Annually, thousands of students embark on a journey beyond their borders to pursue higher education. This adventure, although promising, can be laden with challenges. To navigate these waters successfully, students must arm themselves with a set of skills that transcend academic prowess. This guide delves into the top ten skills indispensable for a rewarding study abroad experience. 10 Essential Skills to Learn Before Going to Study Abroad Independence: The Foundation of Overseas Education Independence is the most significant transformation students encounter when studying abroad. It's a multifaceted skill encompassing self-reliance and responsibility. From basic chores like laundry and grocery shopping to more complex tasks like managing personal finances and making informed decisions, independence is critical. Developing problem-solving skills to tackle unexpected challenges is equally important, as it ensures students can handle various situations without constant guidance. Read more: 10 Essential Life Skills for Teens to Learn before College Research and Planning: Your Blueprint for Success A thorough understanding of your destination's culture, legal system, and day-to-day life is vital. This means researching not just your academic institution and its curriculum, but also local customs, public transportation, and essential services. Effective planning helps mitigate culture shock and eases the transition, making your study abroad experience more enjoyable and less overwhelming. Financial Literacy: Navigating Economic Waters Abroad Mastering local banking systems and effective budgeting are paramount. Learn how to open a bank account, manage transactions, and understand currency exchange rates. Budgeting becomes a lifeline abroad; it involves setting realistic spending limits for various needs, including rent, food, transportation, and entertainment. Regularly tracking expenses helps avoid financial pitfalls and ensures a sustainable lifestyle. Cross-Cultural Communication: Bridging the Gap Adapting to a new culture requires a deep understanding of both verbal and non-verbal communication. This includes being aware of cultural norms in conversation, greetings, and gestures. Respectful and empathetic communication is key to forming meaningful relationships and avoiding misunderstandings. Embracing the local language, even at a basic level, can significantly enrich interactions and open doors to deeper cultural insights. Adaptability and Empathy: The Heart of Cultural Immersion The ability to adapt to new environments and empathize with different cultures is crucial. This skill is about more than just surviving; it's about thriving in a foreign setting. Adaptability means being open to new experiences, whether it’s adjusting to different academic structures or embracing unique social customs. Empathy allows you to appreciate and respect cultural differences, fostering a more inclusive and enriching experience.

When it comes to driving from one place to another, having a driving license is not just a privilege but a necessity. But when it makes that transition time-consuming, the journey becomes downright painful. Unfortunately, it has been a regular scenario in Bangladesh. However, thanks to the Smart Card Driving Licence, the possibilities in the road transport sector are beginning to unfold. This is going to be a signature service of BRTA (Bangladesh Road Transport Authority). Let’s discuss the steps to get a BRTA Smart Card Driving License hassle-free. What is the BRTA Smart Card Driving License? The BRTA's Smart Card Driving License streamlines the license acquisition process, storing driver information and expediting police verification. Previously, applicants needed to apply separately for learner and smart card licenses through BSP (BRTA Service Portal). Later on November 16, 2022, a merged online form was launched, simplifying this. It, even, comes with some new benefits. New Benefits of BRTA Smart Card Driving License - Single visit to the examination center for biometric, written, oral, and practical tests.- BSP portal registrants receive a learner license with an online QR code for temporary nationwide driving.- Services also include fee payment, exam results, application submission, and status tracking.- Smart card licenses are sent by post. Read more: Smart NID Card in Bangladesh: Online Application Process, Documents Needed, Fees Prerequisites for BRTA Smart Card Driving License It includes mental and physical qualifications, education up to at least class 8, and minimum ages of 21 for professional and 18 for non-professional drivers. Importantly, passing the learner’s test is mandatory to apply for a smart card license. How to Apply for the BRTA Smart Card E-Driving License Required Documents Most documents needed for a learner’s driving license application also apply here, including:- Recent passport-sized photograph of the applicant (300/300 pixels)- Medical certificate from a registered doctor. Applicant's NID - One utility bill (gas/electricity/water) if the current address differs from the NID- Certificate of educational qualification- Proof of passing learner’s driving license test- Refer to the provided links for police investigation reports, where applicable. http://www.brta.gov.bd/site/page/511a7af4-20c8-4450-b4a6-5f92dde1b23f/- http://www.brta.gov.bd/site/page/4258fc8f-8aec-4895-b11d-a0b33b489af2/- Please ensure that all documents are scanned and prepared before applying online. The scanned passport-sized photo file should not exceed 150 KB (kilobyte), while other files should stay within 600 KB. Read more: Bangladesh Smart National ID Card Correction Process: Payments and Necessary Documents Online Application Process To apply online, visit the BSP portal at https://bsp.brta.gov.bd/. Begin by creating an account on the portal through registration, which will store all the driving-related information. Let's proceed step by step through the application process. Registration - Click on the 'Registration' menu at the top right of the BSP portal.