Living Abroad
Expat & Relocation Guides
467 in-depth guides for expats and internationally mobile families — international schools and education, living abroad by country, tax, relocation, healthcare and cross-border banking.
International Schools & Education
Choosing, applying to and funding international schools abroad — curricula, admissions timelines, fees and university planning for expat families.
Settling Your Child into School in Rome: A Practical 2026 Guide
Moving a child to a new school in a new country is one of the most complex parts of any international relocation. This practical guide covers the residency paperwork, the first weeks at school, language adjustment, and how to help children settle into Rome life.
Read guide →Settling Your Child into School in Vienna: A Practical Guide
The practical groundwork of moving a child to school in Vienna — German, the Meldezettel, the school year, healthcare and helping them settle.
Read guide →Settling Your Child into a New School in Bangkok: A Practical Guide
Moving a child to a new school in Bangkok is a significant transition. This guide covers the practical and emotional dimensions — from school culture differences and EAL support to family visas, paediatric healthcare, and building connections in a city with a fast-moving expat community.
Read guide →Settling Your Child into a New School in Dubai: A Practical Guide
Moving a child to a new school in Dubai is a significant life event. Most children adapt remarkably well — but preparation, good communication with the school, and realistic expectations from parents make an enormous difference. This practical guide covers every age group and key concern.
Read guide →Settling Your Child into a New School in Hong Kong: A Practical Guide
Hong Kong's English-medium international schools make language less of a barrier than in most Asian cities. This guide covers what to expect when settling children into school — from Mandarin as a subject to parent networks, healthcare and the post-2019 context.
Read guide →Settling Your Child into a New School in KL: A Practical Guide for Expat Families
Kuala Lumpur's established expat school communities, affordable private tutors, and family-friendly infrastructure make it one of South-East Asia's most welcoming cities for children. This guide covers the practicalities of the first weeks and months after arrival.
Read guide →Settling Your Child into a New School in Lisbon: A Practical Guide
Moving a child into a new school in Lisbon is a significant transition. Most children adapt faster than parents expect — but preparation, honest communication, and understanding the Portuguese school environment make a real difference. This guide covers every age group, from nursery to sixth form.
Read guide →Settling Your Child into a New School in Paris: A Practical Guide
Moving a child to a new school in Paris involves French administrative requirements, a different school day culture and practical decisions that the UK schooling experience does not prepare you for. This guide covers what to expect — honestly — and how to make the transition smooth.
Read guide →Settling Your Child into a UK School After Returning from Abroad
The academic transition back to UK school is often easier than the social and emotional one. This guide covers reverse culture shock, British school norms, uniform culture, EAL support for multilingual children, and practical strategies to help your child build a social life in a new school.
Read guide →Special Educational Needs (SEN) and International Schools: A Guide for Expat Families
SEN provision in international schools varies enormously by country and institution. This guide helps families with children who have learning differences navigate the transition, advocate effectively, and find the right support.
Read guide →Supporting Your Child's Wellbeing Through International School Transitions
The emotional dimension of moving schools internationally is as important as the practical one. This guide draws on research into Third Culture Kids and expat family psychology to help parents support their children through transitions.
Read guide →Taking A-Levels Abroad: A Complete Guide for Expat Families
Thousands of international students study for Cambridge or Edexcel A-Levels at schools outside the UK every year. This guide explains how the A-Level pathway works abroad, which subjects matter most, and the practicalities of sitting exams as an international candidate.
Read guide →UCAS from Abroad: Applying to UK Universities as an International Student
Applying to UK universities through UCAS from an international school is entirely manageable — but the timeline, fee status rules, and visa requirements are not always well explained. This guide covers everything from registration to accepting an offer.
Read guide →UK Independent School Fees 2026: Day, Boarding, Bursaries, and Scholarships
UK independent school fees rose sharply after VAT was applied in January 2025. This guide breaks down current day and boarding costs, explains bursaries and scholarships, and helps returning expat families plan the true total cost of a UK private education.
Read guide →UK Private Schools for Returning Expats: Entrance Exams, Timing, and Registration
UK independent schools offer flexibility on curriculum and boarding — but entrance is competitive and timed to a strict calendar. Returning expat families must understand the 7+, 11+, and 13+ registration windows before they leave the UK behind.
Read guide →UK School Waiting Lists for Returning Expat Families: State and Private Strategy
Many UK state schools in desirable areas are full, and popular independent schools have waiting lists years long. This guide explains how state school waiting lists are managed, how to improve your position, and how to pursue private school places when your first choices are unavailable.
Read guide →UK State Schools for Returning Expat Children: Admissions, Catchment, and Curriculum Gaps
UK state schools are free and high quality, but admission is strictly address-based. This guide explains how local authority admissions work for returning expat families, how to handle in-year applications, and how to bridge curriculum gaps when your child re-enters the National Curriculum.
Read guide →UK University Admissions for Returning Expats: Home Fees, UCAS, and the 3-Year Rule
UK university fee status — home (£9,535/year) versus international (£26,000–£38,000/year) — is determined by where a student has lived in the three years before their course starts. For returning expat families, this is one of the most significant financial planning points in the entire school journey, and many families only discover it when it is too late to change.
Read guide →UK University Fee Status for Expat Students: Home vs International Fees Explained
The difference between home and international fee status at a UK university can exceed £100,000 over a three-year degree. This guide explains the ordinary residence test, how long children must live in the UK before starting university, and how to plan effectively if your family lives abroad.
Read guide →US University Admissions from International Schools: SAT, Common App, and IB
Applying to US universities from an international school abroad is genuinely achievable — but the system has its own logic. This guide explains the Common App, SAT requirements, IB equivalencies, financial aid realities, and the timeline families need to follow.
Read guide →University Admissions from Athens International Schools: UCAS, UK Fees, and Beyond (2026)
Students graduating from Athens international schools apply to universities worldwide through UCAS, the US Common App, and direct European pathways. This guide explains how the process works, the critical UK home versus international fee question, and what to expect from the main destination universities.
Read guide →University Admissions from Bali International Schools: A Guide for Expat Families (2026)
The IB Diploma from Bali's international schools — primarily BIS and CCS — is accepted by universities worldwide including Russell Group, Ivy League, and Australian Go8. This guide explains UCAS and US admissions from Bali, IB score benchmarks, and how to plan for gaps in Bali's secondary provision.
Read guide →University Admissions from Bangkok's International Schools: UCAS & Beyond
Applying to university from Bangkok's international schools follows the same UCAS process and deadlines as the UK. NIST students gained places at Oxford, Cambridge, UCL, Imperial, Cornell and Penn in 2025; Harrow's 51% A*/A positions students strongly for Russell Group. This guide covers every pathway — UCAS, US Common App, and medicine.
Read guide →University Admissions from Barcelona International Schools: Where Graduates Go
Where do Barcelona's international school graduates go to university, and how do A-Levels, the IB Diploma and AP courses translate into offers? A practical guide.
Read guide →Planning a move abroad?
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Our guides provide the framework — but every expat's situation is different. Book a free consultation with one of our advisers for guidance specific to your move and circumstances.