Challenges Faced by Pakistani Students Studying Abroad
Studying abroad is a dream for many students but they still face challenges when they are in a new country. These challenges affect their mental health and academic performance so let’s see how you can be better prepared for these difficulties by creating good coping mechanisms:
- The social norms in a new country are completely different and Pakistani students face difficulty adapting to a new culture. This creates isolation and emotional stress. If they face discrimination due to their race, it is even more difficult to assimilate
- Another cause of isolation could be the language barrier. If the student doesn’t know the native language, it can be hard to participate in class or complete assignments
- Many students can not access resources that their peers can, due to financial constraints
- As the students are away from their normal support system, it is difficult for them to cope with their mental health issues. On top of it all, homesickness makes it difficult as well
Cultural Differences and Adaptation
This is a significant challenge for Pakistani students when they have to fit in a foreign environment but they can always overcome these challenges with a positive mindset:
- Researching the host country can give you insights about the culture, customs and norms to understand the expectations and prepare for them
- Learning the language is very important to participate in the academic and social life. This can be done by taking language classes or practicing with language exchange partners
- Students should be open minded when they go into a new environment and accept all cultures they come across
Language Barriers and Communication Skills
Being not able to understand the native language or the language of instruction of your host country can make things increasingly difficult for Pakistani students. It is therefore extremely important expose yourself to more language exchange in the following ways:
- Improve your la gauge by practicing regularly or downloading apps and resources that keep you consistent
- Communication can become easier if you learn the customs and norms before arriving as it makes talking easier
- Extracurricular activities are a perfect opportunity to interact with new people in a relaxed setting and learn communication effectively
- University resources like language labs and writing centres are designed to help foreign students with their tutoring services so make sure to avail these
Through these methods, Pakistani students can polish their communication skills and build the confidence to overcome the barriers to their professional success.
Academic Pressure and Performance Expectations
As the students are faced with completely new academic standards and expectations, it is hard to do this while adapting to a new culture. However, there are ways to cope with this by working on the following:
- Study skills: Developing study skills includes learning how to listen and take notes, managing your time well, learning effective exam preparation techniques, etc to improve your academic performance. This can be done by prioritising the right things and setting realistic goals for yourself. When you are on track, it reduces stress significantly
- Aiming for the perfect GPA will only make your stress worse so set realistic expectations for yourself keeping in mind your strengths and weaknesses
- Seek inspiration and stay motivated by meeting professionals and peers whom you look up to
- Take plenty of breaks and relax with physical activities like meditation or other hobbies
Financial Issues and Cost of Living
Financial issues can cause a lot of anxiety so it is important to learn to manage your resources wisely. You can try these methods to reduce your cost of living:
- Look for research scholarships and other financial aid before you apply to universities. You can book a session with our mentors to find out more about these options
- Planning a budget is very important to control your spending and sustain yourself consistently
- The housing option you avail should be affordable and if you live too far away from the city center or campus, you will be spending too much on the commute
- Use public transport and avail student card discounts. Other cost-effective ways of travelling are cycling and walking
- If you are allowed to work in your student visa, look for part-time jobs to make some extra income
Coping Strategies and Support Systems
While you are going through this period of isolation and homesickness, it is hard to maintain a social life and make a new support system for yourself but this is an important part of dealing with culture shock. Let’s look at some coping strategies that can help you.
Networking and Mentorship
- Building a professional network is detrimental for your success. You can do this by joining a professional organisation and keeping in touch with alumni. Other professionals from Pakistani community can also help you connect and find job opportunities later
- Mentors can be professors, academic advisors or other professionals who can give you insights into the industry and provide emotional support
- Networking can expose you to new ideas and give you potential collaborators to pursue opportunities and find internships or jobs
- Exposure to the cultural norms can be gained through networking events and this can make navigating the challenges of studying abroad much easier
Academic Resources and Community Engagement
Pakistani students studying abroad can benefit greatly from community engagement and academic resources because of the opportunity to develop new skills and build relationships:
- Libraries, writing centres, tutoring services and online resources are all available to students to help them improve academically and develop effective study strategies
- Cultural centres hold events and festivals where other Pakistanis can convene and help each other
- If these options don’t work, students can also join organisation that align with their interests to find like-minded people and build leadership skills through valuable experience
- Volunteering can be a great way to meet new people and gain new experiences through community service projects
- Professional connections can help you find research opportunities that can develop your research skills and foster good relationships with the faculty members. The hands-on experience is very important to build yourself professionally
