EARN A TOP 10 US DEGREE IN CHINA

Duke Kunshan University is the first Sino-American university partnership involving a top 10 ranked U.S. university. The product of a partnership between the prestigious Duke University and China’s renowned Wuhan University, our mission is to create a world-class university in China that offers a wide range of academic programs for students from around the world.

Located in scenic Kunshan, in Jiangsu province, the Duke Kunshan campus sits within the stunning Kunshan Yangcheng Lake Science Park while boasting state-of-the-art facilities to provide students a perfect environment for achieving their full potential. At the heart of the Yangtze River Delta, China’s economic powerhouse, students will not only be living in the wealthiest county level city in China, but will also be less than a 20-minute ride by high-speed rail to Shanghai and Suzhou.

Undergraduate Admissions China

Duke Kunshan will launch a new four-year undergraduate program in the fall of 2018. The Duke Kunshan undergraduate program includes an option of a two-semester experience at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina, culminating in a degree from Duke Kunshan University in China, a degree from Duke University in the U.S., and the prestige of joining the Duke alumni community. Though courses will be taught in English, non-Chinese students will be required to take Mandarin courses, allowing them to be fully immersed in Chinese culture and society while they study here.

The curriculum is based on an interdisciplinary liberal arts and sciences curriculum designed by Duke University. It will allow for students to explore a variety of subjects before deciding on a major at the end of their second year. Currently, Duke Kunshan has eight undergraduate majors. Additional majors, including interdisciplinary humanities majors and social science majors, will be introduced in the next two years. By 2020, when the first cohort of students is set to declare their majors, there will be over 20 majors from which to choose.

To cultivate a truly diverse and global environment for students, Duke Kunshan’s first cohort of 225 students will include at least 50 overseas students. In the years ahead, Duke Kunshan will steadily increase class sizes to reach a full capacity of 2,000 undergraduate students with a 60/40 mix between Chinese mainland students and students from other regions around the world, respectively.

When students apply for undergraduate admissions, they will be applying for the opportunity to join a diverse community of exceptional students striving to succeed on an international level. Students at Duke Kunshan are given a world-class education from passionate professors who are the foremost leaders in their fields. With an innovative curriculum and an international learning environment, our undergraduates will leave with the practical experience and knowledge needed to become the leaders of tomorrow.

Graduate Admissions China

Duke Kunshan’s graduate program is designed to offer a global learning environment for graduate studies in China. Our curriculum is designed by Duke University and taught through the innovative and global oriented approach of Duke Kunshan. We prioritize a well-rounded educational style that encourages creative thinking. Each semester, acclaimed professors from Duke University come to the Duke Kunshan campus to conduct research, teach, and connect with students.

Students will have the choice of spending a semester at Duke University or conducting research in a different country. The international nature of Duke Kunshan’s program will allow students to develop valuable intercultural and interpersonal skills, enhancing their leadership potential and opening doors to a wide variety of career opportunities.

Scholarships

For Graduate Students

Duke Kunshan welcomes applicants from all over the world; we seek the brightest minds, regardless of country of origin, culture, ethnicity, or socioeconomic status. Following this philosophy, every student in our graduate program is automatically considered for a merit-based scholarship based on their application.

For International Graduate Students

As the world is becoming increasingly connected and China has become more open to the rest of the world, the need for people to transcend geographical and cultural barriers to build a more understanding future has become increasingly apparent. In pursuit of this ideal, the Chinese government has established many scholarships to encourage students from all around the globe to study in China.

To encourage the internationalization of higher education in Jiangsu, the Jiangsu Provincial Government established the Jasmine Jiangsu Government Scholarship. This Chinese government scholarship was introduced to promote and aid the development of international students and scholars studying in Jiangsu Province. At Duke Kunshan, this scholarship will be awarded to international candidates who excel at their graduate studies while pursuing their degrees on our campus.

For Chinese and International Undergraduate Students

To attract the highest caliber students, we are offering generous scholarship and financial aid packages to ensure that top-tier candidates from around the world will be afforded the opportunity to study with us. The majority of our enrolled students in the inaugural undergraduate class will receive substantial scholarship support. Scholarships are awarded for the entirety of the 4-year program, on the condition that all academic requirements are met. The highest amount awarded will provide funds to cover a full tuition scholarship for the duration of the 4-year program.

