The Essential Guide to Studying Abroad

From Success in the Classroom to a Fulfilling Career

Thomas R. Klassen, Christine Menges

• Publisher: Routledge
• Year: 2019
• eBook ISBN:
  9781000357158
• Topic: Education
• Subtopic: Business General

This book is an indispensable how-to guide on flourishing when studying abroad, and how to use an international education to begin a fulfilling career after graduation.

Written in an engaging and accessible style, using many examples, case studies, and links to resources, the book reduces the stress of studying abroad. Covering all aspects of the international student experience – inside and outside the classroom – the book encourages young people to perform their very best and succeed in their new environment.

International students preparing for cross-cultural learning and recent graduates looking for employment will find this book both practical and inspiring.

Chapter 1

Introduction Optimizing success as an international student

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do, than by the ones you did do.

Mark Twain

Introduction

You’re reading this page because you wish to be an international student, or perhaps already are. Possibly you’ve found this book because you teach international students, or in other ways work to ensure their success as a counsellor or adviser. Or, you’re here because you are the parent of a young person contemplating studying abroad.

International students are growing in number, and studying abroad has become an option for more and more students. Many governments and post-secondary institutions have extensive programmes – such as scholarships – to both attract students from abroad and to encourage local students to study in another country. Some countries and universities offer free tuition to international students.

Yet, many students are unsure if they should study abroad, and when they do study away from their home country they are not fully prepared to flourish in their new environment and to succeed after graduation. At times those who want to help prospective international students – parents and grandparents, school counsellors, and advisers – are not quite sure how to proceed.

The objectives of the book are to: (1) ensure that you succeed in your studies as an international student or as a prospective international learner, while also having the most fantastic time of your life; and (2) make certain that you can leverage your international study experience to obtain a promising career after graduation in a global workforce.

This book is unique in showing you where to invest your energy to get the best results during all stages of international studies: from application to starting a rewarding career after graduation. In the chapters that follow you will learn what to do, how do to it, and reasons why it works.

Why international studies?

In 2018 there were more than five million international students with half of these studying in English speaking countries. Two decades earlier there were less than two million international students. In business terminology, studying abroad is a growth industry.¹ There are good reasons for that.²

Studying abroad has become an option for more students than ever before. The world is more global than ever before.³ Business and economics, science, entertainment, and much more operate at an international scale.

Having the good fortune to experience first-hand the language, traditions, and different ways of life by being immersed in a new country as a student changed my life. It lead me to settle in my new home for one year after completing my undergraduate degree. Both as a student, and then as a worker, I encountered people, places, and events that taught me lessons I otherwise would have never received and learned.

Living in a country where I didn’t speak the language was beyond difficult, but it sharpened my problem-solving skills and gave me the confidence to take risks that got me to amazing places. Staying in my comfort zone would have meant missing out on so very much of what I treasure, and what now makes me special.

Nkechi Nwokoye

Higher education plays a crucial role in ensuring that young people are ready for the complexities of work and responsive to societal needs. University graduates enter a global workforce that is changing rapidly and is highly competitive, as a result of advances in technology and increased mobility. Students and parents know that employers place a premium on new professionals who have a wide range of skills including adaptability, problem-solving, critical thinking, and intercultural awareness.

One way to develop these sought-after skills is through studying abroad. International study comes in an astounding variety of packages: from a few weeks during the summer to many years. You can complete one course abroad, a semester or a year, or an entire degree. Some students begin international studies right after completing high school, while others do so after completing a university degree. As for the location, the world is your destination with nearly every country offering international students a place.

Many countries openly welcome and court international students. The US, Canada, the UK, and Australia, among others, have long-standing policies to attract international students.⁴ Many of the universities and colleges in those countries offer appealing scholarships and other financial support.

However, don’t simply focus on studying in highly developed Western nations. Recently more countries in Asia, such as China, as well as South America and the Caribbean have also sought to attract international students. Some institutions in those nations also offer generous financial aid. In many cases, these countries have low living costs, which is something to consider. Have you considered African nations for your study abroad experience?

Figure 1.1 in the Appendix at the end of this chapter shows you the countries that have the most international students (in proportion to all the students in that country). Figure 1.1 also shows you that studying abroad for a Master’s degree or PhD is very common.

