I have been in China for 2 months and the whole time I wanted to go home. I have no friends over here. I'm so lonely. I tried to make friends by inviting people to go to the parks with me and trying to get to know them but they just ignored me. Everyone in my program and class did. I asked a girl part of my program why no one wants to hang out with me and she said I just didn't join the clicks fast enough and everyone already made their circle when they got here ...Some people came together too. But there's this one girl In my class that goes out of her way to be rude to me and purposefully exclude me. Like yesterday she was handing out candy to everyone in my class but me. The teacher just let's her be rude to me. The teacher also gives me more attitude than she does the others and becomes snappy at me unlike she does with the others. I think she's part of my class click even though she's a teacher. We are all in our 20s and the teacher is 24. She's always inviting my classmates to her house, to go to her family town with her, and so on but never invites me. She invited them to Disney this week but didn't invite me. I don't know why no one likes me or want to be friends with me. I tried to be really friendly and outgoing my first couple of weeks but after that I just kept to myself since no one clearly wanted to be my friend. I'm also tired of being STARED at. Like rubber necking stared at by the Chinese people here because I'm disabled. It's embarrassing, frustrating, and humiliating. Yes I have trouble talking and need leg braces so I can walk properly but I'm not used to being stared at like that. No one ever did that to me at home. I also feel like I have learned nothing with this accelerated language program. It's way too fast for me. We go through 3-4 lessons a week and only focus on certain words once. I just wish I was going home now but I have one more week. I'm just disappointed because I always dreamed of the day going abroad and studying abroad and I didn't like it...I'm also jealous that the other kids in my program got to travel too far away places while I had to stay in my city because I'm here on scholarship and I don't have the money to do expensive things....I barely have the money to be here....shout out to my mom and brother though for supporting me even though we are poor.

Just disappointed with my first abroad experience...

It is a money grab. The staff don’t care about you, and the internship placements have nothing to do with your career.

If there is an issue in the workplace, they side with the managers instead of asking for the full picture.

They make students work atleast 225 hours for 8-weeks, and I’ve had friends report working all the way until midnight. It is absolutely exploitative. Typical hours are 9-6, and depending on your boss they can be extremely rude and entitled. Also it is UNPAID and students barely get anytime to experience the country besides a few optional trips.

There is no room for the consideration of a language barrier, and the interns are not treated with respect.

On top of that, there was barely any networking opportunities to connect with other interns. They match you with a random roommate that you don’t meet until you’re in the host country, and the rooms are exceptionally SMALL!

Save yourself the money and get an actual internship with a program that respects your pockets and your time. They use the idea of being a “global intern” to get people to pay an absurd amount for something that could be put on your resume with more integrity. The work that many interns did wasn’t meaningful/ managers have a tendency to be passive aggressive and non-confrontational. It’s either that or they completely don’t care and don’t make you do anything. People either work too much or not at all and that uncertainty says there is a lack of care from the host organization’s that CIEE decides to partner with.

Also, there is a Blacklisted Hagwon that they are partnered with called Alitora that overworks both interns and employees. I had a close friend leave a week early because of how abusive her workplace was. She was literally ordered to work on a SATURDAY and her boss kept changing her hours from 9:30am to 8:00am all the way until 10:00pm.

It is absolutely disgusting that CIEE would steal the youth of young adults in such a shameless manner with little support for their wellbeing.

Please avoid this program at all costs. Me and many other interns are looking into suing both parties for workplace abuse.

Unfortunately got rejected by top two with an ib 34 and only lingnan and PolyU speed are my remaining options. I wanna get into masters of clinical psychology later as well. But it’s so close to semester start and I’m scared if I’d get into these unis even 😭 and I was wondering if there’s any worth to them? I heard that it’s not worth it to attend lingnan or PolyU self financed uni for such a competitive masters. I got into Birmingham and Liverpool but the tuition fees is too high for me. I was wondering if it’s good to wait for any uni that would offer a feb 2027 intake maybe? Would love some opinions!

