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Studying Abroad? What is the Whole Hysteria

Surrounding It?

“I was not ready to do my final year, I needed a break before doing that!”

This is a quote from Sybill Scott, a 21 year old Sociology and

Criminology university student, who is currently studying

abroad for a year in Madrid, Spain.

A large number of people fall under that bracket of

needing some form of disruption before continuing on

with their final year at university. For many the thought

of their final year is a somewhat daunting experience and

one way to relieve this sense of pressure is by taking a year

out to study abroad; a way to relax and prepare for your final year.

With university fees at their peak, taking a gap year from your academic study can be much of a financial

strain and with some individuals paying up to a vast £27, 000 for their university degree, taking a gap year

does not monetarily seem within reach. However, have you ever thought of taking time out to study

abroad? Do not let this option mislead you as less worthwhile as it can give you the same insightful

experience as someone taking a gap year, only that it will cost less money and the time may not be as

extensive.

Taking time out to study abroad enables you to get the best of both worlds by studying as well as having

the advantage of exploring another country. If you desire to make the most out of your degree, which

staying in the confines of your home or country may not be able to offer you, taking a year out to study

abroad is a viable option.

While your friends are experiencing the same mundane routine of deadlines and assignments, you will be

studying but doing so with a unique and different experience which is bound to have your friends green

with envy. University is a very pivotal part of your life and also a pathway to your career. Besides

remembering this time for being one that is stressful, why not enhance this experience by reminiscing on it

as one of growth, personal development and learning.

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Now you are possibly pondering what you can personally gain from studying abroad? The following three

points will answer that and they are both beneficial to your personal self and career. Countless individuals

voice how much of a life- changing experience studying abroad can be, as much as this is so, we have a real,

accurate portrayal of Sybill’s 4 months in Madrid so far as well as the benefits studying abroad can supply

you with.

Studying overseas is a

unique opportunity to

step outside of your

comfort zone and see

how different individuals

and cultures do things.

Therefore, you are

becoming educated in

more ways than one, through University

studying for your degree and also a form of

enlightenment about another culture.

You start to view issues outside of your own spectrum and realise

that there are other ways to do things besides what you know and

have experienced. This will also help you to explore diverse

cultures around and become more welcoming and accepting of

them.

CULTURAL AWARENESS

A Brief Summary of Sybill’s Experiences

“Being a black girl, here people always stare, whether they are a man or a woman, young or old, I do get stared at a lot. I

think they are sometimes stares of ignorance and sometimes stares of admiration.”

“Last week some of the students cheated on their exam test, they took a picture of the questions and then they cheated

and when some of my friends told the lecturer. He said ‘So? It does not matter,’ so the work ethic here is poor.”

“Spanish people are so laid

back, lessons will start at 9

o’clock for example and people

will be strolling in at 9.15, 9.30,

10 o’clock,” Sybill says.

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This scenario will usually find you in a positon

where you are on your own. You are in a

foreign land and you have to be adaptable to

different environments and nothing proves

that more than going to study abroad.

Being in different situations in a foreign

country, you learn how to tackle issues with a

different approach. This is a time of self-

discovery, personal growth and learning.

Experiencing difficult occasions such as:

nostalgia and budgeting in a distant land will

ultimately prepare you for future challenges.

Nowadays, it is seemingly harder to obtain a job even after a

university degree and you need something that will catch the

eye of employers and having travelling experience will do so as

well as making you stand out over other candidates.

Furthermore, if a job arises somewhere within the confines of

where you studied abroad, perhaps, or if a job that requires

travelling emerges, you may be the more likely candidate to get

chosen. Whilst studying abroad, it is also significant to develop

contacts, which may be useful at a later date.

CAREER PROSPECTS

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT

“I’ve learnt to be more independent since I

am in a country where English is not their

main spoken language, where I have to

communicate with people in one way or

another. It is hard but you learn how to get

your point across,” says Sybill.

“Having studied abroad will

make me more employable as

it shows I have international

experience,” Sybill says.

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As much as studying abroad for a year can be a pleasant and enjoyable experience, as you can see from

Sybill’s experience so far the popular phrase “not everything that glitters is gold” would be applicable. The

main question to ask yourself before studying abroad, whether it be for weeks, months or a year(s) is

why and where do I want to study abroad? As much as this may sound like a very

apparent question but wherever you choose to study can have differing effects on you and certainly would

not be the same type of study environment as anywhere within the U.K. Communication, language barriers,

work ethic and different approaches to education plus the whole entirety of living in a foreign country and

grasping their culture are things to consider when selecting a place to study abroad.

According to QS Top Universities, Paris, Munich, Barcelona and Vancouver are among the top 15 cities that

students should study at in the year 2015. The best option is to check with your home university which

cities and their universities are good for your course. Do not miss this exceptional opportunity to add to

your university study, as you, like Sybill, could be fortunate enough to experience this!

Contact Details: Sybill Scott

E-mail: scotts12@uni.coventry.ac.uk