Certain languages are essential to succeed in careers with multinational corporations or international agencies, especially English. The best way to master a language is to be fully immersed in it. Not surprisingly, more than half of all international students study in English-speaking nations.

English is the majority or official language in many nations apart from the US, Canada, the UK, Australia, and New Zealand. Countries such as Singapore, The Bahamas, Belize, Philippines, Ghana, and others have universities that operate largely in English, and populations where many people speak English. In addition, many universities in Europe offer programmes in English.⁵

Studying outside of your own country – whether for a few weeks, a summer, a semester, a year, or longer – is a wonderful way to learn about the world. For many young people it is the most amazing adventure ever! Learning in a classroom is necessary and useful, but studying abroad also means learning about a new culture and making friends.

You can learn history or biology from a book or video, but add that to walking through the ruins or in the rainforest and the experience becomes richer and more intense. Learning outside the box and expanding your horizons is more likely to happen when you’re in a new environment. Finally, learning abroad includes learning about yourself, such as confronting new situations, challenging yourself, or pursuing avenues that were closed to you at home.

Studying abroad was an unforgettable time of my life. Being part of a different culture and getting a grade while having fun was the best decision I made in my young adult life.

I decided to study abroad because of academic problems, including grades that were not up to par with my peers. One of my instructors told me to drop out of university and reconsider my plans to earn a degree. I felt like I had hit rock bottom.

It was at that time that I discovered my school had summer study abroad courses in which I could travel and get a grade. I grabbed that chance in a heartbeat.

I smiled more during the study abroad course than in any other. Being in a country half-way around the world and learning something new every minute – inside and outside the classroom – was such a thrill.

Studying abroad gave me a whole new perspective transforming not only my school life, but also my way of thinking about the world and my place in it.

James Soto

In this book we use the term “international student” rather than “foreign student” (although sometimes “foreign student” does creep in). “Foreign” has multiple meanings such as different, alien or strange; which have nothing at all to do with being a young person studying in another country. “International,” meaning global and between nations, is more commonly used these days, and without the negative connotations of “foreign.”

This book also uses the term “university” to encompass a whole range of places of higher learning: colleges, schools, institutes, academies, and others. At times, we use the term “institution” to refer to these places.

We’ve written this book in a way that you can apply it to your own life regardless of whether you are beginning to contemplate studying abroad, or about to graduate. You may be the first person in your family, or among your friends, or among your classmates, to study abroad. That does not mean you need to do it all alone. Use this book as a companion in your journey. Even if you have others to advise and guide you, this book will offer you valuable insights and resources.

Where to find what

This book is written in an accessible style that assumes you might read the contents in one go, or alternatively read individual chapters or sections as they apply to your life. Each chapter has tips and real-world examples, as well as links to online resources and notes at the end of each chapter that point to additional interesting reading which you can pursue if time permits. Moreover, international students tell their own stories in the case studies that are sprinkled throughout the book.

Chapter 2 prepares you for international studies, including how to maximize the success of your application. Studying abroad takes considerable planning. This chapter shows you how to write an amazing statement of interest, get the best possible letters of reference and increase your chances of being accepted into the programme of your choice.

Money is crucial for an international education. The chapter helps you to understand scholarships, bursaries and grants, and how to apply for these. Following the advice in the chapter will maximize your chances of obtaining money to pay for your studies.

Chapter 3 starts from when you step off the plane (or train or ship or car) into your new environment. Things will be new and exciting, and sometimes a little scary as well. This chapter will make sure that your new life begins smoothly and you’re soon having the time of your life, and that the inevitable problems that you encounter will not derail you. Included in this chapter are topics such as how to interact with professors in your new university and how to make friends.

Chapter 4 teaches you how to excel at exams and writing assignments at your new school in order to earn the best grades possible. Tests, exams, and writing assignments are difficult at the best of times, but even more so in a new environment and in a language that might be new to you. The c...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Endorsements
• Half Title
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Dedication
• Contents
• Illustrations
• Preface
• Chapter 1 Introduction: Optimizing success as an international student
• Part I Succeeding in your studies: Applying, adjusting, and mastering
• Part II The Triple M career roadmap: Me, market, and match
• About the authors