Studying Abroad vs. Locally. What’s Best for You?

Financial Considerations

You will need strong financial support from home when you arrive in the country as most countries don’t allow foreign students to work. Keep in mind that other than your tuition fees, you will also need to worry about your living costs.

Compared to studying abroad, the cost of studying locally can be significantly lower. Some of the countries even offer free higher education to their international students. For instance, higher education in Denmark is free for students from the EU/EEA and Switzerland, and students participating in an exchange programme in Denmark.

Studying locally also allows you to do as you please during semester breaks as you can find temporary employment easily without the language barrier or worrying about your work permit. 

Expand Your Horizons 

Despite all that, studying abroad expands a student’s horizons and provides an enriching experience along with new insights. Things that you could only see on the television can now be experienced personally; food, clothes and architecture, among other things.

Exposing the youths to different cultures and experiences is important to teach them that every culture is unique and should be given equal respect. At the same time, others around you will also be picking up on your culture. 

You should also possess a strong will and determination as it will not be easy to study abroad; you have to swiftly adapt to the new culture, interact with people different from you and experience a different way of life. These challenges will result in a more independent and confident person.

A Well-rounded Employee 

Studying abroad also makes your curriculum vitae (CV) look more impressive. Although it isn’t always so, some employers do prefer those who have studied in a foreign country. Moreover, they tend to have better thinking skills, as well as being more mature and independent, compared to local graduates. Although there is not much difference between local graduates and foreign graduates in terms of qualification or technical ability, the soft skills will differentiate these two types of graduates, clearly benefiting the foreign graduates. 

(Cover photo source: brainscape.com)