Need-Based Financial Aid Need-based financial aid is reserved for students with a strong academic record but may lack the financial ability to attend our university. We are seeking a globally diverse cohort of students and encouraging all academically qualified students to apply, irrespective of their family financial situation. Interested applicants will need to provide documentation to prove that their current financial situation is a direct barrier to affording Duke Kunshan’s tuition fees.

Duke Kunshan University offers a number of merit-based scholarships. All applicants for admission are automatically considered for all availabl

e merit scholarships. Separate applications are not required. In addition to the University’s central scholarship fund, the leadership of Duke Kunshan University is dedicated to finding new sources of scholarship funding to support undergraduate students.

Apply Now

Duke Kunshan offers the unique opportunity to study in China while also studying and conducting research under a Duke University designed world-class curriculum. The Duke Kunshan experience allows students to have a foot in two of the most exciting markets in the world. With the Chinese government and Duke Kunshan University currently incentivizing international enrollment at both the graduate and undergraduate level, now is the time to apply to one of China’s top universities.

BY DUKE KUNSHAN UNIVERSITY

I Went To Study Abroad For 1 Semester And Stayed For More Than 4 Years!

By Lewi Blake – MoveYourLifeAbroad.com

Studying abroad changed my life.

In 2011 I took a GAP year to Bordeaux, France so that I could learn how to speak French, travel around Europe and experience a new culture. This was one of the best decisions I ever made because the 1 semester I was meant to study abroad for turned into 4 years.

Studying French In Bordeaux

I attended the University of Bordeaux III where I studied a French language course. This course gave me the ability to speak French fluently in less than 6 months. From that, I was able to take the B2 DELF exam (this is the diploma required to attend University in France). Originally only meaning to stay in Bordeaux for 1 semester, I decided to stay for a full year because I was having such a great time.

Studying during the day, working at a bar in the evenings and traveling to neighboring countries on the weekend was the norm. I was really able to discover parts of the world that I hadn’t even dreamed of visiting before. I was even lucky enough to go snowboarding in the French Alps for a week.

After my amazing year in Bordeaux came to an end it was time to go home. The only problem was that I wasn’t ready to leave yet. After a little research, I looked into studying a University Degree in France.

Funnily enough, all that was really required for me to study a University Degree in Paris was the B2 DELF diploma that I had completed 6 months prior.

University In Paris

In 2012 I started my Bachelor of Business Administration degree at the Paris Business College. Living in Paris was quite different to living in Bordeaux. The people were different, the weather was a lot colder and everywhere I looked was covered in rich culture and history. It felt like living in a completely new country. I was spending a lot more time with French people as the majority of students at the University were French. This enabled me to experience what the French culture was like first hand and really cement my French speaking abilities.

Everyday on the way to University I would ride past the Eiffel Tower on my bicycle and wonder if I was dreaming. I was living in the “city of love” and I was loving it!

The Paris Business College offered me many opportunities to study abroad while I was there. I decided to study abroad for a semester in London and a semester at the International University of Monaco.

Living The High Life In Monaco

Moving to Monaco completely blew my mind. I was living in one of the most expensive and glamorous places on Earth.

As you can probably guess, as a student that worked part-time in a bar and writing articles online, I wasn’t able to afford to live in Monaco. Instead I lived in Nice which was only 30 minutes away. My day-to-day life in Monaco involved riding my motorbike along the French Riviera to University every morning, relaxing on the beach with friends in the afternoon and working part-time at a crazy bar in the evenings.

To say life was great would be an understatement.

I settled in so well that I ended up staying in Monaco and finished my degree over the next 2 years.

Conclusion

  • Studying abroad gave me the opportunity to study in 3 different countries and live abroad for more than 4 years.
  • And you know what, more than 6 years have passed since I first studied abroad and I’m still living overseas to this day.
  • I’m not in France anymore but I’m living in South America. After learning Spanish in Guatemala for a few months I’ve moved to Ecuador where I’m currently residing.
  • Not too bad when you think about how much the course of my life changed from one decision that I made when I was 18 years old.
  • That is the power of studying abroad!

About The Author

Lewi is the founder of MoveYourLifeAbroad.com. For the past 6 years, he has been traveling and working his way around the world. He is extremely passionate about travel and loves sharing his knowledge with others because he believes everyone should have the opportunity to live abroad. In his spare time, he enjoys having a few cheeky beers with friends and riding his bicycle around town.

Abroad101 April 2017 Students of the Month

Abroad101 donates to study abroad fundraisers that are set up by hopeful students who hope to study abroad. Working together with GoEnnounce we choose a student mission to be highlighted and then award a donation to start off the fundraising efforts. March 2017 students winners tell us about their coming study abroad trips to France, Jordan, Ireland and New Zealand.

