There are many reasons as to why a student might choose to study abroad; the allure of a foreign land, a better course structure, the opportunity to immerse oneself in a new culture, etc. With a growing number of students going abroad to study now, you might be wondering what the real benefits might be to studying in a foreign land. Well, there are plenty! Here are the top 10 benefits that you can enjoy by choosing to study abroad.
1. An opportunity to make international connections
When you go abroad for studies, you are bombarded by many new things; the culture, the food, the language, and of course, the people. One of the biggest benefits of studying abroad is the opportunity you get to make international connections.
These can be in the form of lifelong friendships, partnerships, or even business connections. You will meet people from all over the world, and it is an immense opportunity to interact to get to know other people, share ideas and make brilliant connections that can stay with you for life.
2. You develop a better understanding of other cultures
When a student stays in their hometown or even their country for too long, they lose out on the opportunity to explore other cultures. This can be a very important and humbling experience for every person. You not only get to see the multifaceted parts of other cultures, but you can also be a part of them, learn from them, and even take some of these lessons back with you!
Exploring other cultures can be a beautiful, exhilarating experience, and it helps a person to grow and develop their personality, tolerance, and their understanding, shaping the students to become overall better human beings.
3. Better career opportunities
Studying abroad can help students in exploring their career opportunities. Those students who opt for courses abroad have a much higher chance of acquiring jobs in both local as well as international companies. Of course, with placement programs and such, these students studying abroad also have a chance to get placements in companies abroad, thus beginning the process of living and settling down in a foreign country.
4. A good way to develop character and confidence
Another great benefit of studying abroad is the fact that these young students are pushed out of their comfort zone. They are made to experience new things, which are a very important process of character development and becoming more self-assured and confident. Being a ‘big fish in a small pond’ can be a very limiting experience, however, with the opportunity of studying abroad, there are a hundred and one experiences, some good and some bad, which helps students to develop their personality.
5. Gain new hobbies and interests
Students studying abroad get a really good chance to explore new kinds of activities, events, interests and develop many interesting hobbies. While exploring a new land, you will come across several kinds of activities which you might not otherwise find in your home town.
Extracurricular activities, school activities, and social activities will allow students to explore and develop new hobbies and interests. This is not only a great relaxation technique, but it also helps to add more interests and colours into a person’s personality.
6. Becoming more independent
While many students have an opportunity to become more independent as they join colleges and universities in their own country, gaining independence in a foreign country can be a completely different experience. The students learn to develop new tastes when it comes to music, food, and even their sense of fashion.
As they begin exploring these things, they slowly learn to be more independent in handling new and uncomfortable situations. Even when things get overwhelming, studying abroad can help you develop the important life skills to manage yourself in different situations which requires you to think on your feet and make good practical decisions.
7. Honing your writing and language skills
When you are immersed in the culture of a foreign land, one of the first things that you naturally start to pick up is the language. Even if you already know the language that is being spoken, the university allows you to opt for learning other foreign languages. Learning a new language can not only be a great addition to your life skills and your CV, but it is also a great activity for brain development and developing your social skills.
Studying abroad means writing an immense amount of papers, projects, and presentations. This also allows you to develop your writing skills and become much stronger, which can help you immensely in the future.
8. Experience different styles of teaching
Each country, university, and even the teacher has a different style of teaching. Studying abroad will help you experience many different styles of teaching. This pushes you out of your comfort zone slightly, but that is a good thing. Learning how to experience different teaching styles can also help you understand and articulate more efficiently.
You might experience different teaching styles such as; delegator style of teaching, authority style of teaching, and facilitator style of teaching. All of these are great experiences for young students studying abroad.
9. Travel the world
Travelling the world is something that almost every person dreams of. When you are studying abroad, you are not only exploring the new city where you are now living, but you also get to travel around to neighbouring cities, states and even countries. Such great opportunities can only be experienced by studying abroad!
10. Gain life skills
Many young students have lived at home, or near home their entire lives. When you are uprooted from your comfort zone and dropped into a new country with different tastes, cuisine, language, and culture, you are forced to learn, improvise and adapt.
It helps you learn many important life skills, such as cooking your food, cleaning, washing clothes, keeping your home clean, doing your homework, working outside, learning a new language and developing your social skills. These are the top 10 benefits that students studying abroad can enjoy during their stay in a foreign country.