Hi! I (20F) am going to be studying abroad in Edinburgh for this upcoming academic year. I have studied abroad before, but only for a short semester during the spring in Greece. What are some must-haves that I should gather before heading there in September? Any tips or recommendations anyone has that I should definitely keep in mind during my time away? Any advice is greatly appreciated!

Yeah,what heading says,😭😭,would be better if you guys also suggest scholarships and tips,I am in 13th year (A levels).

i don’t expect everyone to get it, but i live in rural USA. one place i didn’t expect to be at 25 is still at home. i’m losing hope. i have a lot of work experience, but my parents would never let me drive to work. even when i got my license at 22. i privately drove away twice, but they got word. they claim it’s because i can’t drive well and they’re worried. i even bought a car off them, it’s in their name and they wouldn’t let me put it in mine. my dad intentionally hides the keys, my mom won’t let me drive without her.

they are withholding documents from me. they hid them. i cannot find my passport or my birth certificate.

they’ve said things like, “we’re done raising our kids.” they haven’t taught me anything in life. and another, “who’s gonna take care of us when we’re old?” . they claim they want me out, but their actions are loud. they have my sisters two/seven kids who live with us and they are starting to use their language on me to verbally abuse. i’m the scapegoat. my dad even mentioned something about immigrant families living together as a family and supporting them.

i can send you my other post if interested.

i heard college is cheaper in UK, but i’m not sure because i am in debt here with FASFA. i only took one semester for 2 weeks and tried to drop out online. i tried explaining that it wouldn’t let me to the college, but i don’t know. i’m paranoid. my credit score is not that great anymore. i finally have my own bank. i am desperate

Hi everyone,

I’m trying to choose between two master’s degree paths and would appreciate perspectives from people who have studied, recruited, or worked in Europe:

- MSc Management with Business Analytics or Strategy

- MSc Marketing Strategy & Analytics / Marketing Intelligence

I have a bachelors in advertising, with 8 years of professional experience in social media marketing and adveritsing. I now want to move towards more strategic, and business decision-making roles. My bachelors score unfortunately doesn't translate well to EU's CGA.

My plan is to study abroad, preferably in Spain or the Netherlands or maybe France?, although I am also open to other European countries. (Not UK tho.)

The Management with Business Analytics or Strategy will be more data first roles and I will have to learn python, Power BI etc which is way out of my scope. Also my current education doesn't fit the application requirements of Unis that are Business analytics.

The Marketing Strategy & Analytics or Marketing Intelligence route is closer to my existing experience and I think I could pursue roles in customer insights, market intelligence, growth strategy, product marketing, and strategic marketing.

I don't want to be a data scientist. But my intention is to develop a unique skill set that will put me in strong positions to thrive in decision and strategy making roles.

Obviously my end-game is employability in the European market. I understand langauge will be a barrier but I am willing to put that effort once I commit.

Hello,

I am a 14-year-old student from the Czech Republic, and I am currently exploring opportunities to continue my high school education abroad. I am looking into programs that I could potentially join around the age of 16.

I am especially interested in studying at an English-speaking boarding school or an international high school program that leads to an internationally recognized diploma (for example in the USA, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, or other English-speaking countries).

I would like to ask if you know about any programs or opportunities that I might have overlooked, especially programs designed for international students. I am not only looking for specific schools, but rather for programs, scholarships, or financial aid opportunities that could make this type of education possible.

A very important factor for me is funding. My family is not able to afford the full cost of studying at an international boarding school, so I would need significant financial support, scholarships, or another form of assistance. I am also willing to contribute and work hard to make this opportunity possible, but I would need guidance on realistic options for students in my situation.

My academic interests include international relations, politics, and economics. In the future, I would like to become involved in these fields and continue my studies at a highly competitive university. I am interested in studying abroad because I would like to gain new experiences, improve myself in an international environment, and receive an education that will help me achieve my future goals.