Alayne Chipman, our 120th Abroad101 Student of the Week winner is currently sophomore at the University of Idaho. With an outstanding 4.0 GPA, several honors, awards and distinctions while pursuing a double major, Alayne is now also hoping to study abroad at Victoria University of Wellington in New Zealand.

Alayne has always wanted to study in a foreign country, and to being immersed in a new and unknown culture. As an architecture and interior design major, Alayne’s long term goal is to join a preservation society and to renovate and restore old homes. She would also like to work with the building industry and make buildings more eco-friendly.  She is looking forward to getting out of her comfort zone and exploring new things while continuing to follow her passion in the design fields.

We wish Alayne all the best in New Zealand and hope that she will have a life changing experience there!

Learn more about Alayne’s mission here.


Congratulations goes to our 121st Abroad101 Student of the Week winner, Christopher Janiszewski, currently a sophomore at UNC Charlotte studying Computer Science.

One of Christopher’s goals in life is to photograph the world through his travels while making a living with his Computer Science Degree. Luckily for him, he has had a chance to travel to various places in Europe as well as the United States. Therefore now his ultimate dream is to one day being able to combine his passion for photography with his career in Computer Science.  He also hopes to have the opportunity to work and live overseas once he graduates from UNC Charlotte.

Chris was recently accepted to a Study Abroad program in Galway, Ireland with a program called International Studies Abroad.  Through this program, Christopher will be taking courses that focus on Irish history and culture as well as math classes. In addition the landscape of Ireland is quite fascinating and he’s looking forward to take photos to add to his portfolio. It is through this unique experience, gaining not only independence and confidence, but also a new perspective on culture and diversity, that Christopher hopes will expand his opportunities.

This study abroad program cost is expensive and even though Chris has been working at Fitzgerald’s Irish Pub in Uptown Charlotte, NC and he has applied for financial aid and scholarships, it still not enough to cover the total program cost and airfare to Ireland. He will use all the money that he raises to help him cover the program cost.

We wish Christopher all the best in Ireland!

To check out Christopher’s Mission and donate to his cause, click here!


 

Wade Farr, is our 122nd Abroad101 Student of the Week winner!

He is currently a junior attending Brigham Young University, majoring in Middle Eastern Studies and Arabic. Wade’s family is from an Arabic speaking country which influenced his desire to learn this language. He fell in love with the language and culture of his fathers country and decided helping refugees was what he wanted to do. Working as an intern at a school district that had thousands of refugees, Wade was able to meet with the refugees, give them his support and listen to their stories. While not sure yet what career he wants to pursue, he knows that his goal is to help refugees get a better life. To help refugees, he is aware of the fact that he needs to learn the Arabic language and understand the Middle East culture, issues, and laws.

That is why he is very excited because he got the amazing opportunity to go Study Abroad in Amman, Jordan, for the fall semester of this year! He will be attending Al-Qasid Institute, which is a prestigious language school near the University of Amman. The program will include 2 hours of Arabic speaking with natives, studying Arabic under natives who teach Modern Standard Arabic and the Jordanian dialect, and experiencing the culture of Amman. In addition to this, he will also travel to Palestine/Israel for his last 3 weeks there to analyze the Israeli conflict and further his knowledge of the region.

Wade will use the money that he raises in this fundraiser to help cover his tuition fees and residence while attending the Al-Quasid Institute program.

We wish Wade all the best in his fundraising for Jordan and hope that he will have a life changing experience there!

To check out Wade’s Mission and donate to his cause, click here!


Congratulations to our 123rd Abroad 101 Student of the week Shelbie Koenitzer! Shelbie is currently a senior undergrad student at Michigan Technological University and has a goal of achieving a B.S. in Management with a concentration in Entrepreneurship as well as an International French minor. That is a lot of studying! This trip will help her reach her goal of becoming truly fluent in French, which Shelbie hopes in turn becomes a useful tool in finding a job and working in an increasingly global business environment.

This opportunity is also a requirement for Shelbie’s minor, and with her strong passion for the French language as well as her desire to travel the world, she will defiantly make the most of the trip.  The program will be include two courses throughout her time abroad; one intensive French course and one business course relevant to her major.

The funds she raises through GoEnnounce will be put towards the program fee itself. The total program fee is $6,250 but she has covered $5000 already with help from her dad and scholarships, leaving her with $1,250 left to raise. We wish Shelbie all the best in France and hope that she will have a life changing experience there!

