Are there benefits in studying abroad?

As we begin a new calender year, and with AS examinations complete, it is perhaps timely for the Year 13 student to focus on options post -18. Quite often careers teachers are asked about higher education opportunities abroad.
  In my advice and guidance to students I have always encouraged them to grasp, where possible within their degree programmes, those two expansive constituents; work experience (sandwich courses) and the opportunity to travel (Erasmus, Year abroad etc).Young people can be equally adventurous and cautious when it comes to considering their futures.  Within most careers libraries there is a selection of material looking at higher education in the US, Australia, New Zealand. Perhaps less well developed regarding accessible information, is the developing market for UK students to consider undergraduate/post-graduate study within those EU countries offering higher education courses in English.

Writing in the 'Guardian' at the beginning of a new university term in September, Jessica Shepherd's article, Will Nordic campuses steal UK students? helped raise my level of curiosity as to what could be available for the adventurous student who wants to add a 'global' dimension to their studies.

At least 4200 degree courses are now taught only in English in European countries outside the UK and Ireland (Study by Academic Co-operation Association 2008) That's triple the number there were seven years ago.  Almost all these'English medium' degrees are based in the Netherlands or Scandanavia though Spain's private sector is moving in the direction of its Nordic cousins.  About 80% of the programmes are at Master's level but undergraduate programme are on the rise.  It is widely predicted within Sweden that all university education will be delivered in English within the next 10 to15 years.  Sweden offers free higher education to all, including international students, (though there is some discussion about introducing fees for non-EU students).  There are clear cultural and economic benefits for studying abroad.  Students who study in other countries can gain an important understanding of the cultures and languages as well as gaining skills that make them an asset on their return to the UK.

The number of students from the UK studying abroad is no where near the numbers of European students studying in this country.  More that 100,000 EU students from outside the UK come here to study while just 2,000 or so go the other way. Within the next 20 years it is predicted the world's student population will double.  At least 25 countries now offer degrees in English. However, one has to be careful about the quality of teaching and learning at these institutes.  After all, the UK is a long way ahead in terms of years of experience in designing courses for the global student community.  Scandanavian and Dutch universities are currently only seen as the third layer of competition to the UK, after universities in countries where English is the native language and those in China and India.

Interestingly, London's Imperial College, the UK's premier powerhouse of science and technology,  aims to be the first UK university within the world's top 10,  to set up a campus abroad, probably in the Persian Gulf. If Imperial were to set up in Qatar, it would concentrate on a single subject such as engineering linked to materials, energy or gas and oil exploration. Imperial has its eye on other countries such as China and India.  China holds most attraction as it puts huge emphasis on science and technology.

Suggested Project work for Year 13

At a time when there is not the same level of pressure on the Year 13 students, either in meeting UCAS deadlines or preparing for imminent AS examinations, why not get the students to explore a little more deeply into the advantages etc of studying aboad. Perhaps you could devise a short project where various universities around the world are highlighted. I could suggest you begin by looking at raising the profile of universities like Utrecht, Maastricht and Groningen in the Netherlands and Kalmar in Sweden.  In addition, why not try and find out if any recent past pupils are currently studying or are graduates of overseas universities. You could bring the higher education ERASMUS programme to their attention. It is important to emphasise that it is not just modern language students who benefit from travelling/studying abroad.With both the university of Ulster and QUB prospectuses available for consultation consider how many degree courses have overseas universities links on a collaboarative or partnership basis built into their degree programmes.