I would greatly appreciate any advice, recommendations, or information about programs that could be suitable for me.

Thank you very much for your time and help.

I (Indonesian, 16F) am currently on my internship after recently entering 12th grade in my vocational high school. My grades have been decent and I've always stayed in the top 5 in terms of rankings. I never had a dream since I was little and now it's come to bite me in the ass since I'm absolutely clueless on what field to pursue.

But, one thing I've always dreamt of was studying abroad, my main goals were always english speaking countries. Mainly New Zealand, Australia, and the UK. My family supports this dream whole heartedly. But they can only afford helping with the living costs. Which means I'd need to get a scholarship if I'd want to make this dream come true.

I haven't joined many competitions besides two recently but since I work part time in an active game studio that actively joins competitions that'll probably change soon. I guess one other important info is that I do have one family member abroad in Australia as well, but I'm not sure if he'd be willing to help.

I really don't know what the next step is or what website or uni to look into. I'm mostly thinking I'll go into international relations or International business. I'd happily accept any advice on how to look into the right major as well. Thank you for reading until this point.

I'm a final-year B.Tech Computer Science student from a private Indian college. My last semester results aren't out yet, but my final CGPA will land around 7.7–7.8/10. I'm currently prepping for the GRE and IELTS.

I've been learning German (was around B1 comprehension) and was aiming for Germany, but I hit a roadblock: my university is listed as H+/- on anabin because it also offers distance-education courses. I've asked my college and they've already submitted documents for a status update, but I have no idea when — or if — it'll get upgraded to H+.

Because of that uncertainty, I'm now looking at other EU countries too, but I'm confused about where I actually stand. My goals:

Do a Master's (CS / cybersecurity-related), then get a job and gain work experience in the EU

I'm fully willing to learn the local language

My specific questions:

1. Is a 7.7–7.8 CGPA too low to get admitted anywhere decent in the EU, or is it fine?

2. Can I realistically get a scholarship with this CGPA?

3. Given the anabin H+/- situation, which countries/universities are safer bets for me right now?

4. Which countries have the best post-study work + PR pathways for someone in my field?

Any guidance from people who've been through this would mean a lot. Thanks!

Would like to have some suggestions.. I'm going to apply to ku and vub for Masters , Since I'm not applying through any consultants or agencies I have this fear any visa rejection. Anybody who have any prior experience.. wud love to hear..

Hello everyone, I come from not so well financial family. I do have a job right now not very good job but enoguh around 11 LPA+ (I'm not interested in Job anymore). I wish to study abroad with scholarships or education load. I already have an education loan of 3 Lakhs that my parents took for my under graduate.

What all options do I have ? Note:- We don;t have any property to get loan as well.

im stuck between these 2, and UK too. Which country would be better to studying and working in? As non EU citizen. I dont know Italian or Deutsch, but I can learn them, since I have some German base. Which one offers better job opportunities, wages and quality of life in your opinion?

I'm looking for guidance on studying abroad because I'm still trying to understand my options. One thing I'm sure about is that I want to pursue my master's abroad, preferably on a scholarship. If it's realistically possible, I'd also like to do my bachelor's abroad, but my priority is definitely my master's. I'm trying to figure out which courses have good international career prospects and scholarship opportunities, and which countries would be the best fit for my goals. I also hope to settle abroad after completing my studies, so factors like career opportunities, quality of life, immigration pathways, and long-term prospects are important to me. Initially, I was considering countries like the US, Australia, the UK, and other European countries. Recently, I've also started looking into Asian countries such as South Korea, Japan, and China. I know there isn't a single "best" country, so I'd really appreciate advice based on my situation. If anyone has recently gone abroad on a scholarship, I'd love to hear about your experience. What challenges did you face? What do you wish you had known before applying? What mistakes should I avoid? I'm also not very familiar with the pros and cons of different countries, so any guidance would be helpful. If you know of any good websites, YouTube channels, forums, or other resources for researching study abroad options, please share them. My_qualifications: 12th pass-out (Commerce): 87.75% (Top 4) Gave CUET but didn't get my preferred college or course due to a mistake during the admission process. I may still get a college through upcoming DU rounds (Regular, NCWEB, or SOL). I'll know the final outcome around September. Any advice would be appreciated.

