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Studying Abroad
Why study abroad?
1. Do something exciting
2. Widen your horizons
3. Learn about different cultures
4. Be at ease with other life-styles
5. Appear worldly-wise and sophisticated to your friends back home
6. Improve your language skills
7. Make friends and useful contacts
8. Broaden future job options
9. Take advantage of international career openings
10. Compete in the global market place!
Doing the whole course overseas (Difficult)
As a member of the European Union, UK citizens have the right (in theory) to apply for a course at any EU university. In practice this is not as straight forward as it sounds. You’ll need to be fluent in the language of the country concerned to benefit. You’ll also need the stamina to research courses and the application procedure.
There’s nothing to stop anyone applying for a place at any university anywhere in the world if that university accepts overseas students and you are able to pay. A very small number of UK students do follow this path, usually in the USA, but you’ll need both money and determination.
If you want to find out more, start with some basic research in your local Careers Centre library, then contact the relevant embassy direct.
UK courses that get you abroad (Easier)
Language courses
Most modern languages degrees involve spending up to a year abroad, either as an ‘assistant/e’ or as a student at a foreign university. Most ‘year-outs’ are in Europe but can be outside depending on the language(s) studied.
Courses combining a language
If you combine a language with something else like business studies, law, science or engineering your course might also involve a period of time at a foreign university or on work experience abroad. A few of these courses lead to dual UK/European qualifications.
Non-language courses
Some non-language courses offer the chance to study overseas as part of the course. These are becoming more popular; certain courses, usually those with a business
or technological base, involve study or work in places like Australia, Canada, the USA or the Far East.
The ERASMUS scheme allows universities in Europe to arrange periods of study or educational exchanges for their students with partner institutions. You’d be surprised at the range of courses which offer this option. Although you don’t have to be taking a language as part of your degree, you may have problems coping unless you have some prior language skills (e.g. GCE Advanced).
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HOT TIP!
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Brush up your language skills before you study abroad by getting a summer or Gap Year job.
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