Building Foundations for Global Learning: Parents as Partners in the Study Abroad Journey

As more Indian students navigate higher education overseas, the role of parents has evolved from decision-makers to active supporters in their children’s global education journey. As the career counsellor at FLAME, I frequently receive questions from parents on how to navigate global academic systems and support them in a world where information and AI dominate. 

Here, we explore how parent awareness and emotional preparedness, along with proper financial planning, can help make the transition to a new academic journey smooth and enriching. 

It’s your journey too—prepare yourself
At the Higher Education Counselling office of FLAME, we take a simple but comprehensive journey from an opinion about studying abroad to an informed opinion stage. Meaning, being an informed parent helps your child bounce off ideas with you. So, it’s important that as a parent of a liberal education student, you take time to do your research on different degree combinations, study abroad destinations, and return on investment. Make a conscious effort to understand the host country and the university by educating yourself on its culture, norms, safety protocols, and local laws so that choosing the right university is a joint decision of the family, too. At FLAME, through our comprehensive parent education sessions and group counselling, we make sure all parent queries and concerns are resolved at the early stages of career profiling. 

The cushion they need - Soft Skill Integration
At FLAME, our ecosystem nurtures students’ soft skills early on whether it’s laundry, timetabling, planning, or networking. These everyday abilities become a cushion when they face the uncertainties of living independently in a new country.

In moments of uncertainty, students who have cultivated such skills find it easier to adapt and build on them. As parents, you can support this growth by taking small but deliberate steps to let your child lead tasks independently. From applying for a visa to taking a cab to the IELTS exam or preparing a packing list for departure, each experience helps them develop lifelong skills.

These small but firm steps build resilience, accountability, and adaptability. And when they are abroad, these qualities prove invaluable whether opening a bank account, adjusting to roommates from diverse backgrounds, enrolling for electives in advance, or simply sourcing a new SIM card. Every skill adds up, equipping them to thrive in unfamiliar environments with confidence!

Emotions are at the heart of this change-talk
In the logistics of moving away, it’s very easy to lose track of the heaviness of this entire process. While most FLAME students avail themselves of the opportunities of summer immersion, study abroad, and even semester abroad programs to understand different cultures, the move for a longer period can still be daunting. So, discuss important things like mental health, culture shock, rejection, and loneliness in advance. Sharing personal stories on how you navigated challenges in college and how they can navigate them today can be very helpful. Setting healthy communication check-ins helps to foster a trust-based relationship where your child will not find it hard to share everything new that they are experiencing in the journey.

Start in advance—focus on documentation and financial literacy
Most global master’s programs and scholarship applications open at least a year in advance.  Starting early gives students and their families the time to prepare thoroughly, from researching universities and funding options to building strong application profiles. Ensure the timely completion of all documents, along with passports, visas, scholarships, insurance, health documents, etc. Encourage your child to keep originals and photocopies of all documents in both hard and soft copies, in multiple formats and at various destinations. Keeping a margin of 2-3 weeks before each deadline teaches them to respect time and keep buffers before and after tasks. While you help them set up international banking arrangements and remittance channels, understand their relationship with money and how they spend it. Using logic and basic reasoning to explain hidden costs like taxes, living expenses, traveling expenses, etc., equips them with an informed understanding of money and its utility

It’s their dream—support but don’t lead
Parents often feel compelled to make choices on behalf of their children, hoping to make life easier.  But this stage is about building a strong foundation, one that allows your child to stand independently, wherever they go in the future. Support their career decisions, ask thoughtful questions, but let their research and aspirations take the lead. Be open to non-traditional career paths and study abroad destinations, and know that the definition of success varies across disciplines, countries, and cultures. The best way to evaluate is by developing a curriculum-driven approach—one where a critical review of the curriculum of each suitable university is conducted, rather than relying solely on rankings and reputation. 

Studying abroad is a journey of independence, resilience, and informed choices, one that thrives when parents support without leading, and students take ownership of their path. At FLAME, we provide the guidance and ecosystem to make this transition confident and collaborative.

(Author: Anshika Arora, Assistant General Manager, Higher Education Counselling Office, FLAME University)

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