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.