I have. I actually still do. I think that studying abroad would offer so many varied and life-changing experiences and learnings opportunities, personal and academic-wise, for people like me who yearn for continuous education. And because of this, I quite envy students who are given the chance to study abroad.

I finished all my schooling, from primary to Bachelor’s degree, in my local town and hence, have never really experienced studying in another country. But I have been fortunate enough to work abroad and visit other countries so in some ways I was able to get a glimpse of foreign students and these countries’ educational systems.

For me, the primary benefit of studying in a foreign country is acquiring a widely recognized credential or degree upon completion of a course. This in turn really boosts one’s career opportunities. Completing a degree in a foreign country is also a good indicator of the student’s positive personal attributes such as diligence, independence and maturity. Again, these would also help students gain an advantage when applying for a job.

Another valuable benefit of studying abroad is the mere experience of studying or taking a course under a new and different educational system. I think different schools in different countries have various methods and techniques of teaching students. Learning under these new and unfamiliar systems will definitely broaden one’s field of knowledge, skills and expertise.

The opportunity to learn a new language and/or to polish a secondary foreign language can also be considered a very good benefit. Being able to constantly use (verbally and written) the predominant language of a country of which you are not a native of will definitely help you achieve a constant expertise and confidence in this area. This is also proves to be a good addition to student’s resumé.

Gaining more friends, widening one’s social network and basically just meeting new people is also a worthwhile reason for studying abroad. Interacting and dealing with people of different cultures and races will certainly contribute to a student’s growth and open-mindedness. Aside from the academic learnings the one gains, there is also an exchange of information and ideas among the diverse students that contribute greatly to their knowledge bank.

Studying always comes hand in hand with responsibilities. But I personally think that studying abroad will give a student a certain sense of freedom and liberty. This comes at a higher degree since the student cannot depend or call on his or her family at all times, which is usually the case when a student is simply enrolled in his or her home country. The student will have to learn to fend for him or her self and really learn how to be independent.

These are just a few of the advantages that I think are quite important in considering if one is interested in studying abroad. I am certain that there are other factors that are just as quite as important. If you do decide and are able to study abroad, consider yourself lucky; I am certain the experiences you will have will be memorable and definitely character-building.