Study Abroad Advice from Counsellors

It began with curiosity. I’ve been working as a counselor for a while and managed to help a lot of students achieve their goals. I could see how much they were growing, personally and academically, and thought it would be good to try and experience that journey myself. It was also about moving beyond my comfort zone and exploring a new education system, and a new environment. I wanted access to a global mindset and knew it would help me share my experience with students someday.

I chose Sweden for a master’s degree in business management, based on my work experience. When I got an offer from a Swedish university, the feedback was positive and I was told about how open and creative the learning environment would be, which caught my attention. Also, as a business student, I was curious about how this small country could be home to some of the world’s biggest brands. I wanted to understand the business culture behind that kind of innovation and success.

Another important factor was the offer of a scholarship. Sweden is a unique country where a scholarship means an international student only needs to manage living costs. My budget helped me make that final decision.

I was a counsellor at the time, so I had that advantage. I knew what to do and what I was looking for but still did a lot of research on tuition fees, scholarship opportunities, living costs, and post-study working opportunities in Australia, Canada, and some European countries. Social media was limited at the time, and there weren’t many resources online, so I had to reach out directly to schools for insights and information. One thing I learned from the process was that research should be go beyond just programs and rankings. There are more important things that can help you be successful in the future. It’s what I tell students today, while helping them choose their programs.

I thought the people were nice and polite, and the country was peaceful. It was very organized and had a completely different culture from my own country, which led to some culture shocks as well. Where I come from, for example, the role of teacher and student is very clearly demarcated. In Sweden, it felt more like an exchange of Ideas and opinions.

I think a local network is very important in a new country, which I hadn’t realized. If you have no family or professional contacts, it takes time to build partnerships or relationships with people or communities. I also wish that I knew more about academic differences before moving, because the methods of teaching were different.

I did some part time work. My first job was at a sushi restaurant, where I started as a cleaner before moving to the kitchen where the boss kindly taught me how to make sushi. This skill had nothing to do with my studies, but it helped pay my rent and has stayed with me. I still make sushi for family and friends, so I believe it will stay with me forever.

The nice thing was the sense of personal growth. If you realize that you can survive and adapt, even make friends in a completely new environment, that gives you a lot of confidence. The hardest thing is the uncertainties, especially at the early stages of being in a new country. You constantly ask yourself why you are there and what your pathway to success will be like.

Ultimately, however, every challenge becomes a part of your story, and you come to realize that you can overcome every difficulty. It helps you see how far you have come, not just academically, but as a person, which makes it a very good learning experience.

If I can offer one piece of advice, it is to think beyond your degree. Don’t just ask yourself why you are studying something now; think about where it will take you in 5 or 10 years. You need to understand your options after graduation because that is important. A student’s success depends on how well they have planned their pathway, from choosing the correct program to getting some work experience, to building networks.

Another piece of advice is to not isolate yourself. The biggest advantage of studying in Canada, for instance, is access to diversity. We meet all kinds of people in the workplace and in classrooms, which allows us to learn from each other. Remember, this isn’t a race; it’s a long journey. Stay curious about everything and be open to changes as well as challenges.

IDP has decades of global experience helping students achieve their study abroad goals, and Canadian students can now access the same expert support for studying in Australia, the UK, or Ireland.

Whether you connect with an IDP counsellor in Toronto, Vancouver, or online, you’ll get personalized guidance designed to make your study journey smoother and more successful.

Want to know more? Book a free counselling session today!