- Complete the registration by providing the date of birth, NID, and mobile number.- Verify the mobile number through the OTP (one-time-password) sent to it.- Finish the registration by setting a password. Access the BSP portal using the mobile number and password. Those who have already registered can enter their accounts directly by clicking on the 'Login' menu on the site. Application for Learner’s Driving License - After logging in, the user will encounter their customer dashboard. On the left-hand side, they should navigate to the 'Driving Licence' sub-menu and select 'Application for Driving Licence.'- The next page displays the required documents. Download the Medical Certificate form via the 'Click Here' link.- Obtain a medical certificate from a registered doctor or medical officer based on this form.- Follow the terms on the page and click 'I agree' to proceed to the next step. Read more: Where to Learn Car Driving in Dhaka? NID Information This step initializes the 5-step driving license application process. The NID number will auto-fill, considering it was provided earlier. Click 'Next' to proceed to the 2nd step. Driving License Information - Choose the driving license language, type, class of motor vehicle, and type of applicant (Learner and Smart Driving License).- Click 'Next,' and a popup message confirms the successful saving of information. Click 'OK' to proceed. Basic Applicant Information - Some information will be pre-populated based on the NID. Additional data needs to be input.- Complete mandatory fields, including educational qualification, blood group, occupation, marital status, nationality, and dual citizenship. Click 'Next,' then 'OK' as before. Address and Contact Information - Provide emergency contact details, including both permanent and current addresses.- If the current address remains unaltered, input it in English, mirroring the left-side display.- If the current address differs, click 'No' and input the changed address in both Bengali (left side) and English (right side). Click 'Next' and 'OK' as before to proceed. Read more: Bangladesh e-Passport Information Update: Step by Step Procedure, Related Costs Attachment and Smart Card Distribution Information - Attach scanned copies of the required documents collected earlier. Click 'Choose File' to upload and 'Save' to attach. Use the 'View' button to preview attachments.- The address for smart card delivery via post is auto-filled. Alternatively, select 'Others' to specify a different address, providing full details.- Click 'Submit' to verify the information one last time. Make any necessary changes or confirm if all is accurate. If everything is correct, click 'Fees Deposit.' Fee Deposit - Note that only the learner's driving license application fee is required here.- Click 'Submit Fee,' proceed to the 'Payment Confirmation' page, and provide payment details, including the method and mobile number.- Confirm the payment by ticking the box next to the payment terms and clicking 'Confirm.'- The page will display the successful fee deposit, and the user can print the learner's driving license or the payment receipt. Application for Smart Card Driving License Prior to applying online for the smart card driving license, the individual must successfully pass the driving proficiency test. Check the test result by accessing the 'Application for Driving License' menu on the customer dashboard within the BSP portal. The test result will also be conveyed to the mobile number provided during the application. Read more: Bangladesh E-passport Error Correction Process Attach Required Documents - Click 'View & Next Step' to access the attachment page, where documents attached during the learner driving license application will be pre-loaded.- Upload the 'Pass Learner' certificate and proof of passing the driving proficiency test. Additionally, attach any other required documents where applicable. Payment of Fees - To pay the fee through a bank, click 'Deposit fee through the bank.' For online payment, choose 'Deposit the driving license fee online.'- For online payment, click 'Pay Now' on the online payment page.- For bank payments, collect the e-tracking number from the bank's receipt and enter it in the 'Enter e-tracking number' box. Click 'Verify e-tracking number' to confirm payment details.- Review all payment information and click 'Submit' to complete the final payment of the fee. E-Paper Driving License Upon successful application submission for the smart card driving license, the e-paper license form will be displayed on the dashboard once approved by BRTA. Download and print it for use as a valid driving license until the physical smart card arrives. The dashboard will also display the latest license status. Read more: Highway Robbery Prevention Tips while Driving at Night Getting the Smart Card Driving License in Hand Once the entire smart card driving license preparation process is finished, it will be displayed on the dashboard. The smart card driving license will then be sent by post to the address specified in your application. BRTA Smart Card Driving License Fees Learner driving license fees are to be paid exclusively through the BSP portal. The fee for one motor vehicle is BDT 518, while for two motor vehicles, it is BDT 748. For a 10-year non-professional license during the smart card driving license application, the cost is BDT 4,557. The 5-year professional license costs BDT 2,832. Summing Up There are actually two main phases, summarizing the methods for obtaining a BRTA Smart Card Driving License described above. The first phase precedes the driving skills test, primarily dealing with the procedure for acquiring a learner's driving license. The second phase of obtaining BRTA e-driving license emphasizes the digitization aspects associated with its transformation into smart cards. Read more: How to Get a Trade License in Bangladesh?

