Studying Abroad – What are your Options?

Getting an opportunity to study abroad can open doors to exciting adventures away from routine. Experiencing a new culture, language, people and traditions can make a person worldly and aware of realities past their own borders. It’s more than an academic education, but rather an education in life and anthropology.

Fortunately, there are many ways to acquire an education abroad, whether it’s during younger years or a university path.

These are some of the ways you can experience studying abroad.

• International Schools

International schools offer a mix of two worlds, allowing for primary and secondary school students to live abroad while still acquiring an English-based education. Schools like the international school in Paris pride themselves in creating an environment of multiculturalism where children & teens from various countries come together in a schooling environment. Often, children based in the home country and city also make up a percentage of pupils, ensuring that all children are better able to assimilate to the culture through friendship.

In addition, international primary and secondary schools are a great option for international university students with children who want to ensure that they acquire an English education with western values.

• Boarding School

Boarding schools are schools where students live as well as study. They offer high educational value, but do require sending children & teens away for a large part of the year. However, this creates a strong social bond between the students and can go a long way in forming well-rounded adults.

Boarding schools have developed in the past few years. They are now found in locations across the world and attract many children and parents who are looking for a more worldly education. For those who prefer their children stay in the UK, there are close to 500 boarding schools available.

• Semester Abroad

For university students who prefer a temporary residence abroad, semesters abroad offer the ideal combination of short-term studies while acquiring university credits. Universities worldwide offer semester abroad programs for a large variety of degrees and focuses.

Many of these programs are taught in English and other popular global languages, depending on their intended student-base. Whether you want to study Middle Eastern studies in Israel, political economy in Argentina, or even take a semester focusing on art theory in Italy, there are programs for all kinds of students to enjoy.

• University Abroad

Other students prefer to take the long-term route and apply to universities abroad. Among the EU this is particularly easy as EU citizens can move cross-border and do not require a student visa. However, many countries across the world are prepared to take international students and often create specialized university programs in English for this purpose.

A wide advantage (depending on your origin) is lower tuition cost than home-based universities, as well as the ability to study somewhere exciting and new. However, studying abroad for a degree does include assimilating to the education, teaching and testing system in the foreign country.

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Category: College and Careers