When narrowing down your university options, it is natural to evaluate various factors. You may look at the education cost, available degree programs or majors, and your university location is one of the most significant factors. As an international student, your university location significantly impacts your overall university experience.
Consider, for instance, that your institution is located in a central metropolitan area. In this instance, you may have access to additional social events, internship chances, and public and private transportation. A university in a smaller town may have a bigger campus and more on-campus activities and programmes. These factors are essential for making the correct option while picking the perfect school.
Let’s look at some of the reasons why your university location is an essential criteria.
Finances & Your University Location
Your university location can impact your overall finances as an international student in more ways than you think. Let’s start with accommodation. If your university has on-campus accommodation and is available during your time of admission, then whether your university location is within the city or outside does not matter. Since you will be staying at the on-campus accommodation, you and your parents will plan the budgeting conveniently.
Now, there is no on-campus accommodation available at the time of your admission. In that case, you may prefer to live independently or privately. In that case, you will need to find private accommodation near your university. Suppose your university location is within the city. In that case, your chances of finding private accommodation closer to your university location will be more.
Suppose your university location is outside the city, and your preference is to live in private accommodation. In that case, you will need to put extra effort into finding private accommodation near your university. While living in private accommodation may be a more inexpensive option, the transportation cost from your accommodation to your university may get affected depending on how far your private accommodation is from your university location.
Another major factor that may surprise your monthly budget as an international student is the social student life expenses. How much you are willing to spend on your social activities is entirely up to you and your pocket money. Suppose you are considering studying at a university in the city, e.g., Kuala Lumpur. In that case, you will have a splendid social life. Suppose your university is located outside the city. In that case, you will then be relying on the social activities available on campus or nearby your university and planning beforehand with your friends to go to the city.
Transportation & Your University Location
The location of your university can significantly influence your transportation as an international student in Malaysia. You decide to study at a university in Kuala Lumpur, just 20 mins drive away from the city centre or the Petronas towers. In this case, you will have access to public transport, which costs much less than, e.g., a private car rental.
Affordable transportation will enable quick access to hospitals or clinics if you fall ill or have a health emergency. Another great benefit of affordable transportation is easy to access to social activities that will make your university life as an international student in Malaysia memorable.
While there are certain benefits of studying at a university in the city, most universities that are a bit further outside the city centre have huge campuses. Such universities have a lot of facilities available on campus so that the students do not have to travel frequently outside of the campus for minute errands. For example, these universities have on-campus clinics, cafeterias, social spaces, and outdoor and indoor sports arenas where students can relax, play and socialise.
Future Prospects & Your University Location
Your university location can also play an essential role in your career prospects. When you choose to study in a university located in a city, your chances of internships at multinational companies, fast-growing startups or well-established local companies increase significantly. This is because many global and regional companies are located in the city. Many regional and international students use this as an opportunity to find excellent internships, which benefit them immensely once they graduate.
On the other hand, if your university location is outside of the city, your options, e.g., internship, are limited to finding part-time work on-campus. Many universities outside the city offer internships or part-time work opportunities for students in various departments, such as library assistants, technical assistants, and student ambassadors. This is ideal for those students who wish to find work within their university or close by.
Whether you study in a city or outside of a town, you must consider the factors mentioned above. Since the university is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for most students who do not intend to pursue further education after graduation. You must enjoy and make the most of your student life.
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