It's a million-dollar question that has been asked more than a million times, isn't it? You would have discussed this multiple times with your friends, family, and career counsellors, trying to decide on the course and university that's best suited for you. Or perhaps, even debated why you should even study abroad. Right?
Which university provides the best learning experience? Which country has the best scope for the course you're choosing to pursue? What are the career prospects for this course and the related fields in the chosen study destination? These are the most frequently asked questions when deciding what to study next.
Before coming to any conclusion, it is prudent to evaluate both choices and decide what suits you best. Let's get started with it, then!
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Studying Abroad Vs Studying Locally - What Would You Pick?
Whatever your choice is, it's better to be informed of the benefits of both choices so that you prepare yourself for the best educational experience.
Let's start by analysing the pros and cons of both choices now, shall we?
Category | Studying Abroad | Studying Locally |
New Environment | Yes, it could be baffling. However, isn't the transition from school to university a bit hard, anyway? Adjusting to new faces and a new study environment is unavoidable in higher education, wherever you choose to study. But it could also pave the way to more opportunities and new connections, exposing you to different cultures, food, music and entertainment, which would make your study abroad a memorable experience. | Familiar places, known languages and renowned universities are certainly the best things about studying locally. But it's not just about that, is it? There's an unspoken comfort in studying at a place you grew up in, your homeland. There's an ease in understanding the way courses, universities and career prospects work, making studying locally an easy choice for students after secondary education. |
Courses and Institutions | Courses and institutions abroad offer specialised fields of study, research-focused courses, blended learning, lifelong education, and practical experience to help students experience quality education to be successful in their careers and professional life. Internship opportunities with corporations and educational institutions facilitate a deeper understanding of the work and soft skills needed for a successful career abroad. | Local educational institutions offer popular courses that have better career prospects in your homeland and abroad. Studying locally helps analyse job prospects and makes finding career opportunities easier. It is easier to communicate with like-minded people owing to the shared nativity and connections. |
Connections and Exposure | Studying abroad helps you broaden your network and connections, both professional and personal. Being in a new place paves the way for newer perspectives and renewed energy for an enriching experience abroad. Also, interacting with personalities from different ethnicities and beliefs helps you develop into a socially aware and wholesome individual, sensitive to sociocultural norms and the changing political climate. | It is easier to connect with people from the same cultural and geographical background to form meaningful relationships. Your existing network of contacts can help you with many things, including a change of career or a shift to a better position abroad, course suggestions and training for a satisfying career. |
Cost | Studying abroad is naturally a bit expensive owing to the high cost of foreign exchange, living expenses and tuition fees involved in pursuing a course abroad. However, your financial burden would considerably reduce on being eligible for scholarships/bursaries, thus making studying abroad a lucrative learning opportunity to meet your long-term career objectives. Popular courses such as Data Science, Fashion Designing, Artificial Intelligence and Digital Marketing have enormous scope abroad, with the average graduate salary well above the average tuition fees incurred for the course. | Studying locally is the economical option out of the two choices but depending on the course and choice of specialisation, studying in a local institution also requires financial diligence and preparation to be able to afford quality education. Enrolling in a reputed university/college that offers excellent career opportunities would involve spending a decent amount on tuition fees and study costs. |
Now, you may have made up your mind about studying abroad or locally, but if you still haven't, don't worry. We have put together a list of the various benefits of studying abroad, detailing how studying abroad changes you to help you decide on the best course of action.
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Undeniable Benefits of Studying Abroad
1. Global Lifestyle
Studying abroad introduces you to different cultures and customs followed by people from different ethnicities, giving you the opportunity to experience a global lifestyle - with all its highs and lows, making it a unique experience. From food and travel to language and quality of life, studying abroad gives you a new perspective on life and personal beliefs and makes way for a holistic development of your personality.
Studying abroad is a truly global experience in the sense that popular destinations like the UK, the USA, Australia, Canada, Germany, Malaysia and Singapore have students from all over the world. These destinations are thus a hotspot for cross-learning and cultural exchange.
2. Independence and Self-reliance
Being a global citizen could teach you a lot of things, and learning to be independent is definitely the best lesson. Surviving in a new place and getting accustomed to a different lifestyle makes you independent, self-reliant and focused on achieving your academic objectives.
You all might be familiar with the famous saying - "if you survive in New York, you could survive anywhere else in the world", which is true for any international city and not just New York, because stepping out of your comfort zone and living in a multicultural environment makes you resilient and world-wise.
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3. Cultural sensitivity and tolerance
Living in your homeland makes you sensitive to certain beliefs and practices which are congenial to the environment you've grown up in. But isn't variety the spice of life? Being in a multicultural milieu sensitises you to the different practices and customs worldwide, nurturing in you a sense of appreciation for the ingenuity and sentiments of other communities.
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4. Scholarships and student funding
Studying abroad is definitely an expensive affair. From tuition fees to study expenses to accommodation, you might have to shell out a considerable amount of money to have a convenient study-abroad experience. Ergo, scholarships.
Many international universities offer student funding and scholarships for deserving candidates to ease the financial burden. There are multiple categories for availing of scholarships, including Academic Scholarships, Athletic Scholarships, Scholarships for Extracurriculars, Country-Specific Scholarships, Need-Based Scholarships, Military Scholarships, STEM Scholarships, etc., which cater to a broad range of student requirements and needs.
5. Career Opportunities
When it comes to career opportunities, an international degree has better weightage, owing to the quality of your specialisation and the work skills gained while studying abroad. Many universities also provide career counselling and research opportunities to help enhance your credibility in finding a deserving career anywhere in the world.
Armed with a world-class education experience, you could boost your chances in a competitive career space and take up further education based on your academic and career objectives.
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