Choosing an appropriate study destination is the first step in the planning of a study abroad. Also, there is a wide range of possible locations to choose from, including those in Europe, North America, South America, Asia, Oceania, and Africa. Students with wanderlust have the chance to learn about other nations and further their academic careers all across the world.
CRITERIA FOR CHOOSING A COUNTRY TO STUDY ABROAD:
It can be challenging to choose a good study country at first because there are so many fascinating places to study abroad. Still, there are a number of factors that assist students in selecting the best place for them. Which depends on the individual; no one country can be considered “the” ideal destination for all students. Different students focus on different aspects of decision-making. What matters to one person may not matter to another. Students therefore assign quite diverse weights to the following factors when selecting their country of study.
Personal interest in the country of study:
When choosing a country to study abroad, it is of course very important to be interested in the destination country itself. It is therefore advisable to first find out about the study opportunities in dreamland, or in the countries that you find exciting. For example, if you have always dreamed of living in the USA for a while, you are certainly in good hands there when studying abroad. Even those who have a preference for more “strange” study abroad locations can still locate study abroad nations that offer a combination of academic training and adventure. Why not spend your semester abroad exploring a nation in South America, such as Argentina or Peru? or go to Vietnam or Thailand for a semester? There are many possibilities!
National language: The national language is an important factor to consider while selecting a study abroad destination, particularly in nations where English is not the official language. Universities in non-English speaking nations like Chile, China, Latvia, Spain, and Latvia provide English study options in addition to their native tongue. Therefore, the language barrier in the classroom is not always worse than it is in English-speaking nations like the United States, Australia, or Great Britain. As long as you can speak English well enough, that is. However, since students live off campus while studying abroad and interact with non-native speakers of the language in a variety of settings, they should consider the following factors before selecting a non-English speaking nation for their study abroad experience. Which language is used in this nation?
Do I want to learn the language if I don’t already know it?
Can I converse with locals in English somewhat readily if I don’t speak the language?
Should I feel comfortable interacting with foreigners more often than locals because I don’t speak the language in the country of my study?
Significance of a nation for one’s chosen subject of study and professional goals:
Students should consider which aim makes sense for their field of study and professional aspirations while selecting the nation in which to study abroad. Regretfully, a country’s reputation for being an excellent place to study does not necessarily translate into inexpensive living expenses and tuition rates.
For example, a semester abroad in South America makes little sense for English Studies students, but there is no better place for Regional Studies students to study Latin America. Studying in New Zealand has the potential to be highly significant for future geologists. Some of the world’s top geologists are employed in the nation because of its unique geological features. Should you have a keen interest in logistics and global trade and hope to pursue a career in these fields, for them, studying in Asia can be a career-wise choice. Ultimately, an increasing number of businesses are shifting their focus towards Asia, necessitating the need for personnel who are familiar with the local way of life. Therefore, studying in an Asian nation like China or Singapore can offer doors to employment with multinational corporations.
Fee schedule and living expenses in the country of study: Choose a study destination and measure the cost of studying overseas at the same time. Thus, when deciding which nation to study abroad in, living expenses and tuition fees might play a significant role. It differs based on the nation of study, thus doing a comparison can save you money.
When comparing tuition fees, it is not enough to compare the fees of individual universities in the countries eligible to study abroad. Some background information is also required, for example on the basic fee structure of higher education institutions in these countries. Universities in the USA or Australia, for example, are financed much more by tuition fees than in the Netherlands, for example. Scandinavian countries such as Denmark. That’s why the tuition fees there are much higher, and studying is therefore more expensive per semester.
Of course, there are also significant differences between countries in terms of the cost of living. In New Zealand or the UK, for example, students have to reckon with quite a high cost of living. In other countries, on the other hand, the cost of living is rather low compared to Germany. These include Malaysia, Peru and Vietnam.
Options for financing in the country of study:
It is also necessary to pay for the expenses related to studying overseas. Students should therefore take into account the numerous financing alternatives for studying abroad in different destination countries when selecting their country of study.
This is especially true for students who intend to study abroad for their whole bachelor’s or master’s degree and who don’t just wish to go for a semester or two. While full-time study can only be sponsored in Switzerland and the European Union, a semester abroad can be funded anywhere in the world through BAföG abroad. For instance, individuals pursuing a bachelor’s degree in the UK are eligible to obtain BAföG overseas. However, if you’re considering earning a bachelor’s degree in the United States, for instance, don’t hold much hope for BAföG overseas; instead, find alternative sources of funding.
For full-time study outside of Europe, student loans or scholarships may be available as financial aid. This facilitates the financing of a partial study program both inside and outside of Europe.
Prior to selecting your study destination, you should ascertain whether country permits you to work part-time in order to pay for your education abroad.
Geographical features and climatic condition of the country of study :
The climate of a possible study destination is one thing that prospective study abroad students should not overlook. As is frequently the case, everyone has diverse tastes. While some find it warm, others find it cool. While some people find that rainy weather bothers them, others find that it doesn’t affect them at all. You should also consider your ability to endure prolonged periods of extreme heat and humidity, as is common in Malaysia, for example. Alternatively, if you’d like not to have snowy winters like those in some parts of Canada.
Selecting a country to study abroad can also be influenced by geographical peculiarities. For example, people who enjoy the sun, beach, and sea are probably more drawn to warm nations with stunning beaches. For instance, you may study abroad in a nation with breathtaking mountain ranges if you require mountains in order to be happy. Apart from the university, you can engage in mountain biking, hiking, or skiing while taking in the breathtaking scenery.
The distance between home and the country of study:
Would you rather be a few hours’ flight away from home or study on the other side of the planet? There are also quite distinct needs here, so this is something else you should consider. Of course, studying abroad South America, North America, or Asia far from home is an amazing experience. However, it also implies that students won’t be able to celebrate Christmas or have a Merry Christmas without having to spend a lot of money and effort. In Ireland, for instance, it was easier.
The answer to this depends, of course, on the type of situation. If it comes up, it might be more for those who are spending several years overseas and doing a full-time course of study. All things considered; semester students spend a lot less time away from their loved ones. Fortunately, staying in touch with family and friends is now simpler than ever thanks to current communication methods.
The Academic year in the country of study:
When picking a country of study for a semester abroad, students should also consider how the academic year is divided there. Lastly, if at all possible, the study abroad term should not coincide with the home university’s lecture and exam periods.
Every country where students study has a different schedule for the semester or trimester. Because of this, certain study nations have a higher chance than others of being qualified for a semester spent overseas. This implies that the timing of a study abroad semester will also determine whether a nation is appropriate. In this regard, let’s use the USA as an example: Semesters are used to separate the academic year at various universities. In the United States, the Fall Semester typically starts in August. Thus, it usually doesn’t interfere with university lectures or exams in Germany. In contrast, the spring semester begins in January and is still in full flow in this country at that point. This makes studying abroad for a semester during this time more challenging, but still doable.
As a semester abroad program starts in the middle of the home semester, students should carefully investigate how much of it they can include into their coursework.
It is usually possible to combine a semester abroad in your selected country with studies at your home institution if you are flexible with the schedule of your semester abroad and can envision studying abroad during both your country’s summer and winter semesters. Generally speaking, before selecting your country of study, semester students should educate themselves about the dates of the academic year in the relevant nations.
