Perhaps you’ve always wanted to travel, but have never had the opportunity. Or possibly you were hoping to branch out in University, but have found yourself hanging out with the same sort of people you’ve known since primary school. Maybe you’re at the tail end of university and you’ve just realised that your ability to out-drink your flatmate at a footie social isn’t going to look that good on your CV when you graduate. For these reasons, and plenty more, you should consider doing a year abroad.
Study (and work) abroad is on the rise. According to the British Erasmus Student Council, 7,131 UK students opted to study or work abroad in Europe in 2005. Take into account British students in non-EU countries and this figure is even higher.
The prospect of leaving friends and family behind can seem daunting, but for students who want to work in another country when they are older, a year abroad can be a valuable test-run. Hannah Deer, 22, is an Arabic and Spanish student on a year abroad studying at the University of Damascus in Syria. “It’s a great opportunity to get to know people from all over the world and see what it would be like to really live in a different country without having to permanently relocate,” she said.
If you are looking to the future, a year abroad can also greatly enhance career prospects. Both foreign and domestic employers look favorably upon students that have done a year abroad. Time and again, employers praise the global perspective of students who have studied abroad, and in increasingly globalised markets such experiences can only become more valuable.
“There are a number of advantages to working, volunteering or travelling abroad for a year,” said Tom Davie, Deputy Head of Service at Durham University’s Careers Advisory Service. “You are developing oral and written communication as well as problem solving skills. You are definitely showing that you can culturally adapt, linguistically and socially to the variety of interesting and challenging situations that you may face,” he added.
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On top of the practical skills, the overseas contacts you make will be invaluable - not only professionally, but personally too. “I now have friends from across Europe, Africa, Asia and the Americas, something I can’t say I did [in England],” remarks 21-year old Matthew Carson, who is currently studying abroad at the University of the Mediterranean in Aix-en-Provence, France.
Getting Started
The easiest route to a year abroad is through ERASMUS (European Community Action Scheme for the Mobility of University Students). It has 31 participating countries and more than 150,000 people go through the programme each year. The search process is quick, easy and efficient which probably accounts for its popularity. “The exchange ? is a mutual agreement between the two universities, meaning the actual search process is practically zero, and the pre-departure documentation is fairly simple,” said Matthew Carson, an Economics student who is currently in France through the scheme.
But there are plenty of opportunities beyond ERASMUS, especially if you’d rather spend the year working. Vicki Jervis, 20, a French and Spanish student is currently spending a year working for a PR firm in Spain. She found her job placement through intensive online research. “I started by looking on internet sites, gap year sites, and websites which advertised jobs abroad in the sector I wanted to work in,” Jervis explained.
If you are studying a foreign language, your university may require you to spend a year abroad. Sarah Brook, 21, a French and Russian student has so far travelled to Russia and Belgium during her year abroad. “I was obliged to go away, however, this was a deciding factor in my choice of degree. For me, it’s a chance to gain a different kind of independence, truly experience and live a different culture, and most importantly, perfect language skills. In terms of language, it’s a big final push before the end of my degree to hone skills in a way I’d never be able to in England,” she said.
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It’s a common misconception that you must be studying languages to do a year abroad. Many non-language courses have interdepartmental exchange programmes with foreign universities. Ask your course director if the department runs a study abroad programme.
Regardless of your subject, start organising your year abroad early. “I’d advise people to begin researching and applying soon as possible,” said Brook. “Some deadlines were surprisingly early, and I missed out on certain projects I’d have loved to have been involved in.” One of the the best ways to start is by asking former year abroad students about their experiences – especially anyone who did programmes or placements you are interested in.
Preparing for Your Year Abroad
Once you’ve gotten yourself comfortably settled in a program and you’re raring to go, remember to pack well. Don’t be afraid to pack unusual provisions. You may find yourself longing for things you hadn’t anticipated. “Baked Beans, marmite,” 22-year old Sam Walker answers simply when asked what he is missing most out in Buenos Aires. Sarah Brook shares a similar craving, “I wish I’d taken a toaster to Russia. When I finally found some beans I had no toast to add to it for making beans on toast!”
Whether you’re travelling to a country where English is widely spoken or hardly at all, cultural misunderstanding and mishaps will be a recurring theme – at least for a while. Don’t take these little culture clashes to heart; it will give you something to laugh about when you return home from your travels.