Top 11 Reasons To Study Abroad
Thinking about studying abroad?
With tuition fees at UK universities rising to a whopping maximum of £9,000 a year in 2012, making the UK the third most expensive country in the world for higher education, more prospective undergraduates are considering gaining their degree abroad.
As well as reducing the amount of debt you will leave university with, there are many other reasons to consider for enjoying student life overseas instead of in the UK.
Here are our 11 top reasons to study abroad.
1. Learn a new language
Studying in another country gives you a great opportunity to learn a new language.
Being surrounded by people who speak the language on a daily basis and used in the correct cultural context offers the best way possible of learning a language effectively.
If you learn the language well enough, you may be in a good position to take a qualification in it when you get back to the UK, without having to take any classes!
Not only will you gain a new skill, but it will look good on your CV when you graduate. Employers like well-rounded individuals who can bring skill sets to the table other than just what they learned in their degree.
It will make you appear an independent individual who is willing to overcome challenges, and this will prove invaluable to helping you get a job when you leave university.
2. Chance to travel
Our spare time away from the textbooks can be used to explore areas, both near and far, to where you are studying.
You will learn things about places you may not have originally known about or considered visiting.
3. Experience another culture first-hand
Immerse yourself in a different culture for a few years, and you get to know about their food, fashion, manners, habits, customs, beliefs and many other aspects of their way of life.
Understanding another culture makes you appreciate where they have come from and that there are other ways of life out there beyond your own country’s borders.
4. Gain new skills and overcome personal challenges
Being on your own in a new country sounds like a daunting prospect, but once you’re there and start settling into your new life, you’ll find you are able to conquer your fears, solve problems and overcome challenges.
It's exciting discovering what you are capable of, and by building up your strengths and abilities, this will help you to take on more challenges in the future.
5. Make new friends from all around the world
Of course, moving to another country to study means you will make lots of new friends at your university or college.
Not only will they be citizens of the country you are in, but other international students who have travelled from their home countries to study there.
Again, this will open your eyes to whole range of new cultures by learning about their background and experiences. Make sure you get their contact details before you leave university so you can keep in touch!
6. Give yourself a break from UK academic life
Higher education in other countries will usually follow a different system to that in the UK. Terms will be for different lengths at different times of year, and the course will be structured differently too.
This means you could learn things in your degree that you perhaps may not have been able to during a degree in the UK.
You may even find a whole course altogether that you can study abroad but not here!
7. Good career opportunities
When you finish your studies abroad, you will return with a new perspective on culture, language skills, a great education, and a willingness to learn.
Needless to say, all of these are very attractive to future employers.
Many students find that they love their host country so much that they decide to seek work there. If you can relate, you will find that a local education will be very valuable when searching for a potential job in that country.
8. Discover new interests
If you are still questioning why to study abroad, you should know that studying in a different country offers many new activities and interests that you may never have discovered if you’d stayed at home.
You might find that you have an as-yet undiscovered talent for hiking, water sports, snow skiing, golf, or various other new sports you may never have tried back home.
You’ll also have the chance to discover other new and exciting forms of entertainment. Plays, movies, dancing, nightclubs, and concerts are just a few activities that you can enjoy.
9. Character development
There is nothing quite like being on your own in a foreign country. You might find that studying abroad really brings out your independent nature. Students who study abroad become explorers of their new nation and really discover the curiosity and excitement that they harbor.
A benefit to studying abroad is the opportunity to discover yourself while gaining an understanding of a different culture. Being in a new place by yourself can be overwhelming at times, and it tests your ability to adapt to diverse situations while being able to problem solve.
10. Postgraduate admissions
Like future employers, graduate school admissions boards look very highly on study abroad experiences. Students that study abroad display diversity and show that they aren’t afraid to seek out new challenges or put themselves in difficult situations.
Most importantly, students who have studied abroad show just how committed they are to their education.
Graduate schools regularly look for candidates who will bring a unique aspect to their university. Students who have studied abroad have shown that they have the curiosity and educational acumen to be a leader in graduate school.
11. Get a high quality education
Wherever you study, you will always want to get the highest possible quality of education.
Becoming an international student can significantly increase your study options, and there's no reason to be limited to choosing a university in the same country where you lilve.
Often, the best choice for you may be to study at a foreign university. For example, the UK, USA and Australia all have extremely highly regarded higher education systems, and a huge percentage of the world’s highest ranking universities are in these countries.
So, what about the cost?
At the moment, the U.S is the most expensive country to study for a degree, with Australia and the UK not far behind. If you’re looking to save money, Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Sweden and Portugal are the countries we recommend you start looking at.
Asian universities in Thailand, Malaysia and China are also worth a peek.
While the cost of living is likely to be high in European destinations, you will find you can save a significant amount of money on tuition fees.
Further information
For more tips and advice on studying abroad, please see: