Study abroad

Studying higher education (HE) abroad

There are many reasons why you might want to consider studying part or all of your degree in another country. It will look good on your CV and will be particularly useful if you apply for jobs with companies that have offices in other countries. By studying abroad, you will be able to enjoy the culture of another country, improve your language skills and become more confident and independent.

There are three main ways to study abroad

You could study abroad by:

  • taking a degree which includes spending part of your course abroad. This could be a language degree but many other courses offer the opportunity to spend a year abroad such as law, sciences, business and engineering. Many university websites have a facility to search for courses that include study abroad. You can also check course information on the UCAS website.
  • taking part in the Turing Scheme. This new scheme will offer students study and work placements across the world, from September 2021.
  • studying the whole of your degree abroad, joining programmes taught and examined in English.
Points to consider

When deciding to study abroad, it can be useful to think about:

  • the quality of the institution and course – you can check this out for institutions across the world at www.topuniversities.com/university-rankings
  • recognition of qualifications – check that the course is recognised by relevant professional bodies in the UK.
  • costs – details of tuition fees and living costs are in the ‘International’ section of university websites. There may be scholarships to cover some of the costs. You will have additional costs for travel and health insurance, and exchange rate fluctuations to factor in.
  • can you cope with living abroad?
  • do you need a visa? Embassies will advise on these.
  • you will need to research the entrance and language requirements, application systems and procedures. You need to start planning 12 to 15 months before you go. See www.astarfuture.co.uk
Useful websites

www.topuniversities.com
Compare courses and institutions across the world.

www.eunicas.co.uk
Provides advice to UK students interested in studying in Europe.

www.astarfuture.co.uk
Provides information and advice about courses taught in English at universities abroad.

www.fulbright.org.uk/going-to-the-usa/undergraduate
The US-UK Fulbright Commission provides information about studying in the USA.

www.studyoptions.com
The official application support service for students wanting to enrol at Australian and New Zealand universities.

www.turing-scheme.org.uk
Information about the Turing scheme.

Erudera.com
Search platform detailing UK and overseas places and programmes of study.

Related articles