Study abroad

Thinking about travelling abroad and take a part or all of your education abroad? Learn about student life abroad and examine your options.

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Educations abroad                                                                       

If you want to study abroad, the possibilities are awesome. Whether you have saved up a lot of money, or are drinking all your money up back at home, there are different possibilities depending on, how far you are with your education.

Secondary education: There are opportunities to take a year or your whole high school abroad, where especially high schools in the U.S. and Canada are very popular. All countries have education at secondary level, and you will receive lessons at a school similar to the upper classes in late primary and early high school. Schools are called different things, eg Gymnasium in Germany and Denmark, the lycée in France and high school in the U.S.

Higher education: There are so many opportunities to study abroad, if higher education is what you want. It can vary from one semester at a foreign university to an entire education abroad, and you can study in countries like Italy, China, USA, Australia and even Hawaii. Another advantage of studying abroad is that you’re often able to specialize even more, in your specific area. If you’re already a student at a higher education, it is relatively easy to start studying abroad, as your university/institution will do a lot of work for you, whereas if you aren’t studying at the moment, you have to arrange it all yourself. There is a program for students in Europe, called Erasmus, which gives a good financial aid, and that’s one of the reasons that it’s usually a lot more expensive to study abroad outside of Europe.

The international degrees that can be taken abroad are called:

Study Abroad – If you are running a studio in Denmark, and would like one or two semesters abroad.

Bachelor – An entire bachelor of 3-4 years at the university for those coming directly from upper secondary education. If you have a shorter higher education (AP), it is possible to complete some bachelors at 1 ,1 ½ or 2 years in a so-called top-up scheme. A bachelor abroad is also often called an undergraduate degree.

Master – For those who already have a bachelor, it is possible to take an overseas candidate called a master at the university. They usually take 1-2 years. In many countries, a master is also called a postgraduate or graduate degree.

Ph. D. – If you want to study a doctorate or a part of it abroad, there are also opportunities for that. Like with higher education, here you can also study a Ph. D. in countless countries, but it’s best to inquire at your institution.

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Advantages of studying abroad

There are many arguments for an education abroad, rather than study back in your home country. You learn to live in an entirely new society, which undoubtedly will evolve you as a person. You’ll learn a lot about cultural differences, which can not be replaced by reading books. If you choose to study abroad in a country that has a different language than your own, your language skills will obviously hugely improve, and you’ll get a large international network. Of course you also get a international education that companies and the society crave for – all while you get an experience of a lifetime.

Disadvantages of studying abroad

The disadvantages of studying abroad are fewer, but nonetheless exist. Especially because it’s very expensive to study abroad – particularly outside Europe. You should remember to check whether the education you are interested, can be used to for further education in your home country. Looking at the social aspects of studying abroad, it is great to have friends in many parts of the world, but on the other hand, the good friends you have made, aren’t easy to keep in touch with. This together with the opportunity to meeting new people at home, is for me a disadvantage.

All in all – the advantages of studying abroad are a lot greater than the disadvantages of studying abroad.

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Preparation and economy

A study abroad trip requires much preparation in relation to a relaxed backpacker trip. Many universities have deadlines for applications at different times, and many universities expect you to send your application around half a year before the course starts. Generally it is said that it approximately requires one year of preparation, from you get the idea until of studying abroad until you want to go.

When you start planning your study abroad adventure, you should consider which country you want to go to.  Keep in mind that studying abroad in Europe will save you a lot of money, even though it might not be as exotic as studying in Hawaii. Do you want to study in a vibrant city, on the edge of a beautiful white sandy beach, or maybe somewhere else you dream about. When you have found what you think is the right university for you, you need to check the study abroad programs, as some universities are specialised in Business, hospitality and law studies for instance.

If you are able to use the Erasmus exchange program, you receive financial support for your stay, and if you are from some countries, you will not have to pay tuition fees. The stay is also included as a part of your education, which means that it will not prolong your total study time.

As described before, it’s not free to study abroad, and if you want to study in eg Australia or the United States it could become a very costly affair. Not only is the cost of living in these countries quite high. You must also pay tuition fees, which not all Europeans are used to. Tuition fees which vary depending on the duration of your study abroad stay, and what education you choose. A normal tuition fee in Australia per. semester varies from £ 3,500 to £ 4,500, so it’s a lot of money for most students, which makes a dream about a year or two of studying abroad sound unrealistic for many.

Fortunately one can get grants and other support, which helps a little. Moreover, some very talented and lucky students can be as privileged to receive a scholership, which in many cases cover 50% of the tuition fees. But remember that the money you spend on your study abroad adventure now, will pay you back many times in the future.