To check out Shelbie’s Mission and donate to her cause, click here!

 


The Abroad 101 Student of the Week initiative awards a student who created a Mission for a study abroad program on GoEnnounce with a donation to their fundraiser. Learn more about this partnership from Abroad101 CEO Mark Shay and GoEnnounce founder Melissa Davis here.

Stay tuned for our next Abroad101 Students of the Week!

Abroad101 March 2017 Students of the Month

 

Abroad101 donates to study abroad fundraisers that are set up by hopeful students who hope to study abroad. Working together with GoEnnounce we choose a student mission to be highlighted and then award a donation to start off the fundraising efforts. March 2017 students winners tell us about their coming study abroad trips to England, Costa Rica, Panama, Spain and South Korea.

Sydney Lundquist, our 115th Abroad101 Student of the Week winner is currently a senior at Washington and Lee University. She is an excellent student who is majoring in Biology and has received numerous awards and distinctions such as the W&L Biology Departmental Award and the Scholar Athlete Academic Honor Roll. Along with this, Sydney is also very involved in volunteer work, clubs, societies and extracurricular activities, and is dedicated to environmental sustainability, basketball and her faith.

Sydney’s goal is to eventually earn a Ph. D in conservation ecology. For now the plan is to Study Abroad in England and attend the University of Cambridge in October 2017. She will be working in Biological Sciences for Zoology research examining freshwater mussel conservation. This unique opportunity and experience will provide the chance to explore and understand new ecosystems, work with conservation ecology professionals, grow as a leader and ecologist and provide her with the unparalleled opportunity to explore the world.

We wish Sydney all the best at Cambridge and hope that she will have a life changing experience there!

Learn more about Sydney’s mission here.


Congratulations goes to our 116th Abroad101 Student of the Week winner, Kendall Shanks! One of Kendall’s passion is to learn languages, she is learning French and plans on studying Spanish, Mandarin as well as conversational Italian in college. During high school while working on an article about the struggling English-language learner program in her school district, Kendall’s eyes were opened  about the struggles the non english speaking students encountered. This one article shaped her plans for the future. She decided to work to protect members of the community that are silenced and disenfranchised.

Kendall’s future plan is to earn a degree in Global Studies and a minor in International Relations. She has been accepted to attend the Global program at Long Island University, in New York. The program will start in the fall of 2017, and she will spend one year in Costa Rica, living with a host family.  For Kendall, being able to study abroad will give her the unique opportunity to understand the issues refugees and immigrants face in their native countries.

Kendall started her fundraising Mission and will use the funds to pay for the tuition abroad.

To check out Kendall’s Mission and donate to her cause, click here!


Cecilia Mercier, is our 117th Abroad101 Student of the Week winner!

Cecilia is currently a junior at Southeastern Louisiana University, in Hammond, where she is majoring in International Management with a minor in Marketing. Her biggest passion is to travel and to discover new places and to constantly learn more about diversity, ethics, and cultures. She speaks fluent French, Spanish and English. To be able to speak several languages has helped her a lot when traveling, and it has also made her more open-minded and aware of different cultures. Through traveling Cecilia has not only become a better person but has also learned how to adapt to any kind of environment and situation and to communicate with people from different backgrounds, countries and cultures.

In order to graduate and obtain her bachelor’s degree in International Management, Cecilia is required to go Study Abroad this upcoming Summer 2017.  She will be attending the “Business, Economics & Marketing in Panama” program and will spend 10 days in Panama. Cecilia has always been fascinated about the country of Panama, and is really excited to go there.  There, she will be talking to local business owners and people that have experience working internationally, so this will be a once in a life time learning experience for Cecilia and she is confident that it will help her for her future career.

We wish Cecilia all the best in Panama and hope that she will have a life changing experience there!

To check out Cecilia’s Mission and donate to her cause, click here!


Our 118th Abroad101 Student of the Week winner is Marissa Small-Towns who is a student-athlete at The College of Charleston pursuing a major in International business and a minor in spanish.

When not competing in track and field meets around the southeast, Marissa finds herself in the library, volunteering on behalf of her team and finding ways to enhance her Spanish speaking skills outside of the classroom.

Marissa is fundraising for a Maymester program in Seville, Spain. This program is through Spanish Studies Abroad. The program will provide 3 credits which are necessary to complete a Spanish minor, and it will also assist in completing the study abroad requirement for the International Business Major. In addition Marissa hopes to immerse herself into another culture, which will help her prepare for a career in International Business and Spanish. She believes that it is very important to practice speaking Spanish in another country and out of the classroom, because speaking with native speakers is an enriching experience and offers opportunities to learn about the culture, local customs and words and speech that you might not necessarily learn in the classroom.

