7  Decisive Reasons to Study Abroad  – Why You Won’t Regret It

1. See the world, travel to great countries

One of the main reasons for you to study abroad is the possibility of seeing the world. You will have the opportunity to explore and visit new places and immerse yourself in the culture of the country you will study your undergraduate degree.

In addition, you can easily visit neighbouring countries. For instance, Europe, being only twice as large as the Amazon Rainforest, is famous for being so tiny you can literally walk from country to country (well… almost).

Here are just a few countries with great English-taught degrees just waiting to be discovered:

• Study abroad in Spain and enjoy all the sunshine-filled beaches
• Study abroad in Italy to see with your own eyes the worlds’ most famous artworks
• Study abroad in the U.K. and discover the coolest accents
• Study abroad in Australia to befriend some kangaroos

2. Embrace a new culture first-hand

We all grow up in our own culture and traditions, so when you decide to study abroad, you get to see other perspectives and cultures, and that’s always an interesting and fascinating thing.

You might experience cultural shock, but that shouldn’t deter you, if you go into it with a sense of wonder, not fearing changes. Don’t take our word for it. Here is what international student Beltus from Cameroon thinks about studying abroad:

“If the world is becoming a global village, it means it’s also becoming competitive, and if the world is becoming competitive, then you have to upgrade your personal capacity, to be able to fit in.”

It’s hard to disagree with him. So why not give universities abroad a chance?

If you don’t know where to start, here are some of the most international universities in the world, according to Times Higher Education:

• The University of Edinburgh, the U.K.
• Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech), the U.S.
• Utrecht University, the Netherlands
• Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Germany
• King’s College London, the U.K.

3. Make internationals BFFs

Nowadays, keeping in touch with people from different continents is fairly easy and accessible, thanks to our miracle-working phones.

And, although it might seem difficult, at first, you should know that making friends is the easiest thing ever, if you either become a Student Ambassador for your future university, or you join extra-curricular activities.

And, as a plus, by making international friends, you will have additional reasons to travel and sleep on random couches around the world.

4. Dream job, here I come!

Another important benefit of studying abroad is that you can add this experience to your CV. This will help you stand out from the crowd, seeing how, in an increasingly globalised society, any kind of international experience will help you immensely.

5. Amaze people with your foreign language skills

You may have learned English from song lyrics and movies, or you may have studied the main grammar and vocabulary during school, but you will always need to use it in real-life situations and interactions.

Just think how many nuance things you will learn after talking, studying, and taking an exam in English: famous phrases, quotes, or even curse words (but we’re not encouraging that!). Plus you can also improve your language more formally by taking a short course.

6. An international Bachelor’s makes you smarter

It might sound cliché, but travelling for your Bachelor’s degree will make you a much worldlier person. Studying abroad is one of the most eye-opening, mind-bending, life-changing experiences a student can have.

When you study abroad, you learn about new people, cultures, perspectives, all of which help you expand your view of the world.

7. Become your own person

Finally, another benefit of studying abroad and embracing this adventure is learning about yourself.

Being in a new place by yourself can be difficult at times, and it tests your ability to adapt to different situations. This means that you will learn how to be independent and mature, and you will become more confident and grow as a person.

In order to apply for a UG program abroad, a well-rounded profile is required to stand out in the competitive pool through a unique and diverse identity. An applicant’s profile must be built around the following:

• Program specific activities and contributions
• Human strengths (empathy, inclusion, gratitude, tolerance, compassion)
• Honors and distinctions (academic activities, national/international Olympiads)
• Extra-curricular activities (demonstrating intellectual depth, out-of-the-box thinking, leadership and performance rather than mere participation)

Academic Requirements for Study Abroad for Indian students after 12th

• Consistent academic scores from Grade 9 to 11, 12th mid-year and predicted grade. Some of the applications/acceptances are done on the basis of the 10th score and 12th predicted grades.
• Usually 12 years of education are required to apply to undergraduate programs. However, Germany requires 13 years of education – i.e. clearing the 12th grade plus meeting one of the following requirements:

1. Clear JEE Advanced

OR

2. One year of bachelor degree education from a recognised educational institute in India

Standardised Test Score Requirements

• Most universities in the US require the Digital SAT/ACT scores. Some top schools would additionally need Subject Digital SAT scores for Admission
• English language assessment is required by almost all foreign Institutions. So IELTS or TOEFL or PTE scores are submitted by students as per the university requirements
• Students can also take AP tests based on their interests to add value to their academic profile

Personal Narrative Documents (essays, SOPs, LORs, Resume)

• The essays/personal statements form the most integral component of the UG application
• The anecdotal approach should be used to create winning and compelling essays
• To effectively answer every essay question, the Question behind the Question’ strategy must be adopted which has demonstrated success in admit in top 50 universities
• The SMEA methodology (Story, Maturity, Evidence, Articulateness and Skills) must be used as the essay writing approach

Career Options

Most undergraduate students plan to gather some work experience in their chosen field before moving on for their Masters. Bachelor’s students usually take up entry-level positions in their field of studies such as Engineering, Computer Science and Business.