We’ve recently emphasised the many benefits of completing a Year-in-Industry placement in a blog for York St John University. However, for many students, particularly those studying language or international business, taking a year to study abroad can be equally as influential and beneficial in their future careers. Our friends at Storage World explain why.
Not that you really need an excuse to fly off to a far-away country in order to gain a world-class education as a cultured international student, but Storage World have uncovered the five surprising benefits of studying abroad. Here is exactly why you should consider taking the next step in your education by studying overseas.
- Improves your employability
Studying abroad will not only boost your chance of finding a job, but it also means you’re more likely to find a job that you truly love! How do we know this? A study from Universities UK revealed that those who have studied abroad are 24% less likely to be unemployed. Not only this, but the findings also showed that these students have a higher chance of getting a graduate job straight out of university and a better chance of finding a role they’re actually trained for.
- Boosts your career opportunities
Furthermore, a study by the Institute of International Education analysed the skill set of 4,500 students who had graduated in 2000. It was noted that of those, the students who had spent time studying abroad were more likely to have up to 15 of the key career skills that employers look for in an ideal recruit. Meaning their time abroad helped to boost their career prospects and make them more employable when they returned to the UK.
- More likely to gain the 15 career skills most valuable to employers
On top of this, studying abroad equips students with a strong set of soft and hard skills that will help them throughout their career. Most importantly, they’ll gain transferable skills such as organisation, communication, resilience and cultural awareness. Not only that, but they’ll need to learn to deal with logistical problems such as living and studying in a new city, meeting new people and potentially language barriers. This helps them to be adaptable, analytical and to gain more confidence – all important career skills, and ones which will impress potential employers.
- Increase your earning potential by £75,000 over a career
And it’s clear that all these skills are really paying off! It has been calculated that students who have studied abroad have the potential to end up a higher salary, with the average professional earning 5% more than those who haven’t studied overseas. So how does that translate in real terms? Well, with the average UK salary being around £30,000 that equates to an extra £1,500 a year. Yep, you heard that right! So, you could earn an additional £75,000 in your lifetime by making the decision to study abroad.
- Give back to others
Finally, studying abroad is not only a way to gain experience for yourself, but a great way to give back to others. As part of your studies, or even alongside your education, you might find yourself helping out in the local area. Perhaps as a medical student in disadvantaged hospitals, teaching English in schools, or maybe getting involved in volunteer work or conservation projects. The nature of this will, of course, depend on what you’re studying, but it’s a great way to give back to the local community, as well as gaining valuable experience for your CV.
So, are you ready to pack your bags?
As you can see, there are so many reasons why studying abroad pays off. You can boost your employability, strengthen your skill set and increase earning potential while you’re away, and give back to others. It’s a win-win situation!
Storage World