To check out Marissa’s Mission and donate to her cause, click here!

 


Sashalee Rashford, our 119th Abroad101 Student of the Week winner, will be going to South Korea for the summer with ISA (International Studies Abroad)! As a music business major Sashalee feels that it is important to learn about the industries around the world and how they work in those specific areas. During the Fall semester her senior project involved researching the history of the music industry in Korea and over this past summer Sashalee began to teach herself the basics of the Korean language. As you can tell, Sashalee is taking this opportunity very seriously!

The funds that are raised for this summer program will go towards class tuition and excursions. Sashalee has been saving for this trip and working hard to obtain scholarships for the trip as well. It’s a worthy cause and we hope Sashalee is able to learn many things about the music business and South Korea this summer.

We wish her all the best in South Korea and hope that she will have a life changing experience there!

Learn more about Sashalee’s mission here.


The Abroad 101 Student of the Week initiative awards a student who created a Mission for a study abroad program on GoEnnounce with a donation to their fundraiser. Learn more about this partnership from Abroad101 CEO Mark Shay and GoEnnounce founder Melissa Davis here.

Stay tuned for our next Abroad101 Students of the Week!

Master your Spanish with Abroad101’s Cool Program of the Week!

This weeks Cool Program comes from the Instituto Franklin, for 30 years a full immersive Spanish program outside Madrid.  Homestay gives you an extra push to master your Spanish and gives you a chance at some great home cooked meals.

The Study Abroad in Spain program offers an ample diversity of areas of study suited to every student. The program includes courses in Hispanic Studies, International Relations, Business Administration and International Business, Translation, Education, Journalism and Communication and Health Sciences.In addition to all these disciplines students can participate in a unique Internship Program and spend a full semester working in a company of their choice.

The Study Abroad in Spain program was established in 1987 with the mission of promoting academic collaboration between Spain and the US through specialized educational programs. It is specifically designed for international students who wish to pursue undergraduate studies in Spain.

To learn more or apply to this program please visit:

https://www.studyabroad101.com/programs/universidad-de-alcala-alcala-de-henares-spanish-studies-abroad-with-instituto-franklin

Study Abroad 101 Cool Program of the Week in Prague – UPCES is it!

czechrepublic-prague-upces

Prague is Dope! So says a recent review of the UPCES program which gets us to think, we should list this program as our Abroad101 Cool Program of the Week! Cool or Dope, being tied to the most famous of Czech universities and being located in a historic palace in Prague’s city center UPCES is IT!

prague-upces-reviewProminent scholars from Charles University teach UPCES courses in English. Course subjects include economics, international relations, sociology, history, political science, film, literature, philosophy, and Czech language. Students from a wide variety of majors and interests will greatly benefit from the UPCES academic experience.

UPCES students live in flats of their choosing with other students in the program. Flat choices are offered by the program and are located throughout the center section of Prague. Students do not just interact with the Czech people, but truly live amongst them in real Prague flats.

To learn more or apply to this program please visit:

https://www.studyabroad101.com/programs/upces-study-abroad-in-prague-cerge-ei-charles-university

5 Things You Need to Know Before You Go

Studying abroad shouldn’t be all that hard, you say to yourself. You’ve consulted with counselors who’ve given you plenty of answers, you’ve read up on all the brochures and program descriptions, you’ve studied program reviews from previous students and talked to study abroad alumni.

Although you can logically say to yourself that “you’re ready,” there still may be a tiny voice inside of you that is saying, “do you really?” The truth is, a lot will transpire during your study abroad trip. But don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. Here are five things you need to know before you start a new stage of your life anew as a study abroad student.

airline-ticket

Buy Your Ticket in Advance

Your parents have probably been bugging you to purchase your plane ticket six or more months before you start your study abroad experience. While they’re aiming to give you peace of mind, buying a ticket   that much in advance isn’t the most economical decision. In fact, the best time to buy your ticket is in the three month range before your departure – this is when prices are at their lowest.

The plane trip to the country of your destination is when your adventure begins. Spring for either an aisle or window seat (depending on how close you want to be to the bathroom), watch movies galore on your personal TV screen and enjoy the not-so-bad plane food. Be excited!

