When people hear the term 'study abroad', they probably imagine it costing a fortune. I was worried about that too before studying in South Korea. But, with a bit of planning - and some student hustle - studying abroad ended up being much more manageable than I expected.

Save up beforehand

First, I tried to save as much as possible before the opportunity. I was working as a student ambassador at Leeds Beckett University (LBU), which helped me to put some money aside over time. Even small amounts add up when you're consistent, and it made a big difference once I arrived.

Explore study abroad funding

The university also helped a lot. Through the Turing Scheme, I received funding to support my time abroad. On top of that, your Student Finance England (SFE) payments can increase slightly when you study overseas, giving you a bit of extra breathing room financially.

How to apply

The application process itself was much simpler than I expected. I had to submit an application through the university, explaining why I wanted to study abroad, and how the experience would connect to and complement my course. For me, choosing South Korea made a lot of sense. It's an important actor in global politics, especially in East Asia, and living here enabled me to see international relations in practice rather than just reading about it in textbooks.

Learn to manage your money quickly

Another thing that helped was the fact that South Korea is relatively affordable to live in, especially compared to many cities in the UK. Daily expenses like food and transport are generally reasonable, and once you get used to the system here, it becomes quite easy to manage your spending.

Pick up saving hacks

Social life in South Korea is also surprisingly budget friendly. My friends and I usually go out about once a week, but most of the time we keep things simple. One habit (that's actually pretty practical) we picked up is eating from convenience stores. In Korea, convenience stores are a lifesaver. You can get proper meals, snacks, and drinks for cheap, making eating on the go incredibly efficient. Sometimes after a long day, the last thing you want to do is cook and then deal with washing up, so grabbing something that's quick to eat is perfect.

Between saving beforehand, support from the university, and adjusting to local habits, budgeting for my study abroad experience turned out to be much less stressful than I thought. It's completely possible to enjoy living abroad without spending a ridiculous amount of money.

And honestly, sometimes the best memories come from the simplest things. Like sitting outside a convenience store at midnight with friends, eating instant ramen, and wondering how this somehow became a normal part of life.