As much as just packing up, leaving everything you know and love, and heading abroad may seem daunting. There are limitless perks of being an international student besides getting a degree. So, what are these benefits of studying abroad?
Ask any international student what they gained from studying abroad, and you’ll hear phrases like “it changed my life”, “I became more independent”, “I made lifelong friends”, “broaden my worldview”, “I learned a new language”, and so on. Studying abroad has many benefits to one’s personal, academic and professional life.
You may be going abroad to start your undergraduate degree or going for a semester as an exchange student. Perhaps you’ve since obtained your first or second degree and are working then decided that it’s time to get a higher degree like Doctor of Philosophy or any named Doctorate.
Daring to leave your home, your comfort zone, to live and study in a different and maybe unfamiliar country is exciting and adventurous. Like most adventures, it is not necessarily easy. Going overseas to study comes with its unique challenges, which makes the whole experience valuable and worthwhile. Let’s explore the numerous benefits and hope these will boost your confidence.
Watch this video or keep reading.
Experience a different style of teaching
Like I mentioned in my post on the Top 5 reasons to study abroad, you’ll likely notice a side of your course that you may not have been exposed to before. Every country has a system of education; NZ’s education system is quite similar to UK’s approach. For my PhD in NZ, I had a provisional year review at the end of my first year, and that was it for examined presentation till my Doctoral Examination, which was my PhD defence. In between PYR and Doctoral examination, I only had to submit the annual progress report until I finished.
In the UK, where I did my masters, doctoral students have their first review six-nine months after they start. There onwards, they have yearly research progress presentations together with progress reports until they submit their thesis. So you see, although some education systems may seem similar, the teaching style and the programmes will be unique for each country.
This uniqueness presents an excellent opportunity that promotes your ability to adapt to various educational settings and expand your academic range. Mind you, this skill will be beneficial in your career because you can quickly get accustomed to different management styles. I find that these teaching styles, e.g. authority, facilitator, delegator, demonstrator, and hybrid styles, have similar features to workplace management styles.
One more advantage is the unrestricted access to research databases like Scopus and Web of Science, and high impact journals. Masters by Research and Doctoral students in particular benefit from this access. Not only that, you get the chance to publish your research outputs in these journals too. I have published in Q1 journals and can boldly say, the feeling is so refreshing. View my publications here. If you wish to become a reviewer, you can too. Though, you don’t need to travel abroad to become one. But, depending on your research area, studying in some universities gives you a higher chance of being accepted.
Take advantage of lower tuition fees
or have government or scholarship bodies cover the costs.
Scholarships and research fundings are available for all levels of tertiary education. Some of these funding opportunities are university-specific and/or in collaboration with governments or external organisations. Notable individuals and scholarship organisations also provide funding.
I was opportune to benefit from the tuition fee subsidy for researcher in New Zealand. As a PhD student, my tuition fees were equivalent to an NZ domestic student’s fees, that is ,80% lesser than what I would have paid without that system.
From what I’ve seen, the number of available scholarships is highest for undergraduates, and as you progress to postgraduate studies, these opportunities become more targeted to research areas. Those in the medical and health field have it good because the highest number and amount of funding are in these areas.
There are options where no tuition fees are charged (Germany, Norway) and if at all, it is relatively lower tuitions fees. This lower fee advantage may not apply to you if you are don’t have a scholarship and are from countries with volatile and bipolar exchange rates. Or maybe you have funding but it’s paid in currencies from such countries.
What I’m trying to say it that, exchange rate may affect the final amount you get if the currency in your host country is stronger than the currency from your funding country. Regardless, you can save a lot of money when you budget and save. More so if you work while you study.
Research carefully and note that no funding or scholarship body will ask you to make any payment to apply for the funding.
Learn a new language or improve existing language skills
One huge benefit of studying abroad is the chance to learn a new language. Learning a language can be a real challenge, be it Xhosa, Dutch, Mandarin, Maori, or even English, but there is nothing quite like applying it in everyday conversations. Studying abroad will afford you this chance more so if you live where that language is spoken locally.
If it is not feasible to live and study abroad in a country whose language you want to learn, you can use the apps or join a language class. Then practice by associating with people who speak that language. Not only will you hone new language skills but you will also meet new people.
I’m learning mandarin so when I meet a Mandarin speaker, I ask them for their native names. I also listen to convo so I can pick words. Mandarin asad sha.
Proficiency and experience in a foreign language are beneficial when working with multinational organisations.
Make new friends and enhance your network.
No matter the university you attend for your studies abroad, be sure of the opportunity to meet people from different backgrounds and cultures and broaden your international connections. The intercultural benefits are vast, as you’ll see in this post.
Being an international student, the first place to start building these invaluable relationships with people is in the university environment. There are large communities of both domestic and international students. You can begin with your coursemates if you are taking classes or research group mates for those doing research and go from there.
I met a good number of my friends at Uni. For instance, I met Lamis at our mandatory Doctoral induction. We later found out that our offices were in the same building. We travelled together to visit Australia for the first time, where we visited Melbourne, Sydney, and Tasmania. Subho, Terrell and Linh were in my research group, and we’ve made great memories. Beyond my Uni, I made friends at other Universities like Estee (I knew her before NZ, so technically doesn’t count still) and had mad fun with her.
You also have your roommates, flatmates, housemates or neighbours depending on the accommodation style you find yourself.
My flatmates, Chad, Esther, Cham, Chih Yuan alias Jeff, and I became excellent friends. We attended events, ate out, went on planned and spontaneous trips together. We got so close that we travelled together to Australia for Esther’s wedding. This would be my first Asian wedding in Australia.
