“One’s Destination is Never a Place, but a New Way of Seeing Things.” ― Henry Miller

This quote very much sums up the essence of studying abroad. Thanks to globalisation, it is now possible for international schools and colleges to bring students from all across the globe. Studying abroad is not just a trend today but a desire of many students.

But, Why Study Abroad?

The main reason why students want to go to another country to study is the high-quality education offered abroad. If a student gets a chance to learn in the top universities or schools of the world, they must take it.

Some students often want to live independently and explore the world. Hence, they prefer studying in a different country than their homeland. However, the decision can be crucial. So, the students need to look for advantages and disadvantages of studying abroad.

Studying Abroad Advantages and Disadvantages

Let’s talk about the good things first….

1. Studying abroad brings in new and better learning opportunities for students. Many international schools and universities are famous because of their exquisite teaching methods and educational opportunities.
2. Students experience a different culture when they move to another country. This can be amazing as they get aware of different traditions and religious beliefs. They can learn much more about life and the history of the country.
3. Your foreign degree can have amazing value not only in your hometown but also across the globe. Students often get better job opportunities in their home country if they have a foreign degree.
4. Studying from a foreign university not only puts a great impression over your employer but also enables better salary options for you in your hometown. This is mainly because of the better learning techniques and exposure you gain while studying in an international institution.
5. Being in another country is a great option to learn a new language. You might become aware of the local languages of that place. All of this can benefit you a lot. It will help you in mixing up with the localities, getting internships or making friends.
6. Studying abroad is a great opportunity to satisfy the wanderlust in you and explore new places. It will not only be entertaining for you but also full of experiences. You might meet new people, explore nature and experience beautiful landscapes.
7. Living independently teaches you a lot in life. You get a chance to get out of your comfort zone and expand your horizons. You become more tolerant and open-minded to situations that are not according to your belief system.
8. Studying abroad is a great networking opportunity for students. You might make friends from different communities, meet some innovative teachers and inspiring business leaders.

After These Amazing Benefits of Studying Abroad, are There any Disadvantages?

1. Well, let’s accept it. Studying abroad can be expensive for students. Many times students have to take an education loan to manage the tuition fee of international educational institutions. Some students also indulge in part-time jobs to meet their financial requirements abroad.
2. For some students, it might get difficult to open up with new people. Some students are not very extrovert. They need time to adjust to an environment. If they are not aware of the language spoken in that country, it might take more time and effort to get accustomed to their surroundings.
3. You might not like the environmental conditions of the place. For instance, Australia has a tropical climate. Many people cannot adjust to extremely hot and humid weather.
4. International students might feel out of place in the new country. There can be situations when native people have better privileges than migrants. Moreover, if the native people are not welcoming in nature, one might feel that they have made the wrong decision of coming abroad.
5. Homesickness often grabs international students, especially in the first six months of their migration. You might not make friends immediately and spend most of your time on social media or library. You might feel that there is no family to support you and pamper you which can make you feel depressed.
6. Students might also experience culture shock. Sometimes there can be a clash of beliefs that you have developed over the years in your country and the beliefs you experience in the new place. You might have to alter your thinking which might not be acceptable to you.
7. If you are planning to study abroad get ready to face a lot of expectations from your family and friends. All the people around you will have great expectations from you that you will make a better future than others. This might be stressful for you at times.

What are the Best Places to Study Abroad?

“Play to Your Strengths. If You aren’t Great at Something, Do More of What You’re Great at.” – Jason Lemkin

So let us not get disheartened with the difficulties that might come in the way and have a look at eight best places to study abroad.

1. London – 19 Internationally Ranked Institutions
2. Melbourne – More Than 10 International Universities
3. Sydney – A Leader in Higher Education and Research
4. Gold Coast – Modern Classrooms and Campuses
5. Berlin – A City of Culture and History
6. Tokyo – A Beautiful, Innovative and Advanced City
7. Madrid – Get Indulged in Culinary Creativity and Spanish Culture
8. Perth – A City of Millennials and a Great Place to Study Art

What’s The Cost of Studying Abroad?

This question does not have a straightforward answer as institutions of different countries might cost differently. Moreover, the living expenses, travel and food expenses of every country are different. Hence, we can only talk about the average cost of studying abroad. 

The International Institution of Education suggests that the average costs of studying abroad per semester might be somewhere around $18,000 or $36,000 per year. If we talk about Australia, the average tuition fee for international students is around AUD 30,000.

Australia is one of the top destinations of international students. With many Australian universities finding a place in the QS World University Rankings List for 2020, Australia is managing to bring more and more students every year.

Scholarships to Study Abroad

The best way to afford the high costs of foreign degree courses or schools is scholarship. Universities, organizations and governments across the globe offer scholarships and grants to the students so that they can pay the high tuition fees and manage their expenses. Here are some of the best scholarships to study abroad.

1. Boren Scholarships – Maximum scholarship up to $20,000 in various countries like Australia, New Zealand, Canada and Western Europe.
2. University of Sydney International Research Scholarships – Covers the tuition fees and living allowance for up to three years.
3. Adelaide Scholarships International – Covers tuition fees, annual living allowance, and health insurance.
4. The Intern Group Global Leadership Grants – $25,000 grant in Australia, Dublin, Shanghai and Latin America.
5. Australia Awards Scholarship – Variable scholarships for students from developing countries who want to pursue Bachelor, Masters or PhD from Australia.

Requirements And Checklist To Study Abroad

Planning to study abroad? You must prepare a checklist of all the documents that you must have. To start with, here is a list of the top things you require to study abroad. Let us check them out.

1. 1. Passport – It is obvious but many times students forget to get their passports renewed! This can be problematic at times so make sure you have a valid passport.
   2. Student Visa – Make sure you apply for the visa early enough so that it gets approved by the time the course commences. Prepare all documents in a correct format, gather passport size photographs and ensure that you reach the country a few weeks before your classes begin.
   3. University Documents – Apply in more than one university or school so that your chances of getting admitted to an international institution are good. Collect all your previous qualifications transcripts, recommendation letters, language test results and all other documents that you might require while applying to the institutions.
   4. Insurance – All set to move to another country? Consider travel insurance and save yourself from any injuries, theft or illness while you travel. In many countries, students are obliged to have medical insurance too. So get all the formalities done as you plan to live in another country.
   5. Funds – It is again an obvious requirement but many times students get so involved with getting the admission that they forget about managing the proof of funds. If you are looking for a scholarship, apply for it as early as possible.
   6. Accommodation – It feels so good when you already have made the arrangements where would you stay in the new country. So whether you want to stay at the students’ hostel or in an apartment, try and make arrangements as early as possible.

So this is what it looks like when a student decides to study abroad. From the benefits of studying abroad to its downsides and requirements and checklists to study abroad, one needs to take care of every aspect.

Last, but not least, a student visa is a big deal to crack! You must check all the requirements for a student visa before you start applying in the international institutions. Seek help from immigration experts or a migrating agent and save much of your time and efforts.

Want to share your experience of studying abroad? How do you think students can make this transition easier for them? Share your views and concerns about this tremendous outreach of education on a global level!