Blog by Shirley
Having the option to Study Abroad during university is an exciting opportunity that many of us consider at some points during our degree. Whether it’s through conversations with friends, or a quick research before making your way to Edinburgh for Welcome Week, the idea of spending a semester or year in another country does sound attractive. But with all the excitement and buzz around study abroad, it’s also important to ask: “is this the right choice for me?”
This informational guide is packed with useful things to consider before thinking about studying abroad, as well as the pros and cons that go with it. I’ll also share some tips that helped me successfully receive offers from my first-choice institutions.
What are your options?
Firstly, what are your options for Study Abroad? The University’s SWAY (Study and Work Away) service’s website gives a clear overview of exchange options. There are typically two exchange routes that are available, which are the Subject-Specific Exchange Route and the University-Wide Exchange. There are key differences between the two routes, which usually lie in eligibility, competition and course selection.
Subject-Specific Exchanges: As the name implies, the subject-specific route for Study Abroad exchange is only available for students within a specific subject or School, as they are organized at School level. For instance, I am studying History and Politics, where my school is placed under the School of History, Classics and Archaeology. This means that when I was working on my application under a subject-specific route, I was only eligible for institutions under the History route, not Politics. This is because the programs are designed to align closely with certain degree requirements, such as ensuring that the courses you take abroad align well with your academic progression. This also means that since eligibility is based on subject areas, there may be less competition as applications are going to be limited to students within your subject area.
University-Wide Exchanges: Unlike Subject Specific, this route is open to students from multiple disciplines and is managed centrally by the University Study Abroad System. This means that you will be competing with students across different degree programmes for places, such as someone from Business competing with someone from Economics for the same spot in a North American University. Nevertheless, you will have more flexibility in choosing your courses abroad and there will be more institutions available across different continents such as Asia and Latin America. These exchanges are ideal if you are thinking of specific institutions that are typically outside Europe and/or if your subject area has limited exchange agreements with other exchange destinations.
A couple of other things to note here – if you are studying or thinking about studying a language or a subject with a strong international component, your programme may already include a study abroad year as a compulsory part of your degree. Moreover, the length of your exchange and destinations you get to pick from may vary from degree policies and may differ from year to year, meaning that there may be certain institutions available for 2024/2025 period but not in the 2025/2026 exchange period. It is important to understand the logistics of the exchange options before thinking about applying.
Benefits of Studying Abroad
Now moving onto the pro/con list of Studying Abroad. I’ll talk about some of the positive things I have heard from other returning students that have done a year abroad, combined with my own opinions. It is quite obvious that spending a year or a semester abroad offers a unique opportunity for cultural and even language immersion in a new academic and cultural environment, without the entire pressure of going through your final year of university and panicking about graduation. A lot of returning study abroad students have commented on how they were able to incorporate their insights from taking new and unfamiliar academic courses during their time abroad into crafting their final dissertation ideas. Moreover, whether it is exposure and access to new academic materials, cultural environment or improved language skills, studying and living abroad is typically an enriching experience that can give you a competitive edge in your future career applications or postgraduate studies. Plus, the personal growth and adaptability gained from a year abroad can boost your confidence as you take on the challenges of your final year.
Challenges of Studying Abroad
That being said, spending some of your university time abroad doesn’t come without challenges. Academically, adjusting to a different education system, grading criteria and general teaching style can be a daunting process, especially if you’re used to a certain type of assessment or coursework expectation at Edinburgh. Returning for fourth year presents its own set of challenges. Some students experience “reverse culture shock” as they reintegrate into Edinburgh life and refocus on their dissertation and final-year workload after a year away, with the added pressure that their degree title will be entirely dependent on their final year performance. Also, moving abroad in general can be a personal challenge. Adapting to a new environment, culture and possibly needing to speak or study in a different language can be overwhelming, and adjusting and building a new friendship or support network will take some time. Keeping track of visa status, finding new accommodation and more administrative workload may be another component to think about when considering studying abroad.
Testing time: Questions to ask yourself
It’s important to consider whether studying abroad aligns with your academic goals, personality and circumstances, which is why you can have a go at answering these questions to see if you are suited for study abroad!
- Are you comfortable adapting to a new environment, navigating unfamiliar systems and potentially stepping outside your comfort zone?
- Do you enjoy travelling and experiencing new cultures?
- Do you have or plan to have a built-in system to manage your studies independently?
- Are you prepared for the financial or added commitment to study abroad?
Final Tips and Resources
If you answered “yes” to all the above questions, then studying abroad is probably a really good fit for you to broaden your academic and personal horizons. Some of the next steps would include making sure you are informed and prepared for applying for your Study Abroad program. This means exploring your options early by researching partner universities that you are interested in, understanding your subject eligibility and not limiting yourself to only one institution or destination as eligible institutions might change period to period! Feel free to explore the SWAY website and follow their official Instagram to stay in the loop of what’s going on at study abroad fairs or events. You can also learn more by speaking to past exchange students at SWAY information sessions or reading their blogs about their study abroad experience. It’s also important to check any application deadlines, as well as the language or academic requirements. Depending on the route you choose, a personal statement may or may not be necessary as part of your application as well. You can also choose to reach out to your School exchange coordinator with any burning questions or concerns – they’re a key contact for you during your Study Abroad period.
I started researching Study Abroad options and destinations in the summer of my first year and listed out my top three destinations that I wanted to apply to based on language and cultural immersion, academic reputation and cost of living. Making a list helped me become better informed in understanding why I wanted to choose a specific institution during my application. Moreover, it is important to maintain a good average grade in your first year (meaning no Resits!) to ensure that your Study Abroad Application will be competitive enough for some of your first-choice options.
Here are some resources and websites mentioned that could be useful to check out:
- Find out about our Study Exchanges
- Find your Exchange Coordinator
- Learn about the application process
- Read the UoE Abroad blogs
Remember, even if you didn’t answer “yes” to everything, that’s okay. Studying abroad isn’t the right fit for everyone, and there are plenty of other ways to gain international experience, such as summer programs, internships, or virtual exchange opportunities. No matter your choice, take the time to weigh your options carefully, and don’t hesitate to reach out to the University’s SWAY team for guidance and support.
Hope you found this guide useful, and stay tuned for more content from me!
Featured Image: @florianwehde, Unsplash