Travel tip: Get instant notifications on low flight prices when you set up travel alerts on Airfare Watchdog or Kayak.com.

Choosing Your Place of Residence

room

The study abroad program you signed up for will surely give you a choice as to where you could stay, anywhere from a dorm on a college campus to a shared apartment to a home stay. While you’ll have your pick of options, there is no right or wrong decision when choosing lodgings for your study abroad experience.

This said, if you’re looking to have the most immersive, fascinating experience possible, we highly recommend you push yourself out of your comfort zone and find lodgings that allows you to live with foreigners. Mingling with foreigners on a daily basis is a truly rewarding experience, and choosing instead to live in an isolated manner would just diminish your opportunities to know the culture better.

Travel tip: Talk your options over with your counselor months before you leave and pick the type of residence that is best suited to the experience you are looking for.

Cultural Sensitivity

cultural-sensitivity

You are responsible for your behavior when you are abroad for your studies. As you will be immersed in another culture and society, it is important that you take into account the local customs. This will influence the way you interact with local people, how you speak and the way you dress.

Your behavior, unbeknownst to you, may offend locals unnecessarily and invite bad treatment of not only yourself, but of the group of people you are traveling with. It’s important for visitors to practice cultural sensitivity throughout their trip.

Travel Tip: Learning how to carry on simple conversation in the local language will do a lot to surprise and please the locals. They’ll be much more open to you in appreciation of your efforts, which will enable them to help you more.

Bring Good Walking Shoes

sneakers

If you come from a culture where driving is the norm, like the United States, you may forget to take your trusty walking shoes to your study abroad destination.

The fact of the matter is, many countries are typically walking societies. You’ll be on your feet a lot longer than usual in these parts of the world, which is the idea if you are looking to take in all the cute little off-street spots of your study abroad destination. While high heels are fashionable, you simply won’t be able to cope with them along long city blocks or cobblestone streets. Spare your feet, lower back and general sanity by being sure to bring along a reliable pair of walking shoes.

Travel Tip: There’s no trade-off between style and comfort when it comes to shoes. Find shoes that are padded and durable yet stylish so that you can wear them during the day and night in your study abroad destination.

Your Toiletries Can Be Purchased Abroad

toiletries

 

It’s best to pack as light as possible when traveling across the world. Consider ditching your mainstay cologne for a new scent abroad. It will not be hard to find shampoos, soaps, make-up, laundry detergent, contact solution and other replacement toiletries abroad. However, if you’re the type who has a love for certain cosmetic brands, then spoil yourself and stock up on your precious brand name items for your journey.

Your mom and dad might be happy to spoil you in this regard and buy your essentials for you – this is a perk. However, the perk for buying your toiletries abroad is that some of these products might be considerably cheaper abroad. It’s your choice.

Travel Tip: Young women may have a problem finding quality feminine products abroad and should think of stocking up for the entire length of their stay overseas.

Guest Post by Sean Hopwood

sean-hopwood

 

Sean Hopwood, MBA is founder and President of Day Translations, Inc., an online translation services provider, dedicated to the improvement of global communications. By helping both corporations and the individual, Day Translations provides a necessary service at the same time as developing opportunities for greater sympathy and understanding worldwide.

Here’s How to Start a Remote Business While Studying Abroad

european countries - continent marked with flagsThe growing influence of the internet culture means that setting up a remote business these days is straightforward, even for students studying abroad. The road of students turned entrepreneurs is one that has been widely traveled and awash with many success stories. Here are important tips that can help as you start your remote business while studying abroad.

Create a plan

What kind of business are you looking to start? What are your goals? Are you looking at a business that you will continue when you return home or one that will only help you raise some cash for the duration of your study? How do you intend to manage the business in line with your studies? These are important points you need to address as you create your business. You will be the leader of the team so you have to be ready to take some responsibility on how communication will be handled, the delegation of tasks and how deadlines will be enforced. These are vital considerations for the success of your remote business.

Sort the legal requirements

Depending on where you are studying, you may be required to register your business before you can operate. This is especially true when you need a business account with financial institutions and when you are required to pay taxes. If you are operating a team based in international locations away from your study area and intend to use e-currency platforms to manage your finances, you may not need any registrations. It is still best to find out what the law says to avoid problems in future.

Decide on your staffing needs

How many people do you need to get your business functioning for the next 6 months at least? Clearly map out the roles. A good tip is to only focus on absolutely vital staff and consider giving dual roles to qualified individuals. An unnecessarily bloated workforce at the early stage can lead to a funding quagmire.