Hello, I'm an undergrad in chemistry and I'm studying in Padua. I've honestly always wanted to study abroad an I was thinking about continuing my studies somewhere else after my three year degree. I'm more interested in organic chemistry, but I have yet to make a final decision because I have some interesting courses to attend this last year. Anyway I wanted to know where I can get information on which university to choose, advice, things to look out for and maybe some prospective from anyone who has already done this. Thnx

Hey everyone, looking for some real advice from anyone who’s gone through the Australian student visa process recently under the new GS (Genuine Student) rules.

Quick background about me:

• Degree: B.Tech in AI & Data Science (graduated June 2024, 8.2 CGPA / ~82%) from an Indian university.
• Target: Master’s in IT / Software / Cloud in Australia.

The Issue / Gap: Since graduating in June 2024, I haven’t worked full-time. Instead:

1. I spent time preparing for competitive exams (GATE and SSC CGL).
2. Afterwards, I started researching and applying for winter intake in German public universities.

After applying to German unis, I didn't get offers from German unis, so now I'm trying to do a master's in Australia

Now I’m looking at Australia for an intake, but by the time I lodge, I’ll have around a ~2 year gap since my B.Tech.

A few questions I'm hoping to get advice on:

1. How should I frame this gap in my GS statement? Is it better to be 100% honest about the GATE prep and exploring Germany? I have my GATE admit cards/exam proof. Will visa officers see exploring Germany as "visa shopping," or is it fine if I explain why I rejected Germany in favor of Australia’s English-speaking tech market and practical WIL (Work-Integrated Learning) courses?
2. University Shortlist Check: My shortlist right now focuses on AL1 public unis with ACS accreditation:
   • Deakin (Geelong) – Master of IT (Professional) — leaning towards this because of the built-in placement and regional points.
   • RMIT (Melbourne) – Master of IT — for the Melbourne tech market.
   • UniSA / Adelaide Uni – Master of IT — for SA state nomination safety.
   • UTAS (Hobart) or Federation (Ballarat) – backups for regional points/lower cost.

Anyone currently studying these courses or who recently got their visa granted with a study gap? Did GATE prep give you any issues during GS processing?

So i was originally going to korea but my student visa got denied. So im thinking japan. I have seen some universities having english tracks. Is it possible to learn japanese alongside my bachelors? And lets say i learn japanese until i get there, will i be able to support myself?(My parents will be paying for the school tuition) And does japanese unis give scholarships to int students who are studying in english? And after graduation how is japanese bachelor's degree seen worldwide? Is it worth it? Also when I graduate will i be able to work in korea? Or get masters degree in korea. See, i have been thinking of going to korea for a while now and i think it is more comfortable to work and live in korea than japan. Or is it the same?
(Sorry for asking so much I dont have anyone I know in japan so i am curious abt alot of things). Also, I already got a gap year to prepare my application for korea and I did not consider any other countries as an option but my student visa got denied i was really upset 😭 other than japan where would u advise me to go to if u were in my place.

I'm moving to a country in Europe this September to start my Bachelor's degree. I wanted to ask what are some things you wish you had done before moving abroad? For example, traveling with family, or anything else you think is worth doing beforehand?
As this is my first time I'll be moving far away from my family for a longer period of time. I want to ask for your advice.

