1. Options

Looking beyond your home country for an education means that you open the door to a wider selection of courses especially if you are interested in a specific programme that universities back home do not offer. Not only do you have access to more options; you may also be provided with better ones as some countries are more established in certain industries than others.

Comparatively, your options are not as widespread if you were to only look at your country for an education in contrast to looking at the rest of the world. Because of this, you may be pushed to choose something that you may not necessarily enjoy as much when the course of interest is available elsewhere.

2. Worldview

You may have heard this for the umpteenth time but there is a reason why this is one of the most note-worthy pros of studying abroad. Living in a new place for some time will change your view of the world one way or another as you are exposed to different kinds of people and societal norms that you will almost never experience living at home surrounded by people of the same nationality and similar beliefs.

Traveling improves your understanding of other cultures; but studying in a different country takes you even deeper. When you live and immerse yourself in the local scene such as food, customs and traditions, you will be met with new societal norms and come to appreciate cultural differences that will increase your sense of the world. You may also be able to pick up a new language which is not only beneficial as a new skill set, but will further add to the knowledge of a country’s history and culture. As such, you will gain first-hand insights into another country rather than by reading about it on the internet. This opens up your mind and gives you a broader worldview which is an experience unique to every individual.

On the other hand, studying locally gives you no such opportunities to truly discover hidden gems found across the globe. Though you are not prone to homesickness or culture shock, you will also not discover the beauty that a new environment has to offer and therefore deny yourself these eye-opening experiences.

3. Network

Studying abroad provides opportunities to study and work under professionals from across the globe and meet individuals you will never meet in your own country. This will then increase your global network when you return home because you would have the opportunity to build meaningful international relationships which may prove helpful when the time comes. In contrast, studying domestically hinders you from meeting people from a completely different background and your social network will be restricted to your own four walls.

4. Employability

Arguably, graduates with an overseas qualification do stand out from other applicants when it comes to employment mainly due to the exposure they have that sets them apart. Such exposure could be better communication and collaborative skills from working with all kinds of people, or simply a better qualification from a renowned institute. It also takes a level of tenacity and independence to be able to excel abroad, and these are intangible qualities that an employer may look at when considering job applications.

Also, because the globe is becoming increasingly more interconnected, employers may value one who has had an international exposure and is more likely to understand global trends. However, some employers do value local experience and connections more because it is relevant to local trends and market demands. The internship experience and skills taught may also be more suited to the local job scope as well. Hence, when it comes to employability, it would be helpful if you research on whether an international or domestic experience best suits your career path.

5. Personal growth

Do not underestimate the impact of an international exposure on your personal growth. Firstly, studying abroad teaches you to be independent because you do not have family members or friends there to help you at any time of the day. Often times, you will need to be quick on your feet to solve a problem on your own which drives you to be an innovative thinker. You will also need to practice self-discipline because you do not have constant supervision from your parents to keep you in check especially in your school work.

Additionally, your overall sense of the world will widen thus making you a more accepting, empathetic, and understanding person in general. The soft skills you gain from studying abroad will also build you up as a person and into a more well-rounded individual. ­­

Do not get us wrong, it does not mean that studying locally will make you less of a person. But because the environment differs widely, the degree and circumstance in which these characteristics are cultivated are unique to the other.

6. Finances

An opportunity as exciting as studying abroad is not without its disadvantages. This is probably the single most common reason why students do not take that step out, and that is the cost. No matter how much you skim on expenses, the cost of studying abroad will be significantly greater than a domestic education. Apart from tuition fees alone, one also has to consider cost of living such as accommodation, transport, food, utilities, medical fees and other daily expenses. What’s more, the student visa application process will typically require students to show proof of financial funds in their bank account and the amount is usually over USD$10,000.

A domestic education, on the other hand, will significantly bring down the cost of studying and living as you will have access to local subsidised school fees and you need not show proof of financial funds. Besides the cost of study, being a local in your own country means you get to enjoy government subsidies on necessities such as transportation fees and medical bills.

7. Familiarity

Moving to a new country means that you have to be willing to leave behind all things familiar and step into unknown territory. This can be a daunting step to many and it will be challenging especially in the first few months. You do not have the constant physical support of your family and friends and will be pushed to navigate this new territory independently. Maybe not mentioned enough, but the mental stress of that may affect your studies and wellbeing abroad especially if you are prone to homesickness and not quick at adapting to changes. Refer to our guide on own ways to deal with homesickness!

Contrast that to studying locally, you have the comfort of having friends and family around to motivate you and keep you going especially when studies get tough. Furthermore, as a student in your own country, you are familiar with important places such as libraries, print shops, study areas and any resources that will aid in your education journey.

That said, the current pandemic has pulled the brakes on our plans and we are mandated to stay confined within our borders. You need to note that as you enrol into a school abroad, you may not be allowed to travel to that country until a later date, depending on the travel restrictions of individual countries.

Overall, the benefits of studying abroad supersedes that of studying locally simply because of the enriching experience one will gain. Not only do you see the world through a different lens, you will also potentially grow into a more knowledgeable and well-rounded individual. There are many ways to study abroad without breaking the bank, click here to find out more!