Hire the best hands

After you have worked out processes and goals, it is time to start looking for people that have the skills you are looking for. An important point to note with remote workers is to downplay cover letters, samples and interviews. Trial projects always work best. They allow you to see who has the right expertise for your company best.

Work with the right technology

There is no searching for tools that can help ensure better communication and optimal productive for your remote team. From communication software to file sharing and team monitoring software, there is technology to help you grow.

Communication is vital

Many remote teams break down after a while as a result of poor communication. This is why it is vital to have several communication lines for members of the team. Chat, phone and email are the more popular options but conference calls and social media communication should be explored.

Starting a remote business as a student abroad can be richly rewarding when approached correctly.

 

5 Online Jobs You Can Do from Anywhere

job-search

If you’re thinking about studying abroad, you may be worried about saving enough cash to make it to the end of the semester. Let’s face it, no one wants to spend their evenings inside their apartment eating noodles from a cup when they should be enjoying the local cuisine.

While some countries may allow you to work part-time legally, it can be hard to find a job that fits in with your study and provides a regular source of income. The last thing you want is to commit to regular hours and miss out on spontaneous student events, or not have enough time to study for exams. So if you want to find work that fits in with your schedule (not the other way around), check out these 5 online jobs you can do from anywhere:

  1. Designer

web-design

Pretty much everyone has a blog these days and if you don’t have the money to create your own webpage just yet, you can start off with a simple WordPress blog or Facebook page. With the continued rise in internet subscriptions and smartphone users, the need for websites and apps has never been higher.

Which means that a good designer will never be without work. You can decide to specialize in websites, mobile apps, or graphic design and work the hours with the clients that suit you.

How much you’ll make as a freelance designer depends on how much work you’re willing to put in. You may need to make an investment in time to start off with, while you improve your skills and study the market.

The Catch?

You have to know about design. At least the basics, which means brushing up on some courses before you go. Try learning about basic design and how to make simple WordPress sites for free on YouTube, or pay for an inexpensive course on a site like teachable or udemy.com.

 

  1. Translator

chalkboardBeing in a foreign country doesn’t make you fluent in the language. And being fluent in the language doesn’t make you a translator. But if you have language proficiency and time on your hands, you don’t always need a fancy qualification to translate for certain projects.

The more experience you have, the more you can charge and you’re qualified, you can apply to sites like Day Translations and forums, such as Translators Café. What’s the best thing about working as a freelance translator? You get to practice your language skills every day, while studying in the country of your choice.

The Catch?

You need to be fluent in two languages minimum and have a natural ability to translate. Not everyone has this gift – translating can be hard – but if you want to give it a try, there are plenty of companies crying out for this necessary service.

 

  1. Writer

computerIf you have a romantic image of writers, sitting down scribbling away in a book, then erase that from your brain if you want to make money. Writing tends to be undervalued and underpaid. It can be very hard to get clients when you’re first starting out and don’t have any published work to show.

But if you’re serious about writing, sit down and come up with a few articles that you think will be of interest for the sites that you like reading. Perhaps you can relate them to your area of study, or working and learning abroad. A lot of sites will take well-written posts and publish them. Not many will pay you, but you’ll get the benefit of your name in print and be able to show examples to future clients.

The Catch?

Not very well paid to start out with and you’ll need to write well, but also learn to write quickly. If you’re getting paid $15 an article and it takes you 5 hours, you’re not going to make much extra.

 

  1. Programmer

desk

Hand in hand with designers, programmers are always in demand these days. Especially good ones, so the more time you can dedicate to improving your skills and extending your portfolio of programming languages, the better.

While you don’t necessarily have to have a degree in computer science to be a freelance programmer, if you want to work with larger companies, you’ll be competing with people who do. But to kick-start your efforts at making part time money, try taking a course online and signing up to GitHub for peer support and advice.

The Catch?

You need a certain type of personality to be a programmer and not everyone has the patience. It can be quite stressful when people rely on you to make sure that their site functions correctly.

  1. English Teacher

englishTeaching English will always be in high-demand, even if you’re in an English-speaking country, thanks to the rise in immigration. As the rest of the world tries to keep up with digitalization and globalization, everyone wants to learn English.

You don’t even have to do this face-to-face anymore or stand in classroom in front of a group of students. There are a bunch of companies offering English teaching online and you can teach per hour from the comfort of your apartment.

The Catch?

You’re not going to be a millionaire teaching English online, but it’s a relatively easy way of making sure you have enough money not to miss out on anything fun. Some companies require a university degree or TEFL course, so you may not be able to apply to all positions.