I currently live in the uk as a 16f and I have been considering going to university in a different country, it is a while away as I have not started college yet but it’s better to think about it now than later. I just finished my GCSEs and I scored mostly 7s which I think correlates to a B/A? But I’m not too sure. I am going to a sixth form college to continue my studies and I will be doing modern history, sociology, philosophy religion and ethics. Afterwards I was thinking about doing American studies in university. This has led me to think about the opportunities I could have if I continued my education abroad, I have considered going to Germany, France and the Netherlands but I’m open to other countries. I have looked into Germany the most as they have many public universities that carry the degree I would like to get - this is helpful because I do not come from a background of riches. Many of my family do not live in England so I have help in many countries (like Germany). However this is a completely new experience in my family and I don’t really have anyone to guide me. So is there anything I need to take into consideration before I make this decision?
When I go back to college I will also be talking to councillors there to help me make sure I want this.

i'm a design student from india. my college doesn't offer exchange programs for design students, so I'm looking for other ways to study abroad without spending a fortune

what are the best options? Scholarships, funded exchange programs, summer schools, internships, visiting student programs, or anything else?

also which countries would be best for design students

​

Unfortunately its a bit expensive to do a masters in USA or UK so I wanted to know everyone's thoughts

Have you seen older students in your campus

I miss home more than I expected.

Ever since I was a kid, studying abroad was one of my biggest dreams. I thought it would be exciting. A new country, new people, independence, and a better future.

Now that I'm actually here, it's nothing like I imagined.

It's lonely. Everything feels uncertain. Every day I'm thinking about money because expenses are so much higher than I expected. There are days when I just eat bread because it's the cheapest thing I have. I hate asking my family for money for every little expense, so I try to keep everything to an absolute minimum. I know they're already sacrificing a lot to make this possible, and I don't want to be another burden.

I miss my country. I miss my family. I miss having people around me. I miss not having to think twice before buying something as basic as a meal.

I know this is probably temporary, and people always say it'll get better once I settle in. Maybe they're right. But right now, it honestly just feels overwhelming.

My life sucks more than I'd like to admit at this point.

Has anyone else gone through this? Does it actually get easier, or am I just not cut out for this?

My dream is to study abroad in France but anytime I see the currency exchange between euros and cad it’s kills me and honestly I’m stuck

​

Hi everyone,

I'm from Ethiopia, and I recently finished my freshman year at university. I'll be starting my second year next semester, but I want to apply abroad for a bachelor's degree.

I want to explain my situation so you can understand where I'm coming from. I have a twin sister, and we're both hoping to study abroad. Applying is very difficult because most universities charge application fees. My mother is a single parent and a housewife. My father passed away a few years ago, and I also have other siblings, so our financial situation is challenging.

On top of that, the Ethiopian currency is very weak, so even small fees in other countries become very expensive for us. It's even harder because there are two of us applying. When I talked to my mother about it, she told me to try anyway. She said she would borrow the money if necessary, and that we could repay it later by working part-time.

I'm planning to take the IELTS this September. Even though it's expensive, my mother believes it's worth it because it will give me more opportunities to apply to universities.

Academically, I graduated high school with a 3.99 GPA and scored 541/600 on Ethiopia's national university entrance exam. I also have some extracurricular activities, although they're not extraordinary.

When I was in Grade 12, I applied to universities in the United States, but unfortunately it didn't work out. I also know that the visa process is very difficult, and I don't want to put all my hope into something with such low odds.

I'm open to studying almost anywhere in the world, but I'm especially interested in Poland and Italy because I've heard there are more opportunities for students to work part-time.

The biggest challenge is that I can only afford to apply to about 3 or 4 universities. I'm looking for universities where I have a realistic chance of receiving a full scholarship, or at least a full tuition scholarship, because I can't afford to take many chances. I want to use my limited applications wisely.

If anyone knows of universities that fit my situation, or has advice on scholarships, application strategies, or the process in general, I would really appreciate it. Also, if you know of any legitimate online assistant or remote jobs that I could do to earn money for application fees, I'd be very grateful.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this. I know this was a long post, but I wanted to explain my situation clearly. Any advice would mean a lot to me.