How to make money while studying abroad

Studying abroad is great, it will expose you to new cultures and broaden your horizons – you will experience something different from what you are used to in your home country.

However, it doesn’t come cheap, studying abroad can be costly, aside from the heavy tuition fees, there are travel expenses, living costs, books and other academic materials you need to get.

All of these come at a price. Even without tuition fees, you can pay thousands of dollars yearly on other expenses.

This makes it hard for most international students, especially those on a budget – if you want to get by, you need other sources of income.

You need to earn your own money – it will help you cover the majority of these expenses and guess what?

This guide will walk you through proven ways you can make this money while still keeping good grades.

Is there any way to earn money while studying?

Absolutely yes, there are ways to earn money while studying, you can take part-time employment, internships, freelancing, tutoring, online surveys jobs, remote work, creating and selling products, participating in research studies, and campus jobs.

The methods are many, the question is; which one best fits you? Do you have the right skills or you are willing to grab a few bucks through other means?

How to make money while studying abroad

If you want to earn good money while studying abroad, do any of the following:

• You can apply for a paid internship

The truth is that not all internships are paid, yeah, the majority of the internship opportunities you will find abroad while studying aren’t paid but some pay you a stipend.

Kale Hyder, as an intern at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab, was paid a $10,000 stipend.

Protip: Summer internships pay higher, so you can go for them, they are a great way to gain experience and make money on the side.

With the stipend, you can pay your bills or offset your living costs. Some internship opportunities will even provide accommodation for you, you can stay live there as long as you are still an intern.

Before you get excited though, internship opportunities that come with a stipend are usually highly sought after, you need to be qualified for the position before you will be accepted.

If you want to get any paid internship, you have to find them and apply for them, you can start searching from Google.com.

In addition, you can consult your school’s academic or international students units to help you with information about such opportunities.

If they have anyone available, they will let you know and you can apply for them. It is also important for you to know that some paid internships may require you to get a work visa.

Speak with your school student affairs unit on what needs to be done so you don’t violate any immigration regulations.

• You can take up a part-time work opportunity

Many countries allow international students to work while they are studying, Canada, the United Kingdom, the USA, Australia, Germany and a bunch of other countries are all on this table they allow international students to work while on full-time study programs.

However, your working hours are limited, some countries allow you to work 20 hours per week while others are for a higher number of hours.

With part-time work, you can work on or off campus and earn good money – you can earn $15/hr or more depending on the country and its minimum wage.

a. On-Campus Jobs: Many universities have on-campus job opportunities for international students.

You can apply for these positions, they can be employed to work in the library, administrative offices, or at student services.

b. Off-Campus Jobs: Some countries allow international students to work off-campus during their studies.

To get off-campus jobs, you need to look into local job markets and consider roles that align with your skills and schedule.

• Participate in research studies

Most Universities are hubs of research and innovation and this presents an opportunity for you.

As a student studying abroad, you have the opportunity to participate in various research studies conducted by your university.

These research projects cover a wide range of subjects, from science and technology to social sciences and humanities.

And guess what? They are mostly paid, and participating will not only help you contribute to the academic community but also help you get paid on the side.

How you can get involved:

If you want to get involved in your university research projects, you need to do the following:

• Bulletin boards: Keep an eye on bulletin boards around your campus. Professors and research teams often post announcements seeking student participants for ongoing studies.
• Always check your university websites: You need to regularly check your university’s official website or the department pages for any announcements or calls for research study participants.
• Networking: You can also get research opportunities if you network with other students and professors, researchers, or graduate students in your field of interest. They will inform you about upcoming research opportunities.

Any of these methods will connect you to paid research opportunities that can help you earn money while contributing academically to your field of study.

• You can start a blog or a YouTube Channel

Another way to make money while studying abroad is through blogging or a YouTube channel.

If you don’t mind sharing your experience, starting a blog or YouTube channel is an excellent way to share your unique experiences, insights, and expertise with a global audience and earn money.

Whether you’re passionate about travel, have niche knowledge, or want to document your study abroad journey, you can use these platforms (a blog or YouTube) to share what you know and earn money from it.

You can even run a blog and a YouTube channel together.

How do you get started with a blog or a YouTube channel?

To start your blog or YouTube channel:

• Choose your niche: Identify a specific area of interest or expertise that you’re passionate about. This could be travel, academic tips, cultural exploration, or any other niche that resonates with your audience.
• Create high-quality content: Produce engaging and high-quality content through your blog posts, videos, or a combination of both. Share your experiences, insights, and valuable information that your audience will find interesting.
• Monetization channels:
• You can monetize your blog or YouTube channel through various means.
  • Ads: Once you’ve built a substantial audience, you can monetize your blog or YouTube channel through advertising. Platforms like Google AdSense can display ads, and you earn revenue based on clicks and impressions.
  • Sponsorships: You can collaborate with brands relevant to your niche. Sponsored content that you will earn money from can include product placements, reviews, or shout-outs in exchange for payment.
  • Affiliate Marketing: You can also promote affiliate products or services in your content and earn a commission for each sale made through your unique affiliate link.

In addition to blogging and YouTube channels, you can also try e-commerce.

If you have a talent for creating handmade crafts, artwork, or unique products, starting an e-commerce business can be a fulfilling and profitable venture for you to earn money student abroad.

You can read this article by cloudmellow.com on how to earn through e-commerce by clicking here.

Monetize your skill

If you have a skill or you are passionate about something, maybe you are very good at photography or videography, you can monetize your skill and make money from it while studying abroad.

As a photographer, you can capture the beauty and essence of your host country and monetize your work.

How to monetize your skills

• Create a portfolio: Build a portfolio showcasing your best photography or videography work. Highlight the diversity and uniqueness of your host country.
• Sell Stock Photos/Videos: Upload your high-quality photos or videos to stock photo websites like Shutterstock, Adobe Stock, or iStock. You earn royalties whenever someone purchases your work.
• You can also offer local businesses your services: You can reach out to local businesses, tourism boards, or travel agencies and offer your services for promotional materials. Many businesses appreciate authentic and locally sourced visuals for their marketing efforts.
• Freelance work: Another way for you to monetize your work is by exploring freelance opportunities for event coverage, portraits, or promotional videos within your local community.

In addition, if you have musical or artistic talents, you can offer lessons to others who want to learn and make money.

This is a great way to way to share your skills and also a source of income.

Language exchange is a good option

Another way for you to make money while studying abroad is through language exchange or touring.

If you’re proficient in your native language or any other language you’re fluent in, you can do language tutoring services.

It is a great way to connect with local students seeking to improve their language skills and make money on the line.

To get started, you just need to

• Identify your language skills: Determine the languages you’re proficient in (and people are willing to pay to learn), whether it’s your native language or a language you’ve learned during your studies.
• Then create a tutoring profile: Develop a profile that highlights your language expertise, your approach to teaching, and any relevant certifications or experience.
• Advertise your new business locally: Use community bulletin boards, university announcements, or online platforms to advertise your language tutoring services.

Beyond language skills, you can provide cultural insights and nuances to make your tutoring sessions more enriching.

You can also do subject tutoring, if you have a subject you are very good in, you can leverage your academic strengths by offering subject tutoring services.

This will not only help your peers but also be a valuable source of income.

• Take up an online job