The benefits

Is someone in your family thinking about studying or working abroad as part (or all) of their higher education? We take a look at some of the benefits.

Independence and personal development

Going abroad for months or even years is a big step - and can even feel a bit daunting at first.

But as thousands of UK students can already confirm, there are a lot of positives that they take home with them when they've have been studying or working outside the UK. It’s a challenge to move out of their usual surroundings, to another country and to set up their life independently. People who have done it agree that it can be a life-changing experience: it builds their confidence, and they can develop personal skills that will boost their career prospects.

Funding your time abroad

Studying or working abroad doesn’t have to increase student debts. There are a range of funding opportunities available for students who want to spend part of their degree abroad - Erasmus, Comenius, university scholarships to name but a few.

While the initial costs of moving may seem high if your student is planning to study for the entire degree abroad, bear in mind that in some countries the course fees and living costs are lower than they are at home in the UK. So it’s worth taking the time to research and plan carefully.

Language skills

If your student is already studying a language degree course, they may well be required by the university to spend part of their second or third year abroad.

This can be a great advantage later on when they are building their CV: language skills are very sought after by employers. And with the cultural understanding that spending time abroad develops, they will add value to their career prospects.