However, time and experience are the greatest of all teachers and there are a number of things that you should be looking out for if you are aspiring to study abroad. For Sameer—an IBA graduate now studying MSc Finance at the University of Manchester—the greatest challenge was sorting out his visa application. “I had to make sure that I provided everything with my application even if it was not relevant, just to make sure that I am not refused the visa like so many other students.” He took the IELTS exam even though there was no prerequisite to do so of any sort.

Sameer also feels that due to the global economic recession and mass layoffs, competition for acquiring university admissions was fierce this term “Applying to universities was a challenge since a lot of people who have lost their jobs turned towards higher studies.”

Along the same lines, Soonha—an A-levels graduate from Lyceum who is now studying for a BA Literature degree at the University of Kent—feels that the visa delay was her biggest worry in the entire process. “Numerous other students faced the same problem as well; we had absolutely no idea whether we were going to get our visas. I had to keep a constant sharp eye on my application status and luckily I got mine in time.”

But applying for a visa comes well after sorting out your finances for the entire term; and mustering enough money to fund studies and accommodation abroad is no mean feat. A large number of students therefore wish to work part-time while studying as well.

Sameer reflects that if this is the plan, it must be put into action much earlier on, “If you want to work part-time, come to the UK early, about a month before university starts, and start looking for work.”

Especially with the present economic recession, the UK's job market has been one of the worst hit across Europe. Soonha adds, “Since finances were a main cause of concern for me, I had to find a part-time job to supplement the amount of money my parents were sending me. I have learned that jobs are pretty hard to come by, even for students, and it is tough to find a job with good wages.”

If you are pragmatic and have managed this far, bravo to you. But there are always newer challenges and experiences awaiting students in a foreign land. For Sameer, living amidst a kaleidoscope of multi-ethnic students in the residential dorms has been nothing short of an adventure and he claims to have learned many things from his experiences. “One needs to be patient when living with people from various cultures because it can be a bit challenging to get used to so many different personalities and backgrounds. The best thing is to learn from their positive traits and ignore the negatives.”

Soonha, on her part, appears to have taken the cultural shock in stride and says that living amongst so many different people has given her an opportunity to become socially more active. “I try to be more involved in social events and student society affairs. I also love spending time with the friends I have made on campus.” Both Sameer and Soonha admit that studying abroad is a great opportunity to learn in earnest about different cultures and is an experience of a lifetime.

There are, however, things that you tend to miss when abroad and alone. Apart from deeply missing his parents and family, Sameer misses his job as well “Living here, I am on a shoestring budget whereas I never had any money issues back in Pakistan,” he says. There are, of course, other luxuries that we tend to take for granted in Pakistan “I also hate travelling in buses and I miss my car but I cannot afford one here,” adds Sameer woefully.

Young Soonha, on the other hand, misses her parents most of all especially since she became ill soon after reaching England and felt terribly homesick “I had a fever one evening and wasn't sure what medicine to take. I called my mother back home in Karachi and she got very worried. Though the cold did not last long, everybody back home was terribly concerned and I was getting continuous phone calls.”

There is no doubt that life abroad as a student is riddled with challenges; but once you have ploughed through the boulders (not to mention the extreme cold weather), there is a world of exciting experiences waiting to be lived through in the precious short time spent on foreign soils.

“I love the fact that I am living an independent life here and thoroughly enjoying the studies,” says Soonha excitedly. “I am studying my favourite subjects with some marvellous teachers and I wouldn't miss their classes for anything.”

Sameer agrees about the quality of education as well “The teaching methodology is definitely par excellence here. The projects are great fun and all the information is available to students via web portals.” Above everything, he loves the great sense of ownership and responsibility that he has developed through studying independently “The best part is that you are on your own and it is all in your hands; you lose out yourself if you don't study so it makes you so much more persevering.”

Both the students agree that coming to the UK for higher studies has been one of the best experiences of their lives. As for prospective students, Sameer says, “Apply to universities well in advance as you have a better chance of getting into a good university.” It is, after all, a huge decision and Soonha adds, “Be careful, practical and clear about what you want to do and whether you can afford it. Higher studies in England are quite expensive so go for a subject that you love. If you have this sorted, then it is every bit worth your time and money.”