Study Abroad | Parents' guide for sending their children for overseas studies

Sending your child overseas for their studies can be both an exciting and worrying experience any parent can have. This is especially true in a post-COVID world where health concerns are top of mind.

While you know the immense benefits studying abroad can bring, you are also concerned about if your child can adapt. If it’s your child’s first time travelling and living without you for an extended period of time, it’s natural to want to be involved in helping them prepare for their adventure overseas.

However, instead of worrying, it’s more productive to have a set of plans to help settle the essentials.

From staying in touch with technology to preparing their accommodation plans, here’s a game plan to ensure your child is well-prepared and taken care of while they study abroad.

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The guide for sending your child to study overseas: 6 things to do

1. Stay informed with communication apps

Step one is to ensure you and your child are always in constant communication. Whether they are boarding the plane or touching down at their study destination, you want to make sure the lines of communication are set.

There are many communication apps such as WhatsApp or Telegram that allow you to stay in touch and talk instantly with them. Not only do you save on roaming costs, all they need is a Wi-Fi or internet connection.

Be sure to set up group chats on these apps that will allow you to share important information that can include: - Family dates and events - Emergency announcements - Current policy and news in their study destination

You’d also want to schedule a few calls with them, especially an arrival call and a few more once they get settled in.

2. Calculate their budgets beforehand

It’s easy to underestimate the amount of money you need, especially when you are going to travel and live overseas.

From exchange rates to daily expenses, it’s important for you to play a leading role when it comes to finances.

Be sure to sit down and calculate: - Their accommodation fees - School allowances for college textbooks - The daily cost of living (that includes food, transportation and insurance) - Any medical expenses and medication costs - Funds for entertainment and travel

Once you have down the figures, you can easily calculate the monthly budget your child needs. This will help them understand how to budget their expenses and if they need to work part-time while they study.

3. Prepare their bank accounts and details

Most international students will have to open their overseas bank accounts once they reach their study destination. But that doesn’t mean you can’t help to assist them with the process!

It’s important to get all their documents in check. That will mean their student visa, university acceptance letter and their identity card.

For some destinations like the United States, they will have to get a Social Security number (SSN) to open a bank account.

You can also give instructions to relay you their bank account number so that you can send them funds through international wire transfers instead of letting them walk around with huge amounts of cash.

4. Confirm their accommodation plans

Whether your child is staying in a campus dormitory or in a private apartment somewhere in the city, you want to be on top of this as well!

Here are some things that you’d want to confirm if it's a campus dorm: - Their accommodation plans and acceptance letter - Date of move-in and move-out - The address and contact information of their university dorm

If this is a private apartment, you’d want to make sure the lease agreement is signed with the downpayment already paid.

You want to also ensure that your child understands how to get to the apartment or house and the procedure for handing over the keys!

5. Double confirm health and safety issues

As we move through the pandemic, there are still many health and safety issues we need to be aware of and guard against.

One key aspect you can help with is to prepare them for any potential health issues that might crop up. This could be preventive measures they can take while they are travelling or in public, such as wearing masks.

This could also be helping them purchase travel and health insurance beforehand.

While every country and government have their own safety system, it is important for your child to be aware of how to reach the authorities. Giving them a list of critical contact numbers is essential.

6. Provide contact to SES services

If you need additional help, at IDP, we help parents and students get settled into their new study destinations with our resources.

Here is the link to our Student Essential Services (SES): https://www.idp.com/hongkong/student-essentials/

In addition, you can also approach our IDP onshore offices at the various student destinations here.

Plan your child’s study abroad adventure with IDP

Need help to select the right university for your child? If you are seeking tailored advice in their course selection or need help preparing them to study overseas, we can help.

At IDP, our expert team of education counsellors will help you through the entire application process, from course selection to preparing your accommodation.

This means you’ll be selecting the right course at the right institution and avoiding any pitfalls along the way. We’ll help guide you toward your best decision possible!

Get started with a free counselling session today.

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