The dream of studying abroad is one that many students hold dear, especially those in Bangladesh. After all, the opportunities you get when pursuing an undergraduate or postgraduate degree abroad are unlike the ones you will get here in Bangladesh, be it in terms of academic curricula or the experience in general.

That being said, turning this dream of studying abroad into reality is no easy task. It's often only when students and their families start the application process that they realise just how much effort is needed. A lot of planning and hard work goes on behind the scenes when parents are preparing to send their children abroad.

The journey usually begins with choosing a destination country and finding the right university. Then you have to secure an offer letter, collect letters of recommendation, maybe reach out to professors at your preferred university, navigate visa applications, and so on. Even after you handle all these, you'll still find that a lot of other matters related to your enrollment into a foreign university are popping up, and all of them will require your urgent attention.

Now, one aspect of studying abroad that often catches students off guard is managing their finances. Many only start thinking about how they'll make smooth payments for tuition and living expenses quite late in the process. This can be a major setback, as not having the right financial arrangements in place can threaten the entire plan of studying abroad.

Had this been Bangladesh, handling the financial side of things wouldn't have been such a big hurdle. However, navigating international payments and understanding foreign exchange is a whole new challenge, one that can make both students and their parents lose sleep. Without the right financial partner or proper guidance, managing cross-border transactions becomes a challenge, and the dream of studying abroad starts to feel out of reach. A lack of familiarity with how these processes work often leads to confusion and uncertainty.

That's why finding a reliable financial institution and preparing for these transactions early on is crucial. It can make all the difference, turning a stressful experience into a smoother journey.

To make the financial issues, especially that of sending tuition fees abroad, more manageable, HSBC's international connectivity can be of great assistance for students. Those looking to study abroad need a seamless financial experience across borders, something that HSBC offers.

HSBC has a global presence that expands to over 60 countries and territories across the world, most of which are popular study abroad destinations including the UK and Australia. With an HSBC Select account, students can gain easy access to funds while enjoying a sense of connectivity even when they are living far away from home.

Besides, HSBC's personalised services at their state-of-the-art sky branches in Dhaka and Chattogram, online banking services, and expertise in international money transfers further help students to properly navigate the foreign land with ease without having to worry about paying tuition fees or other financial matters. Thus, students can focus more on their studies knowing that their banking needs are comprehensively covered.

Moreover, during emergencies, quick access to funds is crucial. HSBC fully understands this, which is why their international debit and supplementary cards ensure that students can use them for transactions during their times of need. Such was the case for Nusaibah, Numah, and Subah, three sisters studying abroad in Canada.

When the sisters initially landed in Canada, they realised that many shops and taxis were not that willing to take cash, which got them worried. Thankfully, their father had set up supplementary debit cards for them through HSBC.

This gave them a huge sense of relief, knowing help was just a swipe away. HSBC debit cards further simplify life abroad, enabling seamless payments for daily expenses, cash withdrawals, and online shopping without high transaction fees. Also, for tuition fee payments, HSBC provides secure and quick transactions, reducing stress for students.

To make the experience even more personal, HSBC provides dedicated relationship managers (RMs) who assist students and their families at every step, from account setup to money management. This personalised support gives peace of mind, letting students focus on their studies and new experiences.

Studying abroad is, without a doubt, an exciting journey, but it comes with its fair share of challenges, especially when it comes to finances. With the right preparation and a trusted financial partner like HSBC, students can navigate these hurdles more smoothly, ensuring a worry-free experience abroad.

HSBC aims to inspire future leaders to realise that their ambitions can transcend geographical boundaries.