be worth approaching an education consultant with knowledge of your destination country to assist in gaining the information you need.
• Give some thought to your preferred accommodation and the place where you would like to stay. Once you reach your destination it may be difficult for you to find a place to stay. Therefore as soon as you get the chance to study abroad, it would be better for you to start looking up for places where you would be able to stay. Although not the preferred option for everyone, many international students start living in Home Stay when they first arrive. This gives them an opportunity to live with a family in the destination country and adjust to their sounding before making the decision to live out on their own.
• Though English is a language used every where, if English is your second language and you plan on studying in an English speaking country it would be very advantageous if you start learning the language, or even just the basics, before you leave. Regardless of the country in which are you are studying, and the spoken language, by having some language skills you will be able to more easily make friends and intern learn some of the countries culture.
• It is of course great to study abroad but are you mentally prepared? Mental preparation is essential because you would not only be leaving your own country and settling in a completely foreign country; but at the same time you would have to leave your friends, family and your surroundings. This is definitely very important and something you should be ready for. In the initial stages, it is not uncommon for international students to experience "culture shock" or "home sickness" when you are n adjusting yourself to completely foreign environment but in course of time every thing would be fine. Moreover, how can you forget the knowledge that you would gain in your subject when you study abroad? Keeping this in mind can definitely help you in your mental preparation.

Do you know someone that has studied abroad? Perhaps a friend or family member? If so, why not speak with them about their experience abroad to help you prepare for your trip. Studying abroad is a great experience and with some careful preparation, perhaps using some or all of the steps above, you will ensure your study abroad experience is positive and that you get the move out of the experience.

I made the decision and was able to study abroad in Australia. One of the best resources I found available for study abroad assistance was an Education Agency by the name of The Oak Education providing free advice and assistance to international students. They have an online chat facility so you can chat for free to an education consultant with any questions you may be about your study abroad options.