The Perks of Studying Abroad with a Third-Party Provider

Studying abroad is a fantastic thing. You get to see the world and meet new people, all while gaining an international education. However, getting there can be a logistical challenge for some, with many administrative obstacles to overcome in the process. Thankfully, international students can use the assistance of a third-party provider to make their journey abroad much easier.

Read on to discover the perks of studying abroad with a third-party provider!

A third-party program provider is a company independent of any university that arranges study abroad opportunities for students worldwide. They provide unrivaled support when it comes to pre-departure preparation and your in-country experience.

When you pay for study abroad with a third-party provider, the following is typically included:

• Tuition and fees associated with the overseas university
• Housing
• Visa support
• Health and/or travel insurance
• Orientation to the country and university
• Excursions and cultural activities
• On-site staff support
• 24/7 emergency support

Working with a third-party provider means all you have to worry about is picking a program, applying, and packing your bag. That’s it!

Third-party providers take all of the guesswork out of the study abroad process. Even before leaving for your new host country, a third-party program helps you obtain your passport and visa, works directly with your university to ensure you get transferable credit, helps you organize your round-trip flights, and much more logistical support.

The visa process in particular can be unfamiliar for many travelers, and not just international students who lack travel experience. A third-party program will let you know exactly which study abroad visa you qualify for and how to apply for it to ensure smooth travel.

Additionally, you’ll receive a wealth of info through cultural guides and social etiquette tips for your new country. This can help you understand more about what to anticipate and minimize feelings of culture shock.

While this is a more expensive option than direct enrollment or a university exchange program, you may be eligible for financial aid through your third-party program providers.

Scholarships and grants can offer financial aid that partially - or even fully - covers the study abroad fee. Thousands of dollars of study abroad scholarships and grants go unclaimed each year because students are unaware of them!

The support you’ll receive doesn’t stop once you’ve arrived at your new destination. Most third-party providers have onsite staff who are on-call to provide advice, support, and information for students abroad.

Your study abroad and enrollment advisors often have direct experience in studying abroad and have plenty of cultural knowledge. They can help you communicate with professors, landlords, and locals, and provide on and off-campus resources.

Whether you need some advice on cultural excursions, medical facilities, hidden gems in town, travel resources, social clubs, or something else, your in-country study abroad and enrollment advisors can provide you with expert knowledge.

Regarding more serious situations, your study abroad advisors can provide swift guidance. Emergencies can happen anywhere in the world, and being abroad doesn’t exempt you from personal issues, so it’s good to have someone you can rely on.

One of the most stressful aspects of studying abroad is organizing accommodation. Finding the right place to live, organizing viewings, and understanding the different neighborhoods can be difficult especially when you’re not even in the country yet. If you don’t speak the local language, this can add an extra layer of stress.

In most cases, your third-party program provider will take care of accommodation for you because housing is included in the overall fee. This means that you can book your flights, and enter your new home hassle-free! Your third-party program may provide you with several options such as a private room in student housing, a homestay with a local family, or shared accommodation with other students.

Read more: Everything You Need to Know About Study Abroad Housing

Another hassle many international students face is getting the right health insurance. With so many options to consider, it can be hard to make a decision.

Your third-party provider may equip you with a comprehensive health insurance package to ensure your safety overseas. This security can grant you peace of mind throughout your study abroad experience.

If you have any pre-existing medical conditions, be sure to mention them to your program provider. Additionally, you should obtain travel insurance - such as World Nomads - to maximize coverage and security when it comes to things such as theft, delayed flights, and more.

With a third-party provider, you’ll potentially have access to greater internship opportunities. Getting an education is one thing, but getting your foot in the door of your desired industry is another.

Studying abroad with a third-party provider will bring many professional benefits for graduates because they can offer guaranteed internship placements as a feature of your study abroad program. This internship may be included, or it may come at an additional fee. However, the additional fee is worth the hassle-free admission, which means that you don’t have to scour the internet for hours, submit endless applications, and wait indefinitely to hear back from employers.

In addition to the valuable work experience that you’ll gain as a part of your internship, the networking potential will greatly benefit your professional career.