If I forget my friend Gift, she’ll kong me ke cross akpo iwa. How we met is a story for another day, but we later become flatmates. It is this same study abroad that connected me to her.
Connecting with people enriches your student experience. Make an effort to keep in contact with your new friends even after your study abroad ends. These friends can be important networking connections that may lead to job offers, internships, and business partnerships in the future.
Learn a new language or improve existing language skills
This benefit of studying abroad is a given. As I mentioned before, you will meet people from different backgrounds while living and studying abroad. You attend classes, work in laboratories, join clubs, volunteer. In doing so, you’re meeting new people from different backgrounds and learning about diverse cultures, experiences, and upbringing, thus developing your intercultural awareness. You will find that your appreciation of cultural diversity deepens.
Another cool thing is that you can see your own culture in a different light. Words, actions, non-verbal cues that were normal may be used differently in your new country. You can also better understand your cultural values and biases and how they affect your reaction to different situations.
Overall, it will help broaden your mind and get comfortable with people from different backgrounds. To gain the actual value of this benefit, you need to open your mind to take in a new culture.
On the flip side, your strength in your language could drop. Like me wey don dey forget ibibio and even how to knack english.
Find new interests
Studying abroad can help you discover newer ways of spending time and creating memories with your friends, significant others, or family. Since, one, you have travelled to a new place with a different lifestyle and two because you are now making new friends who have different life experiences, perspectives and upbringing.
Like me, who is now into blogging, travelling, and everything adventure, you too can pick up new hobbies.
Develop your palate
Omo! The photo on the right is a very recent experience. I ordered the food thinking it will come with gravy. Like the veggies in the top photo. To my greatest surprise, they served me this dish. To think I had to eat that with rice.
Hmm, nkedi ba mkpo nte ebot ata ikim.
Need I say more!!!
Studying overseas provides the chance to try foods from different nations.
All the more if restaurants that sell your native food are not available in your city. Or, finding local food spices or ingredients becomes a quest. You will have to eat what’s available, or you starve. Picky eaters, take note.
From my experience, this dilemma applies mainly to African cuisines. You’ll likely find Asian, European and American cuisines in most countries. But you see our Nigerian cuisines, e hard to find outside in many countries, e.g. NZ. So, you go need chop other tinz otherwise na skin on bones way.
The NZ situation is weird because we’re just 4 hours from Aussie, where Nigerian food is not scarce.
Discover new career attainment
Taking up your studies in a new country opens you to increased professional opportunities, some of which you might never know existed. Partly due to internships, career fairs, education systems and interactions with other international students.
Some students get involved in projects – group or individual- that becomes a steppingstone to lofty ambitions.
If you can, a study in a region that aligns with your area of interest, e.g. for food processing, countries like Canada and the US, Netherlands, are the way to go. Protection of biodiversity, agri-business etc., countries like New Zealand are great for that.
The experience gives you the advantage of thriving in a global environment, cross-cultural communication, and possibly understanding international policies, which are very attractive to future employers.
Get more confident
Now, this is a fact, speaking as a timid person.
Going to a different city in the same country can be overwhelming; imagine travelling miles to unfamiliar territory. But the icing on the cake is when you can overcome challenges in the new country which can help you become independent and develop valuable skills for personal growth.
Studying abroad is fantastic because it gives you more confidence by improving interpersonal skills when connecting with others, self-reliance and resilience by adapting to a new environment, and communication skills, whether through enriching your current vocabulary or speaking a new language.
International travel
My favourite!!! Studying abroad allows you to travel to new places you would not have visited. It is one of the Top 5 reasons people study abroad. Also, amongst the top benefits, you’ll gain as an international student.
I didn’t know much about NZ before my PhD. Since being here, I have explored New Zealand, both with my new friends and solo. I have come to love the country. The first time I visited Australia was during my studies in NZ and my friend Lamis, whom I met thanks to taking my doctoral studies overseas. I have been back to Aussie again with more friends-turn-family.
So, as an international student, you’ll gain the chance to go sightseeing in your new city as well as visit neighbouring cities and countries. You will also get to know your host country much better than if you were only visiting. Even better, your new friends can show you around, and if you’re very adventurous and maybe lucky, you might find hidden gems too.
Look out for budget international airlines and travel deals to make your expeditions more affordable.
Immigration
While studying abroad, you may fall in love with that country for many reasons, including socioeconomic structure, lifestyle, finding love, career opportunities and many more. This new phase has led many to ultimately pitch their tent in their host country. I’d mentioned this in my things to consider before studying abroad post.
The longer your stay abroad is, the greater the benefits. You will form an intimate relationship with the place when you stay longer than if you were only visiting.
This is not to say if your program is one semester-long that you won’t have significant academic, personal, and intercultural development, far from it. You will gain something, especially if you are prepared to mentally, or you are a social butterfly or an adventurous person. There are just those extra benefits that come with more extended stays, e.g. continued language usage, especially if you often interact with the locals.
Whether you’re studying for a semester or getting a doctorate, you are sure to return at the end of your program not only with an excellent education but also with a new perspective on culture, language, social and professional skills.
The benefits of doing studies abroad are life-changing.
My advice:
- Search carefully for potential universities.
- Ask about their programs for international students.
- Be aware that though getting admission for a full-time study falls into studying abroad, it differs from the study abroad programs that universities offer.
- Study abroad programs are based on MOUs between two universities and countries, in some cases. Their application process is often more competitive than regular international studies.
Find out the 11 things to consider before studying abroad.
