Have you wondered what it feels like to study abroad? Yes, it’s amazing and exhilarating. In fact, studying abroad can always be one of the most cherished experiences of your life.

The time you’ll spend in a foreign country—learning a new language, making friends, recollecting travel memories, enjoying local delicacies, and understanding new cultures, peoples, and opportunities—can be life-enriching.

If you’re a student and visiting a foreign country for the first time, things can get emotional, anxious, and a bit confusing at the start. But worry not! Every pain has its share of rewards.

The benefits of studying abroad far exceed the initial hiccups that you might grapple with when going abroad to complete your studies. These challenges are nothing but your stepping stones towards new opportunities that come your way!

If you’ve come this far reading the article, it means you’re just a few steps away from boarding your international flight.

So, stay tight and buckle yourself up as we take you into the wonderful world of studying abroad and its benefits!

Top 6 Reasons to Study Abroad and Why Students Love It

Explore the Unknown

More than your studies, visiting a foreign country is all about overcoming your fears and exploring the unknown. When you step onto foreign soil, you’ll get an opportunity to explore an unfamiliar country, see it in front of your eyes, and analyze how different your native country is from the host country.

Moreover, this exposure will also play an immense role in your overall personality development. Experiencing new outlooks, customs, and activities can be fun altogether.

What you consider ‘normal’ as part of your culture and tradition may not work in the host country. As a result, you have to make yourself adaptable to many ‘new normal(s),’ which you might have no idea about until you land in that country.

The way you perceive things may not be the same anymore. This realization in your student life can make a big difference, making you more inclusive, empathetic, and broad-minded.

Get Quality Education at Affordable Fees

Did you know that you can study a job-oriented program at a reputed university in Latin America, Asia, or Europe at a fee much lower than what you’d have to pay in your native country for the same course?

Though it actually depends on the course you wish to pursue, studying abroad does facilitate international students to get quality education without breaking the bank. Moreover, if you’ve already secured a scholarship, things are likely to be simpler for you.

Another reason for studying abroad is to experience different pedagogies and teaching styles. For instance, some countries focus on traditional course syllabus completion, while in many other universities the emphasis remains on project completion, participation in educational seminars and workshops, or group discussions—things you might have missed out on in your college at home.

Immersing yourself in a different education system and securing good grades is not just incredible in itself but also demonstrates your commitment and dedication to taking on new challenges and overcoming hurdles with a smile.

For Better Career Prospect

You’d be surprised to know that candidates who’ve completed at least one of their graduate or advanced degree programs abroad do always get preference at any job interviews.

According to Institute of International Education (IIE), around 90% of candidates who’ve studied abroad got a job immediately within six months of completing their graduation. Thus, candidates with a degree or diploma from a foreign university have an edge compared to others.

Alongside your education, your stay in a foreign land will change your perspective, enhance your communication skills, decision-making abilities, professional acumen, and augment your critical thinking and innovativeness.

Thus, when you possess all these soft skills along with a degree from a reputed foreign university, your chances of being shortlisted brighten up.

Master a New Language

Be it English or any other language, no matter how much you practiced or learned it in school or college, unless you expose yourself to native speakers, you may not learn the language perfectly. Simply converse more in the foreign language with native speakers and see how well you pick up fluency in that language, flaunting it in front of your friends.

If you have no knowledge of the host country’s language, you should watch out for the frequent ‘language sessions’ that your host university is likely to hold for foreign students. Just make sure you attend these sessions regularly and master the language, abiding by your long-standing New Year’s resolution of learning a new language that you always ignored in your home country. Furthermore, your friends will appreciate your hard work, courage, and effort to go the extra mile to learn their language.

Make New Friends for a Lifetime

Making friends in a new country can be difficult but not impossible. You may come across a few students who share the same interests as you. You should move forward and get familiar with them—their attitude, hobbies, and education programs. While it’s completely normal to not like everyone in your class, even connecting with a few can provide an opportunity to make lifelong friends, not necessarily from your background or home country.

In fact, even after completing your studies, these friends are likely to stay in touch with you. Next time, if they visit your home country, don’t forget to welcome them with open arms, sharing nostalgic memory of days you shared together at the college as international students.

At job interviews, too, you’re likely to make a good impact and a strong first impression when you have friends scattered all across the globe, who are also well-established in their careers, just as you are in your profession.

Learn a New Culture

No matter how many travelogues you read, travel shows you watch, or travel vlogs you binge-watch on YouTube, experiencing the culture, traditions, foods, and customs of a new country in real life while enjoying your stay in that particular country is always special. It helps you appreciate your host country’s rich heritage and history while celebrating its people.

You can’t learn cross-cultural communication through traditional textbook-style learning. Real-life exposure is essential to communicate with people from diverse fields and backgrounds. Only through studying abroad do you get the opportunity to meet fellow students, professors, and faculty members from different backgrounds.

With better international exposure, you’ll be better suited for any job, understand different perspectives, and become naturally expressive in sharing your opinions and views without any inhibitions.

In Conclusion

First of all, if you’re considering going abroad for further education, congratulations!

Not too many people can even dream of it. Only 1.3 million candidates from India are currently studying abroad, which roughly constitutes around 0.10% of the Indian population.

Whether you stay abroad for two years, four years, or more, you’ll be a changed person. Moving to and fro between your home country and host country will teach you lots of new things, including time management and help you meet the best version of yourself.

Who knows, you might have a hidden talent for paragliding, hosting opera, or playing golf—talents you could discover only during your stay in a foreign country. Moreover, don’t forget that you won’t study forever. Once you’ve completed your graduation or higher education, you’ll likely be busy with your job or raising a family. So, make the most of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to study abroad. Don’t let it slip away! Pack up your bags and get set to go!

In case, you have already studied abroad and tamed the uncharted territories, share your experience with us! We’d be happy to learn more about your experiences.