 

The Takeaway

Studying abroad can be the best experience of your life and enrich your future in so many ways. But running out of money and having to pass up on festival, concert, or outing can be frustrating.

With minimal effort, you can hone your skills, whether you like to write, speak languages, or are more tech savvy. Then you can use this knowledge to make money online from anywhere in the world. No visas, no commitment, just you and your computer managing your schedule.

 

Author Bio:

sean-hopwoodSean Hopwood, MBA is founder and President of Day Translations, Inc., an online certified translation services provider, dedicated to the improvement of global communications. By helping both corporations and the individual, Day Translations provides a necessary service at the same time as developing opportunities for greater sympathy and understanding worldwide.

 

Studying Abroad Online vs Classroom Education

 

Plenty of wise men throughout the years have stated that true education is a never-ending process. Whether you aim to maximize your income prospects or if you simply want to know more about the world we live in, there can be no doubt that furthering your education is one of the best roads you can take in life.  Combining travel and studies has been show to provide a powerful combination of experiences and give students not only a memorable experience, it is often referred to as life changing. Not too many college alumni will say a campus-based Chemistry class was life-changing, but if that course was taken while the student was overseas, then wow!

Whereas once upon a time the only way to earn college credit was by physically attending a place of learning, nowadays the online revolution has swept up the educational system as well. In fact, in this day and age you can even study abroad online, as many top schools throughout the world allow students of all nationalities to earn prestigious degrees without ever setting foot in a classroom.  If you have the discipline to balance both study and travel, then you might want to create your own personal hybrid program and take online courses while you trek.

 

Cost

In most parts of the world, getting a good education isn’t cheap. With skyrocketing tuition costs and relatively meager employment prospects for recent grads, it’s fair to wonder if higher education is actually worth the investment. Additionally, going the traditional route will also lead to incurring substantial fees for room and board, plus all the extra costs related to moving to another country. Opting for an online education tends to be comparatively cheaper overall, especially when it comes to schools that focus solely on long distance learning and have lower overhead costs as a result.

Accessibility

A significant part of the traditional college experience is related to the idea of going away to another part of the country or the world, where new people and experiences await. While this kind of thing can undoubtedly seem exciting when you’re young, for people who already have to balance familial obligations and maybe even a full-time job with their educational goals, it often is a bridge too far. Online education comes with the possibility of handling coursework right from the comforts of your home, which doesn’t require any commute time at all. But some online education providers also offer the possibility of traveling to their respective learning facilities on short-term internships, thus giving prospective students the chance to broaden their cultural horizons as well.

Experience

The feeling of being in a classroom surrounded by your peers is something that’s treasured by many, and it’s a big part of why traditional education is still the norm all over the world. But online education has also come a long way from its humble beginnings, with schools now boasting cutting edge online platforms replete with videoconferencing options and personalized mentors. Of course, not actually being in a classroom means you can self-regulate study pace, thus allowing you to complete a course on your own schedule, with dedicated teachers just a click away to provide support whenever you need it.

Course accreditation

By receiving accreditation conferred to it by a respected external body, an institute of learning receives an official seal of approval that certifies its tional programs. In most countries, this kind of quality assurance is provided by a government organization, and can be of great importance when looking for employment later on. In this regard online schools have traditionally lagged behind their competition, but nowadays a simple online search is all you need to find out if the program you’re thinking about applying for is accredited or not.

Directional City Signs

Overall effectiveness

Probably the most important thing about earning a diploma is its inherent value in finding a great job. To that end, it can be useful to check the track record of all your prospective schools and see what their post-graduate employment levels look like. If you’re looking for immediate employment, you’ll often find that online institutions tend to focus more on teaching you job-ready skills in growing industries such as Accounting or Workplace Health and Safety than traditional learning facilities. Additionally, reputable institutions will also have a dedicated network of alumni, whom you can contact to learn more about how they benefited from attending their respective schools.

 

It’s clear to see that studying abroad online offers all the benefits typically associated with traditional classroom education, while also being considerably cheaper and more accessible. It may not be for everyone, as some people will likely miss the feeling of being in a real classroom, but for those who enjoy its myriad perks, online education can be a real game-changer.

 

Confirm the Quality

Before you make your final choice it is important to confirm you plans with an advisor to make sure your plans are in synch with your educational goals.  For those earned academic credits to help you in your career, you do want to make sure they are credible, recognized and applicable.