Benefits of Studying Abroad

Benefits of Study Abroad - Studying abroad can be one of the most exciting phases and beneficial experiences of a person’s life. Whether one is an explorer or an academic, the benefits of Study Abroad can be enticing for all. Most Indian students apply to study in countries such as the USA, UK, Australia, Canada, and European countries to get the benefits of studying abroad of studying abroad and receive quality education and a degree opens avenues of working and settling abroad.

This Story also Contains

1. What are the benefits of studying abroad?
2. Benefits of Studying Abroad for Indian students - Top 10 Reasons
3. 7 Mistakes to Avoid when Planning to Study Abroad

As per MEA (Ministry of External Affairs), in 2020 261,406 Indian students went abroad and the first few months of 2021 have seen nearly 72,000 Indians go to study abroad. Despite Covid-19, the numbers are steadily going up thanks to the advantages of studying abroad including the new student-friendly immigration policies and the healthcare offered by governments of countries such as the UK, Canada, New Zealand, and Australia. The USA is the most popular study abroad destination attracting the highest number of international students each year, closely followed by the UK. Other popular countries amongst international students include Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and Germany.

What are the benefits of studying abroad?

If you’re thinking about studying at a university outside your home country, there are several factors to take into consideration before coming to a decision. However, if you have the means and ability to study at top institutes in any of the world’s popular study abroad destinations, there is no denying that the experience will be the opportunity of a lifetime. Here is our list of the advantages of studying abroad as well as the mistakes made when studying abroad to help you come to a decision.

Benefits of Studying Abroad for Indian students - Top 10 Reasons

Listed below are the top 10 reasons through which a candidate can benefit by studying in abroad countries. These are are main reasons why many people are choosing international education over their home country.

1. Quality Education

One of the main benefits of study abroad in countries such as the UK, USA, Australia, and Canada is the academic excellence and research strength offered. Their higher education institutions are evaluated on the basis of several parameters and many of the universities from these countries feature in the world's top 100 universities. Students are taught by reputed academic staff who are or were leaders in their field and enjoy excellent guidance and support. These are few of the academic benefits of studying abroad.

2. New Age Learning

Most of the top universities abroad will provide students with the latest updated knowledge using the best tools and technologies available in their field of study. Universities in countries such as the US, UK, Australia, and Germany are known for their excellent infrastructure and facilities and for exposing students to the latest technology and equipment relevant to their area of study. This includes using augmented reality, subject-specific designed labs and studios, and mock courts for efficient teaching.

3. Practical Exposure

One of the major advantages of studying abroad is that top universities abroad emphasize on industry-led teaching and provide practical knowledge to students, especially in technical and professional courses. All kinds of facilities and equipment are made available to enhance learning. The focus is on learning by doing and several of the universities abroad in countries such as the UK offer internships and placements as part of their professional degree programs (MBA, medicine, teacher training, etc) to help students truly get the benefits of studying abroad for Indian students . This makes students more equipped to join the workforce post completion of their degree.

4. Shining Resume

Listing a degree from an internationally renowned university looks great on your resume and immediately catches the eyes of recruiters. It suggests that you have what it takes to succeed in today’s fiercely competitive job market. Add to that the experience of living independently and learning valuable life skills. The benefits of Study Abroad if you’ve studied and worked in a country like the US, UK, Canada, or Australia, is that it shows employers that you’re exposed to diverse cultures and will probably be able to work and excel in a multicultural environment.

5. Better Career Opportunities

Whether you choose to work in the country you’re studying in or go back to your home country, you’ll find plenty of better work opportunities provided you search actively and diligently. A local education will prove to be very useful when applying for jobs in the country you’ve studied in, and an international degree from a leading university will be valued by employers in your home country.

6. Funding Opportunities

One of the main benefits of studying abroad for international students is the scholarships and funding opportunities. Studying abroad can be affordable and even free for students from countries such as India if students have the academic merit and the edge needed to secure competitive scholarships. There are government scholarships that cover up to 100% of tuition fees and expenses and individual university scholarships that offer a range of scholarships based on merit and extracurricular achievements. So whether you have the resources or not, you have a chance at getting into a top university and it's definitely worth the shot.

7. Explore the World

Studying abroad is the perfect opportunity to travel and see the world. International students can work part-time in most countries and save enough money to explore their country of study and maybe even neighboring countries during weekends and term breaks. For example, by studying in the UK you get easy access to most of Europe and by studying in the USA you can explore Canada and other neighboring countries. It would cost less than visiting these places from your home country. Also, university students can get the benefits of study abroad with the student discounts they get for transportation, food, and shopping in all major countries, one of the major benefits of study abroad.

8. Learn New Languages and Cultures

If you choose to study in an English-speaking country, you’ll get to hone your English speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills. If you study in a non-English speaking country, you can take the opportunity to learn an altogether new language. Taking extra language classes will also help you make new friends and network better.