The percentages of personal transport are increasing day by day due to various reasons like unavailability of public transport, easy transportation, taking driving as a profession, economic boom of cities, etc. Nowadays, many driving schools or driving teaching institutions have been established in different parts of Dhaka city. So if you are thinking of getting proper training for driving a car or motorbike on the road, check out the following driving schools in Dhaka. Some Popular Driving Schools & Training Institutes in Dhaka Pathway The pathway is a Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) registered driving training school located in Mirpur, Dhaka. They provide training by BRTA approved instructors.  A learner will get the opportunity to take both theory and practical classes. The good thing is that they provide theory classes via multimedia digital projector. Each learner will get individual training sessions while some of the driving schools provide group-based training. In addition to that, they provide training on all types of parking for both professional and amateur drivers. Read How to Reduce Oil Consumption in Cars In theory classes, Pathway taught about traffic signs, road signs, traffic laws, and car engine mechanics and maintenance. All students are evaluated through weekly and monthly written tests. Anyone can get short- and long-term training here. Furthermore, they offer housing facilities for the students who come from outside of Dhaka. Pathway offers a free driving training facility for working women and the third gender. Pathway’s course fee starts from BDT 4,000, which includes theory, practical, and automobile classes. Read How to Buy a Used Car in Bangladesh? Dhaka Driving School This driving school provides training on the traffic signal and light mechanism with care in a short time by a trained and experienced instructor. They provide one car per student that is used during training.  In addition to that, short-term training is also available on an urgent basis. The learner can make his or her own schedule according to convenience. Dhaka Driving School also helps with processing BRTA and international driving licenses. Additionally, the company offers motorbike and scooter learning sessions too. Driving lessons are available on Fridays, Saturdays, and holidays for students and employees. Dhaka Driving School is located in Mohammadpur and provides a 3-month long driving course starting from BDT 3000. Read Highway Robbery Prevention Tips while Driving at Night BRAC Driving School The BRAC Driving school has been providing quality driving training since 2012. They use different contemporary driving training technologies, which include a digital driving testing device named P-Drive, a visual impairing system, and driving simulators for the training purpose. They offer two training modules, Shurakkha and Four Wheels To Freedom. The Shurakkha module is mainly for basic and commercial drivers. The Four Wheels To Freedom is for professional female chauffeurs. BRAC Driving School is located in Mohakhali. Shoeb's One School of Driving One School of Driving offers basic to a professional driving lesson. They have a 4 days to 25 days training module, which may cost BDT 4,000 to BDT 7,000. The learner can take training using AC or non-AC cars.  Read The most popular car models in Bangladesh In addition to that, they also help with the BRTA driving license and international driving license. All the instructors are authorized by BRTA. The practical class also consists of theoretical classes too. Shoeb's One School of Driving is located in Uttara. Asia Driving School This Azimpur based driving school offers different courses for car and motorbike training. They offer a 10-30 days course for car driving. Course fees start from BDT 3,000. However, the 30 day long full course costs BDT 8,000. This BRTA authorized driving school has been providing service for the last 25 years. Takwa Driving School The company offers training for auto cars, manual cars, motorcycles, buses, and trucks. Takwa Driving School has 6 professional trainers to train prospective learners. They have a total of 3 packages, 2 for car driving training and 1 for motorcycle.  Read Car on Fire: Common Causes and Immediate Things to Do The car training duration is 2-4 weeks while the motorbike training session offers 4 day training sessions. Takwa's training sessions are open every day from Fajr prayer till 9 pm, and you can pick your time according to your convenience. The school is located in Pallabi, Mirpur. The course fee starts from BDT 3,500. Bangladesh Driving Training Institute (BDDTI) The BDDTI offers driving lessons in three different categories, beginner level, mid-level, and experienced level. The 30 days full course is priced at BDT 8,000 (Non AC)/ BDT 10,000 (AC fresh condition car). Out of which 22 classes are practical, four classes are engine, and four are theoretical.  The good thing about BDDTI is that if you cannot clear your hands in the full course, they will clear your hands with extra free classes. Read How to get BRTA Bangladesh Motor Driving License in 2022: Necessary documents and costs The 20 day medium course is priced at BDT 6,000 (Non AC)/BDT 7,000 (AC fresh condition car). Out of which 12 classes are practical, four classes are engine, and four classes are theoretical. They have branches in Gulshan, Dhanmondi, Mirpur 1, and Uttara. Uttar Bongo Driving School It is a popular name in Mohammadpur and Lalmatia area. They have been providing driving training since 2001. Uttar Bongo Driving School offers both short and long courses. Their course duration is from 12 days to 30 days. The 12 days course will cost BDT 4,500, and the 30 day long course will cost BDT 6,500. How to Choose a Good Driving School Check out the following factors while choosing a driving school. - While choosing a car driving school in Dhaka, check whether it is licensed by BRTA.  - Driving is taught by qualified instructors in a good driving school. So, pick a driving school who has qualified trainers. - In addition to taking practical classes, theoretical classes are also conducted in the quality driving schools. In the theory class of a good driving school, anyone can get an idea about traffic signs, road warning signals, traffic laws, vehicle engine mechanical and maintenance, etc.  - The professional driving schools even offer a system of assessment through written and oral tests on a weekly and monthly basis. Therefore, check out the learning system of your chosen driving school before taking admission. Read Best Car Loans in Bangladesh to Grab Your Dream Car Final Words The need to drive for personal or professional reasons arises in many cases. Therefore, proper training and proper understanding of traffic rules are necessary to drive safely on the road. There are many schools and driving instructors who can teach you the basics of car driving in Dhaka. However, not all institutes are authorized by BRTA. Hence, you can check out these BRTA licensed car driving schools in Dhaka.