Before addressing special characteristics, needs, and problems of international students, I would like to share with you the answer to questions that some people may have in mind. The questions are: Why do some people travel to foreign countries to study? Why do some countries send their young people to study abroad? Don't these countries have universities at home? Isn't it too costly to send students overseas?

Most countries do have universities, often prestigious universities. And it is indeed costly for these countries to send students overseas to study. But the real issue is not money, nor is it the lack of higher education institutions in foreign countries. There are, in fact, many reasons why countries throughout the world send their students abroad to study.