This article contains sponsored content from Amber Student.
Much like any experience in life, studying abroad will come with its positives as well as its challenges. If you’re considering it, you might have different questions popping up in your head. “Will I make any friends?”, for example, and “How will I cope with being away from Mr Mittens for a full academic year?”
While these concerns are valid, studying abroad can be such an enriching experience that it just about counters the pain of separation from your four-legged friend. Take it from someone who spent a few years studying in a city 2,000 miles away from home!
In this article, I will share what I’ve learned from my experience and hopefully answer some of your questions so you can make an informed decision about your next steps.
Let’s look at 10 important benefits of studying abroad!
1. You enhance your career prospects
Students who study abroad end up forming new connections in places they otherwise wouldn’t have. The new contacts you make, such as local students and professors, might be able to help you find work in the area should you be eager to stay once you’ve completed your studies.
Even if you end up going back home, however (or someplace else, for that matter), your degree from an overseas university can signal several things to prospective employers. That you’re a driven individual, for example, who’s likely developed crucial life skills such as problem solving, self-awareness and interpersonal skills.
2. You see a different approach to education
Different universities will have different approaches to education (or even different attitudes towards it). This can help you develop new methods for studying, completing projects or preparing for exams.
If, so far, you’ve only attended school in a small town, imagine how different it will be to attend a lecture in a large hall, within a few feet of a renowned professor. The new setting alone may be enough to inspire and motivate you to set even bigger goals and push yourself beyond (what you thought were) your limits.
3. You experience a new culture
Some people will tell you that moving abroad as a college student is your best chance at living that international experience; a once-in-a-lifetime feat, if you will. While it’s not impossible to move to a new country as an “adult-ier” adult, doing so at a younger age when you have fewer responsibilities will certainly be less complicated.
So, if you’re eager to experience new cultures, this could be the most convenient time to do it! Immersing yourself in a different culture can open up your mind to new ideas and even help you develop new habits.
Plus, you might even sharpen your language skills in the process, if you end up picking up a foreign language!
4. You get out of your comfort zone
Sadly, youth mental health seems to be on a steady decline. As someone who has struggled with anxiety and depression (and who has also belonged to that group called “youth”), I’ve found that, the more I tried doing things that scared me, the more I shrank the number of things that did.
The truth is, it can be uncomfortable. But it can also renew the sense of faith you have in yourself, which makes it easier to believe that you can achieve the things you set your mind to — including instigating the changes you want to see around you.
5. You become self-reliant
Back home, you’re probably able to rely on friends or family members when things get hectic. When you move to a new country, however, you are on your own — at least initially!
Though this can seem scary, watching yourself tackle new challenges can be a great confidence booster, quickly helping you develop new skills and outlooks.
The more this happens, the more of a can-do attitude you take on, and that feels really good — especially when you’re the kind of person who lacks a little bit of faith in themselves.
6. You meet people from around the world
Studying abroad is an opportunity to meet people from all parts of the world! During my first week abroad, I met students from all across the United Kingdom (where I had moved), as well as Hong Kong, Germany, South Africa, Italy, Iran, Nigeria and Indonesia.
The more people you talk to, the more you develop your cross-cultural awareness and sensitivity, and encounter new ways of thinking and living. This helps you challenge your own perceptions and even uncover any biases you were previously unaware of having.
7. You develop adaptability
Whether you want to or not, living abroad on your own will force you to become adaptable; an excellent skill to have when you’re to navigate the ever-changing world we live in.
As an adaptable individual, you learn to focus more of your energy on devising solutions to problems, and less to wishing things could magically change. Life likes to throw all sorts of unexpected, undesirable things at us, and studying abroad can help you develop the right kind of attitude to not only get by but thrive.
8. You develop problem-solving skills
Your ability to problem-solve will be put to the test when you leave your hometown. Your new surroundings will be far less familiar, and you won’t have as many people around that you can comfortably turn to for help.
If the thought makes you cringe, don’t worry; enhancing your problem-solving ability is never, under any circumstances, going to be a bad thing.
9. You explore a different part of the world
Moving abroad places you in a brand-new location on the world map, surrounded by cities, villages and landscapes you haven’t seen before.
Going on adventures (even if it’s just riding the bus to the next town) is a good way to stay grounded in the moment while making memories that can last you a lifetime.
My advice is to do this as much as possible; taking breaks from studying is essential in maintaining your performance, and it will do your mind and body good to spend time away from your laptop, books and sticky notes.
10. You gain confidence
Personally, I would describe confidence as a little voice in someone’s ear telling them that, regardless of what situation they’re facing, they’ll be able to pull through. I didn’t use to have that as a high schooler; but after studying abroad for four years, I can say that the experience was enough to give me a renewed sense of faith in myself.
As we’ve seen, international students develop a deeper understanding of themselves and other people (if they make great use of their time abroad, that is), taking in new ideas and considering new perspectives. The skills they build, from empathy to adaptability and problem solving, are ones that can benefit them in years to come, both personally and professionally.
Final thoughts
Studying abroad can be a fulfilling experience in several ways, whether you spend the duration of your degree in a different country or complete a shorter study abroad program.
As most people who have gone through it will tell you, study abroad experiences can be varied, but one thing is for sure: you will never forget your academic years, regardless of where (or how) you choose to spend them.
So, tell us about you; what field of study are you thinking about pursuing and where? Do you have any more questions or concerns about international education? Drop us a comment below!
This article is a complete update of an earlier version originally published on May 17, 2018.
