Top 5 Benefits of Studying Abroad in 2023

More and more students now aspire to study abroad and acquire an advanced qualification from a university of their choice. Here are some bare facts:

• The number of students going out of their home country to study has grown three-fold in the last 25 years.
• There are about 5 million internationally mobile students who are studying outside their home country today.
• There has been a significant shift in the international study destination in the last 15 years.
• While the US and the UK remain the favourite study-abroad destinations, a growing number of students are also choosing Canada, Germany, Australia, New Zealand, France and Singapore as a destination of their choice.
• According to the 2019 Open Doors Report on International Educational Exchange, published by the Institute of International Education (IIE) and the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, in 2018-2019, the number of international enrolment in the US has been an all-time-high, numbering 1095,299, a 0.05% increase over last year.
  • International students constitute 5.5% of US higher education enrolment
  • According to the U.S Department of Commerce, in 2018, the estimated economic impact of foreign students on the US economy was US$44.7 billion
  • The top three sending markets are China, India, and Saudi Arabia, with China and India contributing more than 80%of student enrolment in the US.
  • While 3 out of 10 foreign students in the US are Chinese, India happens to be the fastest-growing sending market, with a growth of 25% in 2016.

In the backdrop of an increasingly globalized world where economies and economic blocs are closely tied and interdependent, where money, trade, knowledge, skills, and manpower freely flow across increasingly porous borders and sources, this phenomenon of an increasingly mobile international student community is hardly surprising. But what benefits can study abroad bring to you? Have you ever wondered?

Studying abroad has often been described by international students as “life-changing and life-enhancing”. Here are some of the top-line benefits they often cite. Find out what might be your reason to aspire for a degree from abroad.

Build a Global Network

Foreign universities happen to be the meeting ground of learners and teachers from all over the world and different cultures. You can build life-long, invaluable relationships and friends here. A global network often leads to career opportunities, including job leads, professional offers, academic breaks, and business collaboration.

Learn New Cultures and Perspectives

Meeting people from all over the world gives you the opportunity to experience diverse cultures, allowing you to enhance your world view and perspective. This is critical for those who aspire for an international career. Our cultural background often shapes and colors how we see and interact with people around us. A variety of perspectives helps you to look at new experiences in new ways. You will be comfortable working and collaborating with people from different backgrounds, having unique upbringing, experience, values, and establish a strong bond with them.

Gain Competitive Edge

Plainly speaking, studying abroad impresses potential employers. It makes you competitive and facilitates to launch on a career. It is a tell-tale sign to prospective employers that you have an open perspective, resourcefulness, and cultural inclusiveness to integrate with an international workforce. Here are some of the key findings of the Erasmus Impact Study 2013 commissioned by the Erasmus Student Network on the effects of mobility on the skills and employability of students

• On average, Erasmus students have better employability skills after a stay abroad than 70% of all students
• 64% of employers consider an international experience as an important criterion for recruitment
• The share of employers who considered experience abroad to be important for employability also nearly doubled between 2006 and 2013 from 37% to 64%
• 64% of questioned employers report that graduates with an international background are given greater professional responsibility more frequently, a proportion that has increased by 51% since 2006.

Experience Different Styles of Teaching

Studying abroad allows you to experience different styles of teaching, giving you the capacity to adapt to various pedagogies and make you more versatile at your workplace.

Enhance Life Skills

Undertaking a study abroad decision has been a momentous decision for many. It means you will be on your own in an unknown country. It is a major organisational and cultural challenge. Engaging with another culture enhances your life skills such as adaptability, new language skill, leadership, cross-cultural awareness, independence, and confidence.

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