How you can study online and travel the world

Students over the years have often faced the dilemma of whether to prioritise their education to gain qualifications and boost their career hopes or explore the many different countries and cultures that the world has to offer. People would often put the latter on hold, waiting until their studies were complete before they embarked on globetrotting adventures.

With online learning more widely available, combining studies with travel is now a more accessible option for many people, meaning they can learn all about their chosen subject while discovering new destinations and cultures. Whether you opt for a scenic café in Paris or a tranquil beach in Bali, online learning provides the freedom to turn any location into a classroom, allowing students to study anywhere they want – provided there is a good internet connection!

If you find yourself wondering how you can embark on a career as a financial adviser for example, and how to go about studying online towards your qualification while travelling the world, we’ve got you covered. We’ll provide tips on how to make it easy to get your qualifications through online studying while exploring the world. We’ll also look at some of the top countries for internet speed, locations where a tourist visa is required, and the time difference between those countries and the UK.

Top tips for travelling while studying online

With some strategic planning, there’s no reason why you can’t have the best of both worlds and study while travelling the globe. This can be a rewarding experience, and by finding the right balance, you can achieve your qualifications while exploring new places and cultures. Here are some tips to help you combine your studies with your travels.

Choose a flexible online course

First and most importantly, you need to choose a flexible online course that will help towards your academic and career goals. Whether you need to complete an online course to reach your chosen career role such as a mortgage adviser or if you’re looking to enhance skills you have already acquired, flexibility is a must.

Not only is a flexible online course beneficial when it comes to scheduling your workload and meeting deadlines, but it also allows you to adapt your study routine to your travel itinerary.

Create the perfect study setup

Travelling can be chaotic, especially if you’re going to multiple destinations, so it’s important to try and create a study space that makes your learning experience as productive as possible. A reliable internet connection, a portable Wi-Fi device and essential digital tools are necessary.

Ensure you have a quiet space with minimal distractions to allow you to focus on your studies. Check beforehand if the destination you plan to visit has good libraries or quiet cafés. Another thing to consider is investing in a decent pair of noise-cancelling headphones to drown out background noise.

Plan your travel itinerary accordingly

Setting aside enough time for your studies is crucial, but it’s equally important to plan your travel itinerary accordingly to get the most out of your chosen destination. Finding the right balance between study sessions and travel experiences is key. Before you begin your travel journey, research the location and compile a list of things to see and do.

While planning ahead can save you time and sometimes even money by booking excursions in advance, remember to stay adaptable as travel plans can easily change. Have a backup plan in place that won’t interfere with your studies.

Stay productive and remain focused

Exploring new destinations is exciting when there is so much to see and do, but staying focused on your studies is important to ensure you stay on track. You must have great time management skills to remain productive throughout your study sessions. You could set a study schedule dedicating time each day or week to meet deadlines as well as allowing you time to explore your surroundings.

If you can download lectures and assignments in advance this can prevent issues if you struggle with connectivity. To avoid losing your work, make sure you regularly back it up to cloud storage or an external device.

Countries to consider exploring and studying in

While travelling comes down to personal preference, some countries have advantages over others when it comes to online learning and travelling at the same time.

Using Speedtest Global Index to identify the top five countries for internet speed, we will then look if a tourist visa is required for each country and the time zone differences to the UK. We’ve also found the top tourist destinations for each country using TripAdvisor. Let’s look at some of the top countries to visit while studying an online course.

Singapore

Internet speed: 247.44mbps

Tourist visa required: No visa is required for British citizens

Time difference to the UK: (+)7 hours

Top tourist attraction: Gardens by the Bay

Hong Kong 

Internet speed: 242.99mbps

Tourist visa required: No visa is required for British citizens for up to 6 months

Time difference to the UK: (+)7 hours

Top tourist attraction: Victoria Peak

Chile

Internet speed: 240.34mbps

Tourist visa required: No visa is required for British citizens if visiting for less than 90 days

Time difference to the UK: -5 hours

Top tourist attraction: Cerro San Cristobal 

United Arab Emirates

Internet speed: 238.23mbps

Tourist visa required: British passport holders are granted free of charge tourist visa upon arrival, which is valid for up to 40 days

Time difference to the UK: (+)3 hours

Top tourist attraction: The Dubai Fountain

Thailand

Internet speed: 211.28mbps

Tourist visa required: British passport holders can enter the country for 30 days without a visa

Time difference to the UK: (+)6 hours

Top tourist attraction: BTS Skytrain

The takeaway

Education and gaining qualifications are crucial if you want to give yourself the best start to your career or enhance the skills you have already acquired in a profession. However, with so many opportunities around that allow you to explore the world and experience new places and cultures while learning online, there is no reason why you can’t have the best of both worlds. 

With some flexibility and meticulous planning, you can make the most of the freedom that an online course offers and explore the world one assignment at a time. Have you travelled while studying an online course? We’d love to hear about your experiences.