University is a time when we are exposed to a flourish of new ideas and opportunities, wherever we choose to study. One major way to further enhance all the benefits of a postgraduate education is to study abroad. Though relocating to, and studying in a country other than your own can sometimes be a more complex, not to mention more expensive enterprise than staying at home, the advantages far outweigh the costs.
Below, we’ve listed seven benefits of studying abroad that come from striking out and leaving your home country in order to learn. If you find yourself convinced by them, and have a country in mind that you’ve always wanted to visit, perhaps check out our search function here on MastersAvenue, to see what courses are available there:
Choosing to study a postgraduate degree in a foreign language may seem like a daunting prospect. But there are a wealth of courses available to help you acquire the vocabulary and comprehension necessary to perform well at most internationally respected universities. And acquiring a high-enough skill in a new language to study a degree in it is an impressive asset to employers.
The world is a diverse place, and one of the best ways to challenge the ideas you have received during your upbringing is to travel. A core skill for success in academic study is critical thinking; and broadening your cultural horizons is an excellent way to strengthen this capacity within yourself, enhancing the positive impact of your degree upon yourself as a result. Most universities have a long and rich history. Why not studying at one of the 10 oldest universities in Europe?
Many countries, such as the USA and Britain, offer temporary employment visas to foreign students after they have completed a degree. So by studying abroad, you may also improve your chances of working abroad, too.
One of the most important aspects to success in any career is the breadth of your professional circle. Studying abroad enables you to meet an entirely new community of people in your chosen field; effectively allowing you to double the size of your network.
Many scholarships have been set up – such as the Fulbright Programme or Erasmus – to support intercultural exchange between different countries. Funding of this kind is not available should you remain in your homeland, and can be a powerful support for disadvantaged, yet talented, students.
Some degrees, such as the LLM, are designed to give you a grounding in a professional community within the relevant country. By completing your legal qualifications in one jurisdiction – say – but completing an LLM in another, you widen your expertise to cover two jurisdictions, making your CV much more attractive to international companies, state agencies concerned with foreign affairs, or NGOs.
In many subjects, certain archives, museum collections, laboratories or institutes, that are internationally renowned will provide you with unique resources that could not be found elsewhere. Having access to international centres of this kind can enhance your educational experience while studying abroad, and the standing of your degree in the eyes of potential employers and PhD supervisors.
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