If you’re considering moving abroad to complete your studies, it’s important to consider the pros and cons of doing so. It’s easy to jump into something as exciting as living in a foreign country without proper consideration, preparation, and planning. However, you must consider every aspect of studying abroad before committing to this life-changing decision.
In this article, we’ve covered the pros and cons of studying abroad so you can learn about both the positive and negative aspects before embarking on this journey.
What Are the Pros of Studying Abroad?
Moving to another country for your studies presents a number of benefits and opportunities, including the following.
Experiencing a new culture
One of the main reasons why people move abroad is to experience a completely different culture to the one they grew up in. Studying abroad expands your horizons and enables you to meet new people, explore different places, and form new and ever-lasting memories.
Cultural shock is a real thing, so be prepared to feel a little overwhelmed when you first move abroad. However, after just a couple of weeks, you will feel settled, excited, and ready to put yourself out there.
You can gain a deeper understanding of the country you’ve moved to and its associated cultural norms, traditions, and celebrations. You’ll be able to interact with natives and locals to learn more about their way of life and share your personal experiences and opinions.
Learning how to budget effectively
Budgeting is often not a student’s strong point. If you’re somebody who has never had to live independently and budget for each aspect of your life, moving abroad to study will be a rewarding challenge.
Although tough, learning how to budget and save your money is a vital skill for long-term financial health. When you move abroad, you’ll need to consider getting Student Travel Insurance and health insurance, which are ongoing costs.
You’ll also need to learn how to budget effectively for weekly groceries, travel expenses, and social activities. Creating a spreadsheet that breaks down your income and expenses should make this process a little less daunting and more streamlined.
Developing your language skills
A significant pro of moving to study in another country is the opportunity you will get to learn a new language. As we get older, picking up a new language becomes harder. However, surrounding yourself with native speakers of a particular language makes this process much quicker and easier.
Simply interacting with locals and native students while tours studying abroad will enable you to pick up the basics of the language. Over time, you will become more proficient and confident in speaking the language.
Enhanced resume
Abroad study looks great on a resume, as it shows potential employers that you’re willing to take risks, are adventurous, are motivated to work hard, and can find the perfect work-study balance.
Employers often see studying abroad as an asset and are more likely to hire you if they spot this on your application. As a result, you’re more likely to land your dream job when you finish your studies.
What Are the Cons of Studying Abroad?
Some of the drawbacks of studying abroad include the following.
Increased cost
Compared to studying in your home country, studying abroad is relatively expensive. Generally, tuition fees are higher, and there are significant costs associated with visas, travel, and accommodation. These increased costs could be worrisome and concerning if you don’t have adequate savings or funding.
Feeling homesick
Being far away from your close friends and family can be difficult, especially when it’s for an extended period of time, such as when you’re studying for a degree. You might feel homesick when you first move, which can negatively impact your mental health and make you feel isolated.
Safety concerns
Traveling to another country and living there alone during your studies means entering unfamiliar territories. You likely won’t know your way around your chosen study destination, and you’ll be far away from your loved ones. You may also be unaware of the emergency services numbers or the local and national laws.
Each of these things can put your safety at risk and it’s something to consider if you want to study abroad.
Language barrier
If you’re moving to a country whose native language is different from the one of your home country, you will experience a language barrier when you move to study there. This language barrier can be difficult at first because it can make navigation, communication, and social interactions much harder.
When you don’t know the native language, you might find it tough to make new friends, and this can lead to feelings of isolation. You might also struggle to use public transport or ask for help in the grocery store, making an already overwhelming situation even more stressful.