Culturally, you can get the benefits of study abroad by broadening your outlook through exploring life and way of living completely different from yours. You’ll get to immerse yourself deep into a new culture and will learn more about working in a global market.

9. Personal Development

Your time as a student abroad will be full of new experiences and can help you develop highly valuable skill sets. By staying away from your home country, you can become an independent person and learn the essential skills of money management, time management, communication, and presentation which will help you in all spheres of life. Use the opportunity to understand yourself better and explore different extracurricular activities to find your hidden talents and better understand your likes and dislikes.

10. Once in a Lifetime Experience

Studying abroad is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for most people. You will rarely get an opportunity to travel to a country for such a long period of time with no commitments. Most international universities offer excellent campus life and student support, making sure you have a positive and fruitful experience. Enjoy the benefits of study abroad by living independently and studying at a reputed university in a vibrant and dynamic first-world country.

Explore the study abroad destinations

7 Mistakes to Avoid when Planning to Study Abroad

While planning to study abroad, few mistakes can be avoided, which makes the best outcome for their international education. A few mistakes that are commonly made or that must be majorly avoided are discussed below.

1. Choosing the Wrong University

When you apply to study abroad, make sure to check the university carefully. Do your own research about the university and check how old it is. Avoid universities that are very new and not well established, as they won’t hold much value. Also, check which government and international bodies your university are affiliated with to ensure that you get an internationally accepted university education.

Also, be cautious if you’re applying through an agent. First, check whether the agent is actually affiliated with the said institution (university/college) or not. Secondly, there is a difference between persuasiveness and promptness and if your agent appears too pushy towards a particular college and/or university without any solid facts, consider it as a red flag!

2. Applying to an Unsuitable Programme

When you finally shortlist your universities and courses, make sure that you match the eligibility criteria for the course you are applying to. You must also ensure that your course holds value not just in your country of study but also in your home country so as to maximize the benefits of study abroad. For professional courses such as LAW and medicine, check the accreditations in their country and check if the university course is mentioned in the list of recognized and accepted courses in your home country. To get the list of foreign universities whose degree in LAW is recognized by the Bar Council of India, candidates can check the link at https://cache.careers360.mobi/media/uploads/froala_editor/files/List-of-Foreign-Universities-August-2020.pdf

However, National Medical Commission's official notification states"It is to clarify that the National Medical Commission does not endorse any list of Foreign Medical Institutions/ Universities for MBBS or equivalent course. The public at large is advised that before taking admission in MBBS or its equivalent course in a university outside India, confirmation of the fee structure, details of the course (which should be commensurate with the MBBS courses in India such as content, duration, and internship), etc. should be directly obtained from the University/ Institution concerned."

3. Budgeting Improperly

When looking into the financial aspect, make sure that you take more than the tuition fees into consideration. The cost of living will vary depending on which city you choose to study in. You must take into account the accommodation, travel, food and leisure expenses. Also, some countries allow you to work part-time while studying while others don’t. In countries like Costa Rica students aren’t allowed to work while studying whereas, in countries such as the UK, students are allowed to work part-time during the term and full time during term break.

4. Overlooking Potential Scholarships

Always explore scholarships and funding opportunities as they are one of the major advantages of studying abroad. Financial aid is offered by government bodies and also individually by universities. Check whether your course has scholarships available for international students on the university website and see whether you're eligible to avail them. Student loans are also available in plenty but know that they may have high-interest rates and would require a guarantor.

5. Dismissing Language Barriers

If you're going to an English-speaking country, you'll be required to take a proficiency test as part of your application process to judge whether you will be able to study and communicate with sufficient ease. However, if you're applying to study in a country where the language is different than yours, understand that that can be something challenging. Even if you feel you may be aware of the language, strong dialects and accents can leave you confused. Either take some basic beginner-level classes before traveling or study the language once you reach the country without delay. Make sure that you are mentally prepared and confident in your ability to adjust in either case.

6. Dealing with Cultural Shock

Cultural differences can be overwhelming and many a time students end up feeling homesick, at least when they initially go to study abroad. You will have to adapt in terms of food, customs, and transport systems to name a few. This can be avoided to quite an extent by taking the whole experience as an adventure and mentally preparing yourself to be culturally adaptive. Know that things will become easier with time as you get familiar with your surroundings and interact with peers like yourself to enjoy the advantages of studying abroad.

7. Underestimating the Change of Climate

No matter how much you research online, it can be difficult to predict how the local weather will affect someone once they actually reach a new country. The best way to go is to carry the minimum essentials with you and buy the rest of your clothes once you get there. There are regular sales as well as thrift stores where you can shop if money is a concern.

Besides gaining a qualification, your study abroad experience should help you learn about a new country and have fun while doing so. Make the most of your study abroad experience by avoiding these common study abroad mistakes. Be prepared, use caution, keep an open mind and treat the whole thing like the once-in-a-lifetime adventure it is. All the best!!