Read more: What Are the Benefits of Study Abroad Internship Programs?

It can be intimidating moving to an entirely new place without your friends or family members. By studying abroad with a third-party provider though, you’ll make friends much easier.

Your third-party program will likely organize an orientation, cultural excursions, social events, and more, especially during the early stages of your study abroad experience. This will give you the opportunity to make new friends right away, often before you even start classes. You may even share accommodation with other students in this program, making it even easier to form new connections with amazing people!

Read more: How to Make Friends While Studying Abroad

Not only will your study abroad advisor have experience and insight when it comes to domestic travel in your new country, but they may even facilitate cultural excursions and activities. Most programs offer several day trips and overnight excursions designed to help familiarize students with areas of their host city, country, and surrounding region.

This can help students integrate and form new friendships, experience greater levels of cultural immersion and integration into their new home and community, and see the world! Better yet, more often than not these excursions, including transportation, are built into your tuition – meaning all you need to worry about paying for is food and gifts!

Culture shock is a necessary evil when it comes to long-term traveling. It can be caused by various things and manifests in different ways. Whether you’re annoyed by the crazy traffic in Vietnam, the fast-paced lifestyle of London, or the difficulties of learning Mandarin, these can be symptoms of resentment that can stem from culture shock.

Ultimately, while culture shock isn’t fun, we can grow from it - as long as we have an effective support network and a positive mindset. A third-party program can reduce culture shock significantly because not only does it give you a boost in making friends through your cohort - allowing for a greater support network - but you’ll receive 24/7 support throughout your stay. You can always ask your study abroad advisor or program coordinator for advice and insight.

It’s true that a third-party program will offer pre-departure and in-country support, but what about after the program finishes? Well, you’ll be pleased to hear that their support continues beyond the program's end date.

When it comes to job hunting, your third-party program can provide letters of recommendation to your potential employers. In addition to bolstering your academic transcripts, a letter of recommendation and personal reference from an established study abroad program can pay dividends in your postgraduate or professional career.

With so many third-party programs at unique institutions and different locations, it’s easier to break down the general study abroad process into simple steps.

• Choose a location: Don’t forget that you’ll have a life outside the classroom! You’ll want to choose a study abroad location that can facilitate the lifestyle that you want. Consider what sort of climate, culture, food, and landscape you want to immerse yourself in.
• Find a program: Once you’ve narrowed down the location, you can focus on finding a program here. Whether you want to learn Spanish in Spain, study engineering in Germany, or hone your business skills in London, you can find a range of third-party program providers right here on Go Overseas.
• Gather necessary documents: Allow yourself plenty of time to gather documents such as academic transcripts, referrals, letters of recommendation, and more to avoid hiccups down the line. The sooner you have these documents in order, the swifter your acceptance will be!
• Apply: Once you’ve found your dream study abroad program, there’s nothing left to do but apply! You’ll need to submit an online application and upload the required documents to your provider. Don’t forget to stick to the deadlines to ensure you’re able to secure your spot abroad.
• Book your flights and apply for your visa: Congratulations! Once you’ve completed the onboarding process, the next step will be to book your flights and apply for your visa. Your third-party program will help you with these steps!

To give you an idea of how much studying abroad costs per semester with a third-party provider, here’s a look at some popular countries around the world.

• Japan: $8,000 to $25,000
• South Korea: $10,000 to $20,000
• China: $7,500-$12,000
• Germany: $5,000 to $20,000
• Spain: $10,000 to $20,000
• France: $5,000 to $15,000
• England: $14,000 to $25,000
• Italy: $15,000 to $20,000

Read more: How Much Does it Cost to Study Abroad?

Studying abroad can be an overwhelming process, but it doesn’t have to be. Whether you’re stressed over the logistics, culture shock, or adapting to a new location, you’ll always receive support when you study abroad with a third-party program provider. These programs thrive off of the students’ positive study abroad experiences, so you will be at the forefront of their priorities!

Read more about studying abroad:

• How to Ace Your Study Abroad Application
• How Much Does it Cost to Study Abroad?
• 50+ Scholarships & Grants for Study Abroad