Should I study abroad as part of my degree?
Choosing where to study can be a difficult decision for many prospective students. For many students, they want to stay in their home country and study at a domestic university. But what if you want to set your horizons wider and would like to study abroad? Studying abroad is not the default for UK students, which means that schools, colleges and sixth forms are not necessarily set up to help their students when it comes to deciding on an international university and going through the application process. Despite this, a little research and speaking to the right people will make the process much more simple and efficient.
Why should I study abroad?
Studying abroad can be an incredible experience for many students. It presents an amazing opportunity to experience a new culture and make friends who have different perspectives to you. This can not only make you a more open minded person and better student, but also improve your employment prospects in the future.
Living and studying in a different country can also lead to you pick up a new language, which can be incredibly useful in the future, and will look fantastic on your CV. Learning a new language is much easier when you are immersed in the culture and surrounded by people who speak the language.
Making friends in a different country is also great as it allows you to have a network that goes across borders, giving you a larger world view. This will also accelerate your personal development and contribute to you becoming a well rounded person.
Where should I study abroad?
Choosing where you would like to study abroad is a very important decision, and is one that you should dedicate a good amount of time to. There are certain factors that you might want to consider throughout your decision making process. These include, but are not limited to:
Tuition fees and living costs
One of the most important factors to consider for most people is how much they can afford to spend on studying abroad. You need to understand the costs of applying to international universities, obtaining a visa (if applicable), tuition fees as an international student, and living expenses in a foreign country.
If you think that the cost of studying abroad is going to be restrictive for you, but you are really passionate about studying at an international university, you should consider searching for scholarships and grants that will make it possible, and search around for universities that offer a course you are interested in and a scholarship. You might also want to consider getting a part-time job, if this is doable, to create a study abroad pot of money.
Course offerings
Another element you need to consider is which countries and universities offer the sort of courses you are interested in studying. Some countries have specialist universities dedicated to certain fields and disciplines, and those universities might be able to offer their students a more focused education. It is also important to understand the higher education system in the country you are interested in. Some countries have systems that work slightly differently to the UK, such as USA universities offering major and minor courses.
Language barriers
An equally important factor to consider is the language barrier that might occur in certain countries. If you only speak one language, for example English, then it is important to ensure that the university you study at offers courses taught in English.
If you have another language available to you, or are planning to study a course that encompasses a different language, such as a modern languages degree, then you might have to take a test to prove that your language skills are at a high enough level.
Student visas
Something else you need to take into account is the fact that you may need to gain a student visa to study abroad. Most countries outside of the UK will require you to obtain a visa in order to enter the country, and some may also require you to gain a residence permit and health insurance.
You not only need to consider the costs of these things, you also need to make sure that you apply for the relevant documents in plenty of time, and ensure that you have all of the documentation needed ahead of travelling to your university.
How to decide on where to study abroad?
When it comes to deciding on where you might want to study abroad, there are many factors you might wish to consider. These factors can be completely different for each person, as each person is looking for a different study abroad experience.
An option that may be open to some prospective students is visiting places in person or attending university fairs. Both of these options can allow you to speak to teachers or students in person and get a true feeling for the university in question. While university fairs are more likely to host domestic universities, some international universities will have a presence at certain fairs.
Thanks to the events of the last few years, universities have had to consider how they communicate with students, which will make it easier as an international student to explore universities abroad. There are options such as online open days, virtual tours of campuses and accommodation, and chances to meet with other prospective students and teachers online. Whilst visiting in person will always give you a much clearer idea of if you feel at home in a new place, visiting the places virtually is a great option if travel is not possible.
Another way to help your decision making without having to travel is to check out the global university ranking websites. The most well known rankings site is the QS Universities, which ranks universities from all around the world across several different criteria. These can be used to help you narrow down your options if you are interested in how well some universities rank. Whilst this can be a useful metric, you should make sure that you are also considering other factors when choosing where you want to study. Lifestyle and culture of countries can be integral to how much you enjoy a new environment, and can have a big impact on your university experience.
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