Nowadays, many people prefer to study outside their own country. They think that education in other countries is better. Some of them are helped by scholarships, financial aids, loans, and others supported by their parents or through personal savings.
Canada, Australia, UK, Singapore, China, and the USA are the most favorite countries to study. Most students select these countries because they are developed countries.
Now, studying abroad is a good choice, but there are many advantages and disadvantages to it. Of course, the advantages outweigh the disadvantages.
Advantages
- Maturity: By moving to another country and leaving their home country, students can gain more experience and become independent. Living away from home can also help adjust to the transition of college and adulthood. They will learn to be more responsible and able to take decisions by themselves.
- Learning Languages: In addition, it allows one to be able to learn a foreign language, especially when the location of the study is not fully an English language-speaking country. They’ll have the benefit of compulsory language speaking. For example, if you study in China or Germany, it would be an advantage to learn to speak Chinese (Mandarin) or German every time and everywhere, even if the classes are delivered in English. You will still have to interact with others in society – getting a taxi and shopping in local markets. Even if you leave the country of study, you should still be able to speak the language fluently.
- Global Citizenship: The benefit of studying abroad affords you the opportunity to make friends around the world; you meet people from different nationalities, learn about their culture and their history.
- Work Exposure/Experience: In addition, when you study abroad in some countries, it allows you to take up some part-time work during the program and upon graduation (post-study experience), if you find a well-paying job, you get to start a career.
- Career Launch: It also prepares you to be a world-class employee and eventually an employer of labour. The international exposure allows you to harness all the experiences gained in starting up or running a venture. Many students find these opportunities helpful than what they would have attracted in their home country, as they gain real and practical experience by working in top multi-national companies located in these countries.
- Tangible Contribution: It also puts you ahead whenever you return to your home country. This is because employers believe you have a world-class education and have gained necessary and international experience which can be contributed to their organization positively.
Disadvantages
- Cost of Education and Living Expenses: Usually, the cost of living in another country is very expensive. Accommodation cost takes the bulk. The cost of feeding, transportation, and other preferences follow. In studying abroad, you spend more than what would have been spent if you had studied in your home country.
- Fluctuating Exchange Rates: Currency exchange rate fluctuation makes it difficult at times for students to be able to have enough funds for tuition or cater for other necessary expenses while studying. These fluctuations also vary from one country to the other and are not in the control of any individual.
- Cultural Shock: Furthermore, most students are attacked by culture shock. This can get them depressed or lonely at first. Also, the laws of the new country, ways of doing things, social norms, and weather are some of the things that contribute immensely to the cultural shock. The students will have to make new friends who would be different from them in world view, economic status, food, culture, language, habits, and customs. Sometimes, it takes a long time to adapt and for some, it takes lesser time; it depends on your ability to cope with change.
- Homesick: Research has also affirmed that most students get homesick in the first week of being in a new country. They usually will miss their family, countries, friends, habit, and others. Also, when they get sick, they will experience some loneliness, as there is no one to take care of you like it would have been back home.
In conclusion, study abroad applications are a far less arduous process. While some more competitive programs may require recommendations and essays, they’re generally not even as time-consuming as you may think.
The truth is, it all depends on how the students use the chance of studying abroad; either to their advantage or disadvantage.
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