Being unable to travel because of university duties or lack of financial resources is quite upsetting, especially when you’re a young and excited college student! But what if I tell you that you can travel while studying?
If your passion for traveling is decreasing your focus in school, you are in the right place. I know how that feels. Being unable to travel because of university duties or lack of financial resources is quite upsetting, especially when you’re a young and excited college student! But what if I tell you that you can travel while studying? Combining these two seems something one could only dream of, but hey! With the right state of mind and courage to explore, booking student tours or simply visiting other parts of the world becomes possible. Let’s see how you can study and travel for free, both at the same time!
1. Study abroad
Students abroad trips seem like an enjoyable opportunity to discover other countries – but the downside is, they are quite expensive. If you want to minimize the costs while maximizing the outcomes, apply for a study abroad experience! Spending just a few days in another country on a student trip is so different than living among various (new) people for one full semester. The latter is an experience you will definitely never forget.
You will make lots of friends, try new foods, immerse in a new language, all while studying seriously for your classes. The costs of studying abroad are usually the same as paying your university fees, so you should be good without making any extra financial contributions.
2. Volunteer!
Small, cute countries have cheap volunteering opportunities (avoid countries like the UK, Norway, or Switzerland – they’re expensive!). Look at projects in Cambodia, Vietnam, or Thailand, and apply for a volunteering experience there. You can stay abroad for up to one year – meanwhile, you are allowed to take online courses or even enroll in one of the country’s universities (but first, make sure your credits transfer back to your home school!). This is an incredible opportunity to save money, especially since volunteering at a site means free accommodation, meals, and sometimes, even extra pocket money!
3. Apply for an abroad internship
You know what they say: education first travel after! However, who says you cannot combine the two graciously by interning in another country? By doing so, you get to a) learn more of something you are interested about, b) compare and contrast your learning process to the one in your country, and c) live in another part of the world for a few months. This is a great mix of lucky opportunities and unique moments to grow and develop into a mature individual (trust me, traveling experiences along with hard work will teach you just that!).
A recent Edubirdie review writes, “I cannot believe I was about to miss the most extraordinary journey of my life. I was about to say no to an extraordinary internship opportunity in Belgium but changed my mind last minute. These two months abroad have been the most exciting moments of my life until now. Don’t miss it if you can!”
4. Use your holidays wisely
Instead of going on boring student tours (not all of them all boring but… ya’ know) during your breaks, choose to travel around the world! You can again minimize the costs by working during the year and then, choosing the cheapest countries to explore! While working one month might provide the financial opportunity to travel around Europe for three days, the same amount of work will help you explore South-East Asia for three weeks. Balance your options and choose wisely!
5. Hang out with the internationals
Planning student trips with the internationals is a great way to engage in new conversations and discover a world outside your own. If you’ve never traveled outside of your country, you could find out more about other cultures, languages, traditions, or food types by hanging out with people from all over the world!
Conclusion
Before engaging in a travel-study (trudy!) experience, make sure you are willing to do both at the same time. I personally found it hard to deliver my school assignments by the deadline during my first months of travel, as all I wanted to do is visit as much as possible and hang out with as many people as I could. However, you must find a balance if you want to be successful, so make sure you plan that out before booking your plane ticket!
References:
https://indianexpress.com/article/smart-travel/summer-vacation-must-have-flight-essentials-for-stress-free-travel-4649574/
https://www.educations.com/educationtest/start/151
https://www.studyabroad.com/internships-worldwide
Bobbi Sanchez has been traveling the world for three months now, volunteering in South Africa, Tanzania, and Madagascar. His main goal is helping students from all over the world open their eyes and minds to traveling while engaging in serious studying. His books have helped hundreds of people attain financial freedom while maximizing their happiness.
