Going to University Abroad: What to Do Upon Your Arrival
Going to University Abroad (3): What To Do Upon Your Arrival This is the last of the 3-part article titled "Going to University Abroad". To check the previous articles you can click here and here. Considering you have arrived in your country destination safe and sound, the next thing to think about is what to do next. As a foreigner in an unfamiliar place, it is important to do these things during the first week upon your arrival.
- Inform your host university
Most universities have Enrolment Day a couple days prior to orientation period in which enrolled students are required to re-register themselves. You need to bring several documents such as your Student Visa and Letter of Acceptance for Enrolment Day. Each major and faculty may have different dates for Enrolment Day so you need to check your university website. After that, you will receive your student ID which verifies that you are now officially a student of your host university.
- Report to your local Indonesia embassy / consulate
Most Indonesian students who study abroad underestimate the importance of informing the Indonesian embassy (KBRI) about your presence in that foreign country. KBRI would be the only Indonesian authority that can help you when you have legal issues, accidents, etc.
- Join student organizations
Try to join some student organizations in your university. It helps you to expand your interests, establish new contacts, and improve foreign language skills. Do not forget to contact the local PPI or any Indonesia-related organizations in your host university. It is always nice to have some friends who could also understand Bahasa.
- Open local bank accounts
You may be surprised that money transactions in your host country mostly do not require cash anymore – most advanced countries have become nearly "cashless". Thus, you need to open local bank accounts to save your money and use the debit or credit cards for your daily transactions. Choosing international banks such as HSBC, Citibank, Commonwealth Bank or ANZ which also have branches in Indonesia can make cross-country money transfer easier. 5. Get your local mobile number This is one of the most important things to do as soon as you arrive. You want to inform your family that you have arrived. Chances are you will need internet data in your phone to navigate the foreign country as well. Mostly, every country has various mobile operators. Do some research or ask your local friends to pick the one with the best offer. Things to consider include the limit of internet data, international calls, network coverage, and price.
- Memorize places
Take time to memorize places such as classrooms, cafeteria, libraries, parking lots, department stores, shops or any other place that you may visit frequently. Pick a city map (available for free on tourist desk at the airport) and learn the routes and which public transportations you would need to visit such places. After you have reliable internet connection, you can always use Google Maps. Once you have them in your mind, it will save your time.
- Visit the library
Once you are enrolled and have a student ID, you will have access to your university portal where you can find detailed information about your classes including the reference books you need to borrow from the library. This series of articles cover most of the important things you need to know about starting your journey abroad. We hope that these articles could help you settle and study better. If you still have further questions about study abroad and foreign university admission, you can always contact us. We